The ‘Money Tree’

Taking a moment to chat while helping students are, from left, Money Tree bankers Micah Jennings, Matthew Goodman, Hudson Reynolds and Thomas Millholland.

Martha Carolyn Ward watches as students get cookies and refreshments while guessing how much money was pinned to the money tree.

Money doesn’t grow on trees, but at Maryville Christian School the “Money Tree” is a program that gives students the chance to save money and learn the behind the scenes goings on of a financial institution.

Maryville Christian School recently celebrated a four year partnership with Alcoa Tenn Federal Credit Union by giving students the chance to guess how much money was on a “money tree” set up at the school’s Money Tree branch.

Each year 16 students from the freshman class learn the ins and outs of banking at Alcoa Tenn’s “Money Tree” branch at Maryville Christian. Rotating teams of four students assist fellow students, teachers and parents with their banking. The Money Tree branch is set up in the school and students and teachers can do business with the student bankers.

Students make deposits during free time at the lunch hour with the help of the up and coming financial tycoons. Alcoa Tenn Federal Credit Union was the first financial organization to open and operate an In-School branch in Blount County.

Grand re-opening was held at the beginning of the new school year. Free cookies and juice was a huge hit with students on their way back to class after lunch.

All the students enjoyed taking a best guess at how much the Money Tree holds. This money tree held $254.