A junior at Greencastle High School recently received an award from Serve Indiana, the service and volunteerism division of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Isaac Hertenstein, 16, received the 2022 Youth Volunteerism Award.

Hertenstein is the founder and president of a 501(c)(3) called Students Teaching Finance. The not-for-profit strives to enhance financial literacy and combat economic inequality nationwide by high school and college students educating youth in their communities. Students Teaching Finance has grown to include chapters in more than a dozen states and involves more than 160 student volunteers who will have made an impact on an estimated 1,600 students by the end of the year.

"I'm excited to see how this growth continues and I look forward to more students learning these financial principles," Hertenstein said. "I've always had an interest in personal finance, and what inspired me was mending a gap in education and a need students had."

To be nominated for Serve Indiana's 2022 Youth Volunteerism Award an individual must have been under the age of 18 as of Oct. 1, 2021. A minimum of five volunteer service hours a month or equivalent of 60 volunteer service hours a year are also required.

"I have served as a mentor while Isaac developed his non-profit and he has voluntarily taught financial literacy lessons in my classroom," said Brittany Labhart, a Greencastle teacher. "It is an amazing gift to see your student apply the lessons they learn in your classroom. What Isaac has done is above and beyond anything I could have imagined. I am so proud of the work he is doing in the community and helping fellow students."

The mission of Serve Indiana is to advance service and volunteerism by informing, connecting, and promoting opportunities and resources that enrich the lives of Hoosiers. It accomplishes that mission through several programs and initiatives including AmeriCorps State, Day of Service Grants and the Awards for Excellence Ceremony. To learn more, go to in.gov/serveindiana.

Photo Caption: Serve Indiana Commission Chair Stefonie Sebastian (right) and Serve Indiana Commission Vice Chair Jo Yocum (left) present Isaac Hertenstein (center) with the Serve Indiana Youth Volunteerism Award during the 2022 Serve Indiana Awards for Excellence ceremony on Nov. 3, 2022 at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center in Indianapolis. The Serve Indiana Awards for Excellence recognizes individuals in Indiana communities for their outstanding and extraordinary volunteer service efforts.