The Ironton Tribune

Luke Tackett of Aid left the country to learn about finances but he received an international education in the process.

One hundred university students from 27 countries were chosen to discuss financial education at the HSBC Financial Literacy Forum in Toronto, Canada, recently and Tackett was one of them.

Tackett represented the University of Rio Grande SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) team at the forum.

“I was surprised,” Tackett said. “It’s not everyday you get to go to something that professional.”

The SIFE team goes to different elementary and high schools in Gallia and Lawrence counties and teaches the students lessons dealing with economics, Tackett said.

In the high schools, students are taught lessons such as how to use a credit card, about identity theft and credit card debt. The group also teaches students skills for the future such as how to make a resume.

Tackett, originally from Ironton, is a 2004 graduate of Dawson-Bryant High School. He is a sophomore at Rio Grande University majoring in high school education. He is the son of Bill and Joyce Tackett of Ironton.

Tackett said he enjoyed attending the forum where he made many new friends from places such as Brazil, China, Ecuador and Chile. He also said being a part of the SIFE team at Rio Grande has been a great experience for him and he encourages other students at join a SIFE team or start one at their university.

“It is a great learning experience,” he said.

“You always need to know a thing or two about economics,” he said as he laughed.