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Two classes of students at St. Pats High School received financial literacy certificates Thursday, and NebraskaLand National Bank threw a pizza party for the grads.

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St. Pat's as well as North Platte High School teamed with NebraskaLand Bank to incorporate financial literacy into school lessons.

The online EverFi program uses new technologies such as adaptive-pathing, 3-D gaming, social networking, online animations, video, and messaging tools to bring complex financial concepts to students.

Using the platform, St. Patrick's High School and NPHS students have become certified in more than 600 topics in personal finance, the bank said Thursday.

Students in the program learn to make the best decisions in personal financial management, Nebraskaland Bank Marketing Director Danielle Nichols said.

Nichols said through the program, St Pat’s and NPHS are taking the lead of a statewide financial literacy initiative.

EverFi is building and operating the nation's largest network for K-12 online education in off-curriculum but valuable content areas such as financial literacy, student loan management and other life skills.

The ceremony Thursday capped more than than two weeks visits by bankers to schools to talk personal finances.

On April 10, employees from NebraskaLand Bank began teaching kids their financial ABCs in preparation for National "Teach Children to Save Day."

At one stop, bank employees taught than 100 Hall School students in grades K–5 in one day.

“While today’s kids can receive e-mail on their cell phones or use the Internet to do their homework, many do not know or understand the basics of saving and money management,” said Molly Harm, Marketing Assistant of NebraskaLand National Bank. “Studies show that people who learn to save early in life usually make smarter financial decisions later.”

Students learn the importance of budgeting, the difference between needs and wants, why it’s important to save for emergencies and how interest makes money grow.

Another session was hed April 25 for fifth graders at McDaid Elementary.

By the time the special classes are over this month, more than 250 North Platte elementary students will be taught, Harm said.

Sponsored by the American Bankers Association Education Foundation, the lessons are designed to meet standards in personal finance and reinforce traditional concepts of math, language arts, science and other disciplines, Harm said.

From elementary school to high school, students have an opportunity to apply concepts and practices through games and other hands-on activities.