MAHS Academy of Finance

National Academy Foundation

Academy of Finance
Coordinator: Scott Andereck

Description

The Academy of Finance is a program within the College Preparatory Magnet School. Any student may apply for enrollment in the Academy, but if accepted, must be placed in the Magnet to simplify administrative and counseling services. Presently, we have one Academy class in each grade (9 to12). The total student population of the Academy is approximately 130 students (about one-third of the Magnet and less than 4% of the greater high school population).

Background of NAF

The Academy is one of over 100 Academies organized through the National Academy Foundation (NAF) in New York. NAF is committed to supporting our academy with curriculum materials, administrative assistance, and staff training. NAF was instigated in the 1980s in conjunction with American Express. Recently NAF was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Diffusion Network program, recommending that the Academy be replicated and expanded in school systems around the country. The Chairman of NAF is Sanford I. Weill (Chairman & CEO, Travelers Group), and the Vice Chairmen are Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. (Presidential Counselor and Senior Partner at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld), Jonathan S. Linen (Vice Chairman, American Express) and William E. Brock (President, The Brock Group, and past U.S. Secretary of Labor). The President of NAF is John Dow, Jr. Furthermore, the Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) organizes the local Academy Advisory Council composed of the leading representatives of the financial services industry.

MA AOF Sponsors

The Manual Arts Academy of Finance is sponsored and funded by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae)Foundation. We have one Fannie Mae sister Academy in Miami at the James A. Turner Technical School. The close proximity of Fannie Mae's western regional headquarters in Pasadena has enabled the Manual Arts Academy students and Fannie Mae employees to interact on a frequent basis. Since the Academy's inception four years ago, the Fannie Mae Foundation has provided generous funding to cover all elements of the program--total contribution to the Manual Arts Academy is over $200,000 per year. However the value of our relationship through field trips, mentoring and internships has been priceless. Additionally, through its adoption of the entire Manual Arts High School, ARCO has provided significant instructional and financial support. The Manual Arts Academy is also sponsored by the international law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and the Los Angeles Housing Department.

Fannie Mae/Manual Arts AOF Program Components:

Curriculum:

In addition to the Magnet school curriculum, all Academy of Finance students take a curriculum designed by NAF and adapted by the Academy teachers. Each class focuses on several aspects of economics and finance over the duration of two semesters. We provide the students with engaged classes that give the necessary knowledge and skills to compete in today's global marketplace. The course sequence is as follows:

9th Grade:

Business Computers Applications and Strategies for Success in School and Life. Students take a two semester course learning the operating systems of PC and Macintosh platforms while completing a number of projects and simulations to prepare them for high school and the work place. The final assignment is a personal portfolio, utilizing the computer, and encompassing the year's work.

10th Grade:

Economics and the World of Finance, Money and Banking, and Securities Operations. Students use several texts and various simulations to get an overview of macro and microeconomic concepts. Projects include creating charts and graphs monitoring the AT&T Investment Challenge, Balancing the Federal Budget, Chicago Board of Trade Commodity Challenge, Federal Reserve Videoconference, Creating and Operating Your Own Competitive Firm, and Developing a Financial Plan and Portfolio for Success.

11th Grade:

International Finance, Financial Planning, and Accounting. Students expand on the work of previous semesters going into the international sphere. Projects include international relations simulations and creating an international business. Students also acquire accounting skills requisite for the internship.

12th Grade (Fall):

Principles of Finance. Students take a one semester college accredited class at the University of Southern California with two professors of the business school: Richard Eastin and Ruben Davila. The course takes place after school on the USC campus and is of no cost to the students.

12th Grade (Spring):

Real Estate and Mortgage Banking. This course (known as the Fannie Mae Capstone course) brings everything together. Students hear a number of guest speakers, learn the fundamentals of the homebuying process, and then produce a homebuyers and community services fair. This colossal event--100 bankers and community reps, various panel discussions (including keynotes from Henry Cisneros and other political leaders), 150 student volunteers, and over 1000 parents from the community--is entirely coordinated by the senior Academy students. In the spirit of service, the Academy students take their knowledge and use it to improve their community

Scholarship:

For each semester an Academy student achieves a GPA of 3.0 or above, (a "B" average), the student receives a $500 scholarship for college. Total possible scholarship by graduation is $4000. Better than 40% of the students achieve the scholarship each semester. Total scholarship contribution by Fannie Mae to the Manual Arts Academy scholars to date exceeds $100,000. Also, NAF awards all students who successfully complete the Academy course sequence a certificate of financial studies and a medal along with their diploma upon graduation.

