FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CFA SOCIETY OF PRESENTS WALL STREET JOURNAL SCHOOL EDITION TO 12 MISSISSIPPI SCHOOLS Teachers Use Resource to Supplement Junior Achievement Economics Curriculum

JACKSON, MISS., December 11, 2007 – Twelve Mississippi high schools were selected to receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition (WSJ-CE) for the 2007-2008 school year. The CFA Society of Mississippi, a local non-profit organization for investment and financial professionals, and Junior Achievement of Mississippi, Inc. are the sponsors of the project.

The schools are Bailey High School, , Lanier High School, , , and in Jackson, Canton High School in Madison County, Pearl High School and Brandon High School in Rankin County, Hattiesburg High School in Forrest County, Biloxi High School in Harrison County and Saltillo High School in Lee County.

“Our society’s desire is to inspire young adults studying economics,” said L. Alan Smith, CFA, CFA Society of Mississippi president. “We are pleased that The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition provides a valuable resource that allows students to develop a better understanding of economic principles and how they affect our world.”

The CFA Society of Mississippi’s gift entitles each school to receive one monthly classroom set of the award-winning educational resource for the 2007-2008 school year. Each set includes 30 copies of The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition student newspaper and one Teacher Guide, a prepared set of lesson plans designed to assist teachers in meeting national standards for business education. Each teacher also receives a subscription to WSJ.com, The Wall Street Journal Online, and First Class, the exclusive resource area for WSJ-CE subscribers.

The CFA Society of Mississippi partnered with Junior Achievement (JA) of Mississippi to identify the twelve recipient schools, in part, due to JA’s ongoing relationship with both the teachers and the schools. JA looked for schools where the teacher and school would see the value of the WSJ-CE and use it in the classroom to enrich and strengthen the education of local students.

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JA’s continued relationship with each of these high schools in providing “JA Economic” textbooks for 12th grade economics classes, “Personal Economics” materials for Senior Seminar, and business volunteers that visit/teach each economics class eight times a semester, created a natural fit with the desired CFA Society of Mississippi goal.

"We are proud to partner once again with the CFA Society of Mississippi,” stated Judy Reagan, Director of Operations for Junior Achievement of Mississippi. "With the CFA Society providing the WSJ-CE to our students and teachers who use the JA Economics textbooks and curriculum that we provide for their 12th grade economics classes, the society is giving them an additional tool that enhances the principles and objectives being taught.

"Having access to the WSJ-CE, the students and teachers experience first-hand the ’real world’ economic events affecting our world as they happen each day. Our objective of bringing economic theories to life and making them relevant to our young people is realized through this opportunity afforded by our partnership."

Teachers at the sponsored schools were excited about receiving The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition resource.

“The paper has really helped my students’ knowledge about economic issues, because it gives them a look at real-life situations. The paper serves as a tool to reinforce some of the economic problems that we discussed during class,” said Linda Johnson, Provine High School teacher.

Todd Boucher, Biloxi High School economics teacher, added, “Both the CFA Society of Mississippi and Junior Achievement have been an integral part of my classrooms’ success. These organizations have provided my students with access to the Wall Street Journal which has exposed them to curriculum beyond the textbook. In doing so, my students have been able to see the inter-relatedness of what is illustrated in the textbook with the world they live in. The Wall Street Journal has profoundly enticed my students to read current events and has facilitated a variety of classroom discussions.” CFA Society of Mississippi Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition Page 3 of 5

About CFA Society of Mississippi: CFA Society of Mississippi is one of 135 CFA Institute affiliated professional societies in 56 countries. The society’s mission is to foster a community of investment and financial professionals in Mississippi with the highest levels of ethics and competence. The society promotes participation in the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) Program, a graduate-level, self-study curriculum and examination program for investment specialists. At the beginning of each year, the society presents its Annual Forecast Dinner during which distinguished financial experts provide their outlooks for the upcoming year. The dinner is Mississippi’s premier event for serious investors. More information about CFA Society of Mississippi may be found at www.cfamississippi.org.

About Junior Achievement of Mississippi: The Mission of Junior Achievement in Mississippi is simple: "To strive to ensure that every child in Mississippi has a fundamental understanding of the free enterprise system." By helping children understand the relevance of education to the work place, Junior Achievement is opening new windows of opportunity, new career possibilities, and thus improving the quality of their lives. That is our Purpose: to educate and inspire young people to value free enterprise, business, and economics...in order to improve the quality of their lives. More information about Junior Achievement of Mississippi may be found at mississippi.ja.org or by calling 601.948.3997.

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CFA Society of Mississippi Media Contact: Robin Perry, [email protected] or [email protected] T: 601.981.5332 ext. 1486

Junior Achievement of Mississippi Media Contact: Judy Reagan, [email protected] T: 601.948.3997 CFA Society of Mississippi Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition Page 4 of 5

The CFA Society of Mississippi presents the Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition to the Brandon High School. Pictured with the 12th grade students are first row left Mr. Bryan Marshall, Assistant Principal; second row left Mr. Undray Scott Assistant Principal; first row right Robin Perry, CFA Society of Mississippi Public Awareness Chair; second row right second-to-last Mrs. Jennifer Toth 12th grade economics teacher; and second right row last Mr. Freddie Bagley, Junior Achievement volunteer and President/CEO of Community Bank who presented a lesson to the class on assets and liabilities. CFA Society of Mississippi Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition Page 5 of 5

The CFA Society of Mississippi presented The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition to the Biloxi High School for the 2007-2008 school year. Pictured are students from Todd Boucher’s economic class enjoying the benefits of having The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition available to them.