Legg Mason Sponsors Patuxent High School Seniors Trip to New York with Finance Academy

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md., -- October 7, 1998 -- The Calvert County Department of Economic Development announced today that student members and instructors of the Calvert County Finance Academy traveled to Wall Street on Friday, October 2, 1998. The students and instructors were given personalized tours of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the trading floor and member's gallery of the New York Stock Exchange. Their final visit was a "bird's eye" view of New York from the observation deck on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center. Legg-Mason Wood Walker, Inc., a regional brokerage firm and member of the New York Stock Exchange, provided funds for the students' and instructors' travel. Attendees included:

Students: Crystal Catterton, Dorothy Coby, James Crowder, Eric Gross, Crystal Hance, Delonte’ Harrod, Garnett Johnson, Joy Josey, Niketa Livingston, Brandi Murphy, Samantha Naylor and Charles Bird.

Adult Chaperones: Matt Poteet, Teacher; Sheila Moore, Supervisor of Instruction; James Shepherd, Chairman of Advisory Board; Thomas Bird, Vice Chairman & Legg Mason Representative; Gordon Smith, Advisory Board Member; Martha Rymer, Advisory Board Member; and Valerie Harrington, Director of Finance Academy.

Also in attendance was Beth Berselli, Washington Post Reporter.

The Calvert County Academy of Finance Chapter is currently available only to Patuxent High School students. It is expected that the program will soon be expanded to Calvert and Northern High Schools. The Finance Academy is organized through the National Academy Foundation (NAF). NAF's mission is to create Academy programs by partnering private industry and the public sector with education in order to provide quality industry-specific education and work experience for high school students nationwide as preparation for careers and/or college. NAF has developed curricula and materials that are current, vital, and reflective of the concerted efforts of both industry and education.

"Workforce readiness and availability are major issues for companies looking to relocate or expand their business," said Jeff Stone, director of economic development. "The finance industry is strongly represented in the target markets that the Department of Economic Development is pursuing; therefore, the success of this Academy of Finance program is of particular interest to the future of economic development in Calvert County."

An advisory board guides the Finance Academy with representatives from local finance related industries and other interested parties in Calvert County. The board contributes to the overall success of the program by helping locate paid six-week summer internships in finance-related positions between the student’s junior and senior year.

For more information please contact the Calvert County Department of Economic Development, 410.535.4583 or 800.331.9771, e-mail cced@co.cal.md.us.

For more information on the Calvert County, Maryland Department of Economic Development, our visitor sites and attractions and the services available to assist County businesses, call 410.535.4583, 800.331.9771 or 301.855.1880; or send an e-mail to info@ecalvert.com