Credit Union Sponsors 14 Workshops to Equip College Students with Practical Money Skills

TULLAHOMA, Tenn., June 10, 2025 –Ascend Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union in Middle Tennessee, empowered more than 650 students with essential money-management skills through a series of workshops held at five area college campuses during April’s Financial Literacy Month.

As part of its ongoing commitment to financial education, Ascend sponsored 14 events across:

• Middle Tennessee State University
• Belmont University
• Nashville State Community College
• Tennessee State University
• Tennessee Tech University

Ascend collaborated with each campus to curate its own lineup of presentations and interactive sessions, covering topics such as budgeting basics, understanding credit scores, debt-management strategies, savings and investment fundamentals, and long-term financial planning.

“We’re committed to helping students build a strong financial foundation,” said Ascend President and CEO Matt Jernigan. “By working with each school to tailor its own programming, we ensure students receive practical guidance that aligns with their goals and needs.”

At Middle Tennessee State University, Ascend served as the presenting sponsor of the campus-wide Financial Literacy Month initiative in partnership with the Jones College of Business, the Department of Economics and Finance, and MT One Stop. Ascend contributed $15,000 to support the university’s month-long efforts, including its keynote event featuring Manisha Thakor, author of Money Zen and a nationally recognized financial educator.

To encourage participation, MTSU awarded scholarships to students who engaged in Financial Literacy Month events and who submitted a short video detailing what they learned and how they will apply it to their lives. In total, 19 students received scholarships as part of the program.

These campus partnerships reflect Ascend’s broader mission to equip individuals with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed financial decisions and establish sound money habits.

About Ascend Federal Credit Union

With more than 250,000 members and more than $4.4 billion in assets, Ascend Federal Credit Union is the largest credit union in Middle Tennessee and one of the largest federally chartered credit unions in the United States. Based in Tullahoma, Tenn., the member-owned financial institution offers banking, loan, retirement, and investment services from its 28 branches, more than 55,000 free ATMs worldwide, digital banking portal, and mobile app. The credit union’s mission is to serve by offering financial literacy education and giving back to its community in a variety of ways. Ascend is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. For more information, visit ascend.org.

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