GSSM Junior Leads Successful Legislative Push to Designate April as Financial Literacy Month in South Carolina

HARTSVILLE, S.C. (March 31, 2026)— Through the leadership of a South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) student, the South Carolina General Assembly has officially designated April as Financial Literacy Month.

Tanishka Agarwal, a GSSM junior and the South Carolina chapter lead for the nonprofit Youth Finance USA, spearheaded the two-year legislative effort. Working alongside State Rep. Cody Mitchell and State Sen. Penry Gustafson, Agarwal advocated for the resolution to emphasize the importance of early financial education. The bill passed the House in late January and received final Senate approval on March 5.

“South Carolina recently improved its financial literacy grade from a ‘C’ to a ‘B’ on the [National Public Education Foundation’s] Nation’s Report Card due to the implementation of mandatory personal finance classes for high school graduation,” Agarwal said. “We believe this official proclamation is the next step toward earning an ‘A’ and ensuring every student in our state is equipped with essential life skills.”

To celebrate the inaugural month, GSSM and Youth Finance USA will host a series of educational programs throughout April. These sessions are designed to build financial knowledge through age-appropriate, interactive activities for elementary and middle school students.

The scheduled events include:

• April 2: An online outreach session for local elementary and middle schools introducing the basics of financial literacy through interactive games.
• April 16: Local elementary students will visit the GSSM campus for a hands-on "Needs vs. Wants" workshop, featuring a mock budgeting simulation.
• April 23: Local middle school students will engage in a stock market simulation at GSSM, learning the fundamentals of investing, risk management, and diversification.
• April 30: A virtual wrap-up session to conclude the month’s programming and discuss long-term financial habits.

These financial literacy workshops are integrated into GSSM’s Outreach Department SPARK and STEM Day programs, which provide high-quality educational experiences to students across the state. The program aligns with GSSM’s mission to provide world-class STEM instruction while fostering the civic leadership and practical life skills necessary to benefit the entire Palmetto State.

"Tanishka’s initiative embodies the GSSM spirit of leadership and service," said Danny Dorsel, GSSM president. "By moving beyond the classroom to influence state policy, she is helping create a more financially secure future for all South Carolinians."