Guest speaker Rodney Welch talked to students about saving, investing and “protecting your assets.” Courtesy photo
On Wednesday, Nov. 6, the Delta Sigma chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha hosted a financial literary seminar for the campus and surrounding community of Grambling State University, in Room 242 of the Favrot Student Union.
The financial literacy workshop was as a part of their “All That” Alpha Week festivities.
This year’s Alpha Week paid homage to the 90s hit sketch variety television show “All That!”
Rodney Welch, a Grambling State University graduate with a degree in accounting and spring 2000 initiative of the Delta Sigma chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was the key speaker of the event.
Welch, who has over 20 years of experience in the insurance and financial services profession, talked to students about the importance of the different types of life insurance: term-life and whole life, the reasons why people buy life insurance and demonstrated to students how an insurance agent calculates life insurance.
Welch, the owner of Brightway Insurance, the Rodney Welch Agency and the Welch Financial Group in West Monroe, La., also talked to students about car insurance and what it actually means.
He also talked to students about saving and investing in traditional and Roth IRA (individual retirement account).
“This event was important because not only is budgeting good but as college students, knowing how to loans and insurance works is also very important,” Malik Walker, a senior mass communication major from Gardena, Ca., said.
Throughout their duration of college, many students have to take out student loans to stay float and continue on with their education.
At Grambling State University, there is a great number of first-generation college students who are paying for college themselves.
Many students are uncertain about life after college and job opportunities they may or may not have.
This event was a great way to get the conversation started and put people in their comfort zones when it comes to finances and hopes after college.
There were many great tips to help understand how to pay for loans and how to gain resources to help assist with student loans.
The students who attended were able to participate in a interactive game to test their knowledge about financial literacy and what was discussed.
Winners of the game were awarded with gifts.
Other events of the week included a male only event called “The Shop” covering important topics for black men in today’s society.
The Alphas set up a room in the Favrot Student Union to mimic a real barbershop including two professional barbers, LaDarius “Phatcat” Mamon known as Steelothebarber on Instagram and Cameron White, known as Camwhite offical on instagram.
“Males were invited to have open conversations about life, sexual health and everything else young men go through,” Walker said.
Male students were able to receive real talk and free haircuts.
Alpha Week was concluded by having a training day event in the men’s gym, hosting competitive dodge ball, basketball and knocker ball games. The men of Alpha Phi Alpha planned for this year’s Alpha Week festivities since the summer and all of their hard work was on display.