Internships:

Students are required to do a paid summer internship following their 11th grade year. Internships take place at prestigious banks, businesses and law offices in the Los Angeles area. Many students also do an internship or a university summer program following their 10th grade year.

Mentors:

All students by their senior year (some earlier) have a mentor from the local business community to help them with the college process and developing career/life goals. Mentors work with students individually and at group functions.

Field Trips:

Students take curriculum trips to various business, law and cultural centers in the Los Angeles area. Past examples include the Museum of Tolerance, Pacific Stock Exchange, The Federal Reserve, Fannie Mae Regional Headquarters, ARCO Corporate Headquarters, ARCO Refinery in Carson, Pacific Asian Museum in Pasadena, Museum of Contemporary Art, The Los Angeles Times, Downtown LA Public Library, and various universities in the area. Occasionally, the Academy classes take major out of town field trips, for example, a three week Fannie Mae Summer Institute in Washington D.C. and a one week college, finance and cultural tour of Northern California.

Meetings with World Leaders:

Selected students have the opportunity to meet world leaders. Past briefings have included Boutros Boutros Ghali, James Baker III, Robert Rubin, Ross Perot, Mario Cuomo, Diane Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Benazir Bhutto, Richard Riordan, Bill Gray, Yvonne Burke, Mark Ridley Thomas, Antonia Hernandez and Julian Dixon.

Community Service:

All students are required to do ten hours of community service each semester; most students do much more. Current class projects include registering community residents for citizenship, cleaning up graffiti and trash, planting trees in local parks and schools, working at Salvation Army soup kitchens and rebuilding homes through Habitat for Humanity and Christmas in April programs.

Leadership:

Academy of Finance students are expected to take a leadership role on campus. Very often class presidents and class officers at Manual Arts are students in the Academy of Finance. Students are also encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities.

Return to:

College Prep Magnet

Academies/Programs

Contact:

Scott Andereck
Manual Arts High School (323) 232-1121

Manual Arts High School
September 2000

Description	The Academy of Finance is a program within the College Preparatory Magnet School. Any student may apply for enrollment in the Academy, but if accepted, must be placed in the Magnet to simplify administrative and counseling services. Presently, we have one Academy class in each grade (9 to12). The total student population of the Academy is approximately 130 students (about one-third of the Magnet and less than 4% of the greater high school population).
Background of NAF	The Academy is one of over 100 Academies organized through the National Academy Foundation (NAF) in New York. NAF is committed to supporting our academy with curriculum materials, administrative assistance, and staff training. NAF was instigated in the 1980s in conjunction with American Express. Recently NAF was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Diffusion Network program, recommending that the Academy be replicated and expanded in school systems around the country. The Chairman of NAF is Sanford I. Weill (Chairman & CEO, Travelers Group), and the Vice Chairmen are Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. (Presidential Counselor and Senior Partner at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld), Jonathan S. Linen (Vice Chairman, American Express) and William E. Brock (President, The Brock Group, and past U.S. Secretary of Labor). The President of NAF is John Dow, Jr. Furthermore, the Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) organizes the local Academy Advisory Council composed of the leading representatives of the financial services industry.
MA AOF Sponsors	The Manual Arts Academy of Finance is sponsored and funded by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae)Foundation. We have one Fannie Mae sister Academy in Miami at the James A. Turner Technical School. The close proximity of Fannie Mae's western regional headquarters in Pasadena has enabled the Manual Arts Academy students and Fannie Mae employees to interact on a frequent basis. Since the Academy's inception four years ago, the Fannie Mae Foundation has provided generous funding to cover all elements of the program--total contribution to the Manual Arts Academy is over $200,000 per year. However the value of our relationship through field trips, mentoring and internships has been priceless. Additionally, through its adoption of the entire Manual Arts High School, ARCO has provided significant instructional and financial support. The Manual Arts Academy is also sponsored by the international law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and the Los Angeles Housing Department.

