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Show MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20,2010 THE SIGNPOST continued from front still have student loans to t$ay off, but they will be a lot less." An Individual Development Account (IDA) is a 3-to-l matched savings program that offers the incentive and opportunity for incomequalified individuals to save for their first home, a small business, college or vocational education, or work-related assistive technologies. "Individuals in the program must save a minimum of $15 and a maximum of $62.50 per month," said Jeremy Botelho, case manager for Cottages of Hope. "That really incentivizes individuals to save so that we don't run across an opportunity of getting a large tax return and just putting all that in their account. They have to save for a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years. The most they can save for match purposes is $1,500 of their own money, so if that's matched three times that's $4,500, so they would withdraw $6,000 at the end of the program." The program is about more than just saving money. It's about building strong financial management habits that will help program participants build stable financial futures. "You have to go to four financial classes, which were actually really helpful," Jones said. "I think it is better than most programs that offer students money. continued from front Thefinancialclasses would "It's a pretty cool teach how to stay out of place," she said. debt, how to budget your Before finding money, how to use a credit Cottages of Hope, Jones card responsibly, all the was a nanny in New York things students our age to save up money. During should be learning before the school semester she they get themselves into works 12-hour days at trouble." the South Ogden Center Over the two years for Family Medicine. Cottages of Hope has Even with her hard work, been in Ogden, it has she still needed help to pay for her seen some //' /Y schooling. growth. 11 Q have M y "When we parents got involved to go to four saved up there were a little bit only two financial savers in classes which of money," / Jones said. W e b e r "But that got County," said were actually me through Chris Swaner, the other case really helpful. the first year of school. It manager at I think it didn't get me Cottages of is better too far." Hope. "Cache County had than most Jones 75. In the first also used year of being programs that r e s o u r c e s available involved, we offer students at WSU, are up to 10 but needed savers. We are money. the extra just getting help from to the point - Lacey Jones Cottages of where people are starting to WSU student Hope. // Jones is use the money *"' ^ now set to to cash out, as graduate from WSU with they say." Botelho and Swaner a degree in radiation both graduated from therapy in the spring of 2011. She will do so with WSU in 1998. "Financial literacy a little bit of help from was a big concern (in her parents, WSU and Ogden)," Botelho said. Cottages of Hope. To learn "There were very limited more about the Utah resources in education Individual Development Account Network and for financial literacy." Botelho said this is program eligibility, visit the main reason he and www.uidan.org or call Swaner brought Cottages 877-787-0727. of Hope to Ogden. Jones said she is grateful that Comment on this story at they did. wsusignpost.com. the Health Center and the Student Wellness Center. According to Gray, the idea for the Student Services Expo came after a meeting with members of the student legislative branch. In the meeting, the legislators asked the Student Affairs Department to come up with an event that lets students see where their fees are applied, thus the Student Services Expo was born. Alongside the information booths, other activities will be held during the event. There will be free giveaways and a prize drawing for all the students that attend. Information pamphlets for the different departments will also be handed out. While technically part of Homecoming Week this year, the Expo might not always be part of the festivities. Gray said that she hopes next year the Expo can continue being a part of it because it is good to have it coupled with such an important event of the year. Justin Neville, legislative vice president of the student government, said he felt students need to attend the Expo to learn about the services they could really benefit from and to get the most out of the money they spent on student fees. "I would encourage all students to go take some time to walk around the Expo a little bit," Neville said, "find out what is available to them, so that in the future if they need help, they'll know where to go and go there for free." Comment on this story at GSA PHOTO BY CHAZALEH JAZI | THE S!GNPO}1\ GSA member Turner Bitton leads a discussion on sexu? preference disclosure and tolerance of diversity. garage sale in order to raise money and give the members an opportunity to participate in a safe environment. "It gives people something to do in a positive way," Sheffield said. "And it's a way to meet people who are open-minded." Other schools, such as Fremont High School, attempted to register a GSA, but obstacles as to what kinds of clubs are allowed prevented this. Fremont High School has a closed forum in regards to school clubs and organizations, which means that all noncurricular clubs and activities are banned. wsusignpost.com. "The reason is that if they had an open forum} they would basically d ridiculous clubs that would have only a couple of members but would pointless," said Haylee McCracken of Fremont High School. McCracken was among those who attempted to start a GSA at her high school. She said she plans to compensate for not having one by attending WSU's GSA and trying to get other LGBT youth at her school to do the same. Many of the high schools that currently have GSAs are working together with members of other organizations, including the Utah Pride Center and , Equality Utah. Meanwhile, work is- stilt--ongoing*--te<- get GSAs set up in more high schools in Weber ana Davis counties. Comment on this story at wsusignp os t. com ^ Our cats work hard to get you the news, so you don't have to. Express it Create it Live it Share it • ADP SOME STRENGTH TO YOUR CLASS SCHEDULE! ^ • j ^ f SjWW'f"?' A r m Y R 0 T C C l » « at W«btr State Unlvtrsltyl Call B01-626-6518 or email: ammoncampb«!f&weber.edu _ tfGU'J-L Jfalb iiJ^iiiili Am/, djy flhls reserved. I HE j |