Beyond
the Numbers:
The Human Side of VCEE’s
Impact Across Virginia
Beyond the Numbers
For 55 years, VCEE’s impact has been measured in more than statistics. Behind every number is a student discovering a passion, an educator transforming a classroom, a volunteer championing a mission, or a partner investing in opportunity. Explore the stories that bring our impact to life.
Who Is VCEE?
The Virginia Council on Economic Education equips educators with the tools and resources to teach economics, personal finance, and entrepreneurship, creating a ripple effect that reaches students across the Commonwealth. Learn more about our programs and how we’re helping prepare Virginia’s next generation for success.
Educators Reached
182,873
Students Impacted
12,236
Contact Hours Awarded
63%
Title 1 Reach
Alexis Broderick
VCEE Alumna • Former VCEE Intern • Founder, ACCESS TO ECON (A2E)
Alexis Broderick’s journey with the Virginia Council on Economic Education (VCEE) began in elementary school when she participated in a VCEE Mini-Economy Market Day. What started as a hands-on classroom experience introduced her to the world of economics and planted the seed for a future she never imagined.
Years later, that same organization would welcome her back, not as a student, but as an intern and advocate for economic education.
Discovering a Passion
While attending the Virginia Summer Residential Governor’s School for Humanities, Alexis took an economics course that transformed the way she viewed the world. She discovered that economics was more than numbers. It was a way to understand people, solve problems, and make informed decisions using data.
“It helped me see how economic principles like incentives, trade-offs, and opportunity cost could be used to solve real-world problems.”
That realization inspired Alexis to explore how economics could open doors for other students.
Turning Passion Into Purpose
Recognizing that many students have limited exposure to economics and personal finance, Alexis founded ACCESS TO ECON (A2E) to make those opportunities more accessible.
Today, A2E connects students with educational resources, mentorship, and career exploration through a podcast, virtual mentorship program, and online curriculum reaching students across the United States and Europe.
For her senior Capstone project, Alexis developed the Econ Starter Kit, a bilingual collection of resources now being shared with educators and students across Virginia through VCEE and internationally through the Maggio Multicultural Academy in the Dominican Republic.
Giving Back
As a senior, Alexis returned to VCEE as an intern, helping the organization that first inspired her.
She created youth-focused social media content, supported research initiatives, and reviewed educational resources to ensure they connected with younger audiences. She also worked to expand youth engagement and encourage more students to discover the opportunities available through economics and personal finance education.
Her experience came full circle. The organization that helped spark her interest in economics became a place where she could help inspire the next generation.
Looking Ahead
Today, Alexis continues to build on the foundation that began years ago through VCEE.
She was awarded the prestigious Department of Defense SMART Scholarship, a full-tuition scholarship-for-service that includes summer internships with the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Cost and Economics, followed by employment after graduation.
This fall, Alexis will attend Duke University, where she will pursue dual degrees in Statistical Science and Economics.
Her story is a powerful reminder that one educational experience can shape a lifetime of opportunity.
What began at a VCEE Mini-Economy Market Day grew into a passion for economics, a commitment to serving others, and a future dedicated to making economic education more accessible for students around the world.
Help Shape the Next Story
Alexis’s journey began with one opportunity. Today, thousands of Virginia students are discovering their own potential through VCEE’s programs. Your support helps ensure that more students have access to the experiences, resources, and encouragement that can shape a lifetime.
Make your impact. Invest in Virginia’s next generation.
Jeremiah Riesenbeck, M.Ed., CFEI
Virginia Economics & Personal Finance Instructor, Roanoke City Public Schools • VCEE Personal Finance Teacher Fellow
As a Virginia Economics and Personal Finance instructor with Roanoke City Public Schools, Jeremiah Riesenbeck believes financial education should be more than a lesson in a textbook. Through his participation in VCEE’s Personal Finance Teacher Fellowship Program and professional development opportunities, he discovered new ways to bring personal finance to life and create lasting learning experiences for his students.
A Dream Years in the Making
For four years, Jeremiah dreamed of creating a classroom economy where students could experience personal finance instead of simply reading about it.
That opportunity came after attending VCEE’s Financial Foundations: A Personal Finance Conference for Educators, hosted in partnership with the VCU Financial Success Center. There, he discovered new classroom resources, connected with fellow educators, and found the My Classroom Economy program by Vanguard, the missing piece that would finally turn his vision into reality.
“It was the key that unlocked this entire endeavor,” Jeremiah said.
