• Provide a written report in any format they believe appropriate that addresses the issues/questions raised by the Chang family in the attached Case Study and accompanying balance sheet and budget. The report should set forth their recommendations and include any assumptions and calculations they believe would be helpful for the Chang family/judges.   [Note: Three to four students per team.  Substitutions for good cause are allowed.]

  2013 Personal Finance Case Study 
  
  2013 Personal Finance Case Study - Budget and Balance Sheet

• Submit the report by Monday, April 15, 2013 by NOON. The report cover should include the names of the student financial planning team, and the name of their sponsoring teacher, school and school division. E-mail the report to Sarah Hopkins Finley at shfinley@vcu.edu. You will receive notification of receipt by return e-mail. If acknowledgement is not received within 30 minutes, please call Page Ritter to confirm receipt of the report (804-828-1628.)  MAXIMUM page limit: the report with recommendations may not exceed 10 pages, not including the cover page. An appendix may also be added with any supporting documentation and calculations deemed appropriate.

• The final Championship component of the Governor’s Challenge takes place on April 17, 2013 at the VCU Commons in Richmond, VA from 10:00am to 2:30pm (registration and refreshments begin at 9:30am.) Student teams competing in the Personal Finance Division of this Challenge, will present their recommendations to a panel of judges in the morning. With only the judges in attendance, each team presentation is limited to five minutes, with five minutes of questions from the judges and a few minutes in the beginning for any set up.  Feedback will be provided to each team. The scoring rubric is provided at the end of the Case Study document. 

• After lunch, based on the scores from the morning presentations, the top two teams will present their recommendations to the entire group of students and adults in attendance. Some additional facts will be presented to the team for them to react to in their presentation. Each team will have 35-40 minutes to consider these additional facts and how to address them in their presentation. Again, presentations will be limited to five minutes plus an additional five minutes for questions from the judges. [Note: timing will be arranged to ensure each team has the same amount of time to prepare and the second team to present will not be in the room while the first team is presenting.] From these two teams, one will be awarded first place and one second place in the state. 

• Technology will be available at the VCU Commons.  It will be best for students to bring their presentation on a flash drive and use our computer and projection, but also good to bring their own laptop as a back if possible.  Also, the top two students who present in the final round based on the written and morning presentations will have an additional "twist" to consider and reflect on for 1/2 hour. They may want their laptops for Internet access and possibly adding another slide, although that isn't required.

For all high school students: