West Aurora D129 Unveils New Financial Empowerment Center

AURORA, IL — West Aurora School District 129 unveiled Aug. 26 its new Financial Empowerment Center, located within West Aurora High School, just in time for the new school year.

Created in partnership with Lake Forest-based Consumers Credit Union, the new center aims to provide financial resources to students and staff through informational seminars and educational opportunities, officials said in a news release.

"Providing financial education resources to students will help them the rest of their lives," Sean Rathjen, CEO of Consumers Credit Union, said in a statement. "This is a natural, and beneficial, extension of the longstanding partnership with School District 129."

Angie Smith, District 129's associate superintendent of operations and a CCU board member, said the Financial Empowerment Center has been a highly anticipated addition.

"As a CCU board member, I am proud of our service to the students and staff of School District 129," Smith said. "As a district administrator, I am grateful for the opportunity for our students to gain real-world experience, for our school community to access financial literacy resources and products, and for our district to receive continued financial support through the affinity credit card program and internal purchasing cards."

The district held a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony for the center on Tuesday, featuring remarks from Rathjen, Smith, West Aurora High School Principal Whitney Martino and D129 Board President Rich Kerns.