Yolanda Ferguson from the Federal Reserve presents Alcorn Middle School student DeVante Thompson with a $50 savings bond. Alcorn Middle School student DeVante Thompson and Kelly Mill Middle School student Meghan Pearson are two of 16 students around the state whose illustrations will be featured in the SC Council on Economic Education's 2009- 2010 Economic Concepts Calendar.

In addition, the two students received $50 savings bonds to mark their accomplishments. Both DeVante and Meghan illustrated the economic concept of "specialization and trade."

The students competed in the annual calendar poster contest sponsored by the SC Council on Economic Education (SCCEE) and the Charlotte Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

The goal of the contest is to promote financial literacy and economic education among elementary and middle school students. The calendar will be printed in the fall.

SCCEE President Helen Meyers said, "We are pleased to work in partnership with the Charlotte Fed to provide this learning experience for students like DeVante and Meghan. Our goal is to help young people learn an economic way of thinking and it's very rewarding to see that students are catching on to these important concepts."

Meghan Pear son from Kelly Mil l Middle School accepts her $50 savings bond from Yolanda Ferguson of the Federal Reserve. The contest was created as a way for students to have fun with economics while reviewing economic concepts and principles found in the SC State Social Studies Standards. Richland District One teacher Sandy Frazier submitted DeVante's winning illustration and Richland District Two teacher Diane Gilbert entered Meghan's drawing.

The SC Council on Economic Education is a non- profit business- education partnership dedicated to providing teachers with the tools and resources needed to educate South Carolina's students about financial literacy, economic principles, and the changing global economy. To learn more about the Economic Concepts Poster Contest and other resources provided by SCCEE, go to www.sceconomics. org.

DeVante Thompson's winning Economic Concepts Calendar artwork depicting "specialization and trade." Meghan Pearson illustrated the concept of "specialization and trade" to win a spot in the 2009- 2010 Economic Concepts Calendar.