2008 Desjardins Award Competition

Please note: changes have been made to the entry forms for this year's competition!  Do not use forms from prior years.

Please consider this the official call for entries for the annual Desjardins (pronounced day - shar - dan) Youth Financial Education Award Program.

The Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award recognizes leadership within the credit union movement on behalf of youth financial literacy. Naming the new award after Alphonse Desjardins emphasizes the movement's long-time commitment to youth. Besides founding the first credit unions in Canada and the U.S., Desjardins pioneered youth savings clubs and in-school "banks," known as caisses scolaires.

The award considers all activities supporting the personal finance education of young members and nonmembers, including, but not limited to, face-to-face teaching, publicity, lobbying for curriculum requirements, teacher and volunteer training, and promotion and use of the NEFE High School Financial Planning Program® (HSFPP).

Projects submitted for the Desjardins competition should include activities that took place from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.  State winners from the competition will advance to the national competition for judging. Winning credit unions at the state level will be recognized at the Keynote & Awards program held during the League’s 79th annual convention (April 16 – 18, 2009) and at the winners' respective chapters.  National winners will be recognized at the 2009 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, D.C. 

All entries must be submitted to the League office by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 1, 2008.  You are strongly encouraged to enter this program. It is an excellent way for your credit union to be honored for its youth financial education efforts and serve as an example for others to follow. 

Here are a few reminders about the program:

• In each competition, your credit union will compete with others in the same asset category. In addition, individual chapters involved in community or financial education activities are eligible to enter the chapter category.
   
• The best projects are often unique projects.
   
• Include one overall entry for that supports all projects.  If there are multiple activities, pick the one project or activity that best represents the credit union's overall strategy and complete the entry form based on that project.
   
• Your credit union will compete with others in the same asset category.
   
• An entry form must be completed and included with your entry(ies). Answering the questions is a key component of the entry and assists the judges in their decision making.
   
• A checklist must also be completed and included with your entry.

The chapter category refers to single chapters, not groups of chapters. Chapter entries should cover activities conducted as a chapter project, not the individual efforts of credit unions in the chapter.

Entry forms, answers to commonly asked questions, and other information is available below.  Click on the links to obtain the information needed for each of the award competitions.

Commonly Asked Questions - Desjardins
Secrets of a Winning Entry
Desjardins Credit Union Entry Form and Checklist (note changes for 2008)
Desjardins Chapter or Credit Union Group Entry Form and Checklist (note changes for 2008)
Summaries of Past Winning Desjardins National Entries

For more information, please contact William Wille, Public Relations Coordinator, at (800) 942-7124, ext. 3216.