Curriculum:	In addition to the Magnet school curriculum, all Academy of Finance students take a curriculum designed by NAF and adapted by the Academy teachers. Each class focuses on several aspects of economics and finance over the duration of two semesters. We provide the students with engaged classes that give the necessary knowledge and skills to compete in today's global marketplace. The course sequence is as follows:
9th Grade:	Business Computers Applications and Strategies for Success in School and Life. Students take a two semester course learning the operating systems of PC and Macintosh platforms while completing a number of projects and simulations to prepare them for high school and the work place. The final assignment is a personal portfolio, utilizing the computer, and encompassing the year's work.
10th Grade:	Economics and the World of Finance, Money and Banking, and Securities Operations. Students use several texts and various simulations to get an overview of macro and microeconomic concepts. Projects include creating charts and graphs monitoring the AT&T Investment Challenge, Balancing the Federal Budget, Chicago Board of Trade Commodity Challenge, Federal Reserve Videoconference, Creating and Operating Your Own Competitive Firm, and Developing a Financial Plan and Portfolio for Success.
11th Grade:	International Finance, Financial Planning, and Accounting. Students expand on the work of previous semesters going into the international sphere. Projects include international relations simulations and creating an international business. Students also acquire accounting skills requisite for the internship.
12th Grade (Fall):	Principles of Finance. Students take a one semester college accredited class at the University of Southern California with two professors of the business school: Richard Eastin and Ruben Davila. The course takes place after school on the USC campus and is of no cost to the students.
12th Grade (Spring):	Real Estate and Mortgage Banking. This course (known as the Fannie Mae Capstone course) brings everything together. Students hear a number of guest speakers, learn the fundamentals of the homebuying process, and then produce a homebuyers and community services fair. This colossal event--100 bankers and community reps, various panel discussions (including keynotes from Henry Cisneros and other political leaders), 150 student volunteers, and over 1000 parents from the community--is entirely coordinated by the senior Academy students. In the spirit of service, the Academy students take their knowledge and use it to improve their community
Scholarship:	For each semester an Academy student achieves a GPA of 3.0 or above, (a "B" average), the student receives a $500 scholarship for college. Total possible scholarship by graduation is $4000. Better than 40% of the students achieve the scholarship each semester. Total scholarship contribution by Fannie Mae to the Manual Arts Academy scholars to date exceeds $100,000. Also, NAF awards all students who successfully complete the Academy course sequence a certificate of financial studies and a medal along with their diploma upon graduation.
Internships:	Students are required to do a paid summer internship following their 11th grade year. Internships take place at prestigious banks, businesses and law offices in the Los Angeles area. Many students also do an internship or a university summer program following their 10th grade year.
Mentors:	All students by their senior year (some earlier) have a mentor from the local business community to help them with the college process and developing career/life goals. Mentors work with students individually and at group functions.
Field Trips:	Students take curriculum trips to various business, law and cultural centers in the Los Angeles area. Past examples include the Museum of Tolerance, Pacific Stock Exchange, The Federal Reserve, Fannie Mae Regional Headquarters, ARCO Corporate Headquarters, ARCO Refinery in Carson, Pacific Asian Museum in Pasadena, Museum of Contemporary Art, The Los Angeles Times, Downtown LA Public Library, and various universities in the area. Occasionally, the Academy classes take major out of town field trips, for example, a three week Fannie Mae Summer Institute in Washington D.C. and a one week college, finance and cultural tour of Northern California.
Meetings with World Leaders:	Selected students have the opportunity to meet world leaders. Past briefings have included Boutros Boutros Ghali, James Baker III, Robert Rubin, Ross Perot, Mario Cuomo, Diane Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Benazir Bhutto, Richard Riordan, Bill Gray, Yvonne Burke, Mark Ridley Thomas, Antonia Hernandez and Julian Dixon.
Community Service:	All students are required to do ten hours of community service each semester; most students do much more. Current class projects include registering community residents for citizenship, cleaning up graffiti and trash, planting trees in local parks and schools, working at Salvation Army soup kitchens and rebuilding homes through Habitat for Humanity and Christmas in April programs.
Leadership:	Academy of Finance students are expected to take a leadership role on campus. Very often class presidents and class officers at Manual Arts are students in the Academy of Finance. Students are also encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities.