Financial Literacy Scholarship Competition
2026 marks the 13th year we’ve partnered with Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and Members 1st Federal Credit Union on the competition, which gives students the ability to share what financial literacy means to them. Held annually beginning each January, winners are announced in April during Financial Literacy Month.
It’s never too late – or early – to start learning how to be smart with your money. If you know how money works, you’re in a better position to understand where it’s going and you’re able to hold government accountable for how it’s being spent.
The 2026 student financial literacy scholarship competition is now closed, and the winners have been announced – see below!
2026 Competition Results
The 2026 winners of the competition were selected out of nearly 120 entrants who submitted poems or essays on the theme, “What Does Financial Literacy Mean to Me?” As announced on April 22, the winners are:
- Best In Show ($2,500 prize): Eliana Pagan, 11th grade, Bishop McDevitt High School, Dauphin County
- Grade 9, First Place ($1,500 prize): Karra Johnson, Cedar Cliff High School, Cumberland County
- Grade 10, First Place ($1,500 prize): Emerah Clark, Mastery Charter School, Philadelphia County
- Grade 11, First Place ($1,500 prize): Abriana Feliciano, Steelton-Highspire High School, Dauphin County
- Grade 12, First Place ($1,500 prize): Edwannys Antoine, William Allen High School, Lehigh County
- Honorable mentions ($500 prize): Protyayee Sarkar, 9th grade, Cedar Cliff High School, Cumberland County; Cade Woodson, 10th grade, Northeastern High School, York County; Kenna Book, 11th grade, Northern Dauphin Christian School, Dauphin County; Akshaya Sreeram, 12th grade, Downingtown STEM Academy, Chester County
In addition to the cash prize, every student who submitted an entry to the 13th Annual Financial Literacy Competition will receive a $1,000 tuition scholarship when enrolling as a full-time student at Harrisburg University.
This was the 13th year that Harrisburg University of Science and Technology has organized this competition. Monetary prizes were provided by Harrisburg University; no taxpayer funds were used.
Celebrating First Place Winner Eliana Pagan
Pictured from left to right: Tim DeFoor, Auditor General; Eliana Pagan, first place winner, Bishop McDevitt High School (Dauphin County); Representative Justin Flemming; and Ryan Riley, Members 1st Federal Credit Union