Learning by Doing
Jeremiah transformed his classroom into a working economy where students applied for jobs, earned wages, paid bills, contributed to savings, purchased property, planned for retirement, and made real financial decisions throughout the school year.
Wanting to make the experience even more meaningful, Jeremiah reached out to local financial institutions and community partners. Their generosity resulted in more than $3,500 in funding, along with donated prizes and scholarships that brought additional excitement and purpose to the program.
By the end of the year, the classroom economy had generated an estimated $7,000 in educational value, creating opportunities for students to experience the rewards and responsibilities of financial decision-making in a safe, engaging environment.
Transforming Student Success
The results reached far beyond classroom engagement.
Jeremiah’s students raised their first-time W!SE certification pass rate from 69% to 82%, while average assessment scores increased dramatically from approximately 40% to 78%.
Across six classes and 137 students, they also demonstrated the habits of responsible financial decision-making by earning wages, building savings, paying bills on time, setting financial goals, and making thoughtful spending decisions through their classroom economy.
For Jeremiah, those accomplishments represented far more than numbers.
“They represent dedication, responsibility, and newfound financial wisdom.”
The Ripple Effect
Jeremiah’s story demonstrates the power of investing in educators.
When teachers are equipped with meaningful professional development, innovative resources, and a network of support, they create learning experiences that extend far beyond a single classroom.
“Your belief in these students and this program has made a tangible difference,” Jeremiah shared. “Together, we’re equipping students with the skills and confidence to navigate the financial challenges that lie ahead.”
One educator. One classroom. Hundreds of students empowered to make informed financial decisions.
That is the ripple effect of VCEE.
Empower One Teacher. Impact Hundreds of Students.
When educators have access to meaningful professional development and classroom resources, their impact reaches far beyond a single school year. Your gift helps VCEE continue equipping teachers like Jeremiah with the tools they need to prepare students for success.
Support the educators who are shaping Virginia’s future.
Tapan V. Gandhi
Managing Director, Endowment & Foundation Practice • Cambridge Associates • VCEE Board Member since 2018
Since joining VCEE’s Board of Directors in 2018, Tapan Gandhi has witnessed the organization’s impact from the classroom to the community. As Managing Director of the Endowment & Foundation Practice at Cambridge Associates, he understands the value of investing in the future. For him, that impact became unmistakably clear while watching elementary students confidently put economic lessons into practice.
Where Learning Comes to Life
One of the experiences that has stayed with Mr. Gandhi most is attending VCEE’s Mini-Economy Market Day in Richmond. The room was filled with excitement as hundreds of elementary students proudly operated businesses they had created, applying the economic concepts they had learned in their classrooms.
“It was incredible to watch,” he recalls. “The energy, the creativity, and the confidence these students displayed were inspiring. It made me wish every community in Virginia could experience something like this.”
More Than a Classroom Lesson
As Mr. Gandhi walked through the marketplace, two students left a lasting impression.
One young entrepreneur was selling handmade “stress busters,” balloons filled with flour. By the time Mr. Gandhi reached his booth, the student had sold out. Rather than lose the sale, he quickly explained that another student still had inventory. Within moments, he had located the product, completed the transaction, and delivered exactly what his customer wanted.
At another booth, a student proudly displayed a stand she had built from popsicle sticks. She initially described it as an earring holder, but after noticing her customer probably wasn’t shopping for jewelry storage, she quickly reframed it as a photo stand. Her ability to understand her audience and adapt her product in the moment made the sale.
“They weren’t just selling products,” Mr. Gandhi said. “They were solving problems, thinking creatively, and applying what they had learned in real time.”
Investing in Virginia’s Future
For Mr. Gandhi, those moments perfectly captured the mission of the Virginia Council on Economic Education.
“These students weren’t memorizing vocabulary words for a test. They were developing confidence, communication skills, critical thinking, and entrepreneurial mindsets that will serve them for the rest of their lives.”
If asked why VCEE matters, Mr. Gandhi doesn’t point to statistics or programs first. He remembers a room full of young entrepreneurs discovering what they’re capable of.
“It’s one thing to teach economics in a classroom,” he says. “It’s another to watch students bring those lessons to life. That’s the impact of VCEE.”
Invest in Tomorrow’s Problem Solvers
Every confident student Jeff met at Mini-Economy Market Day started with a teacher who made learning come alive. Your support helps VCEE equip educators with innovative programs and resources that inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, leaders, and decision-makers.
Help create more moments like these across Virginia.
