Four Queens of McLaurin High School: How Four 7th-Grade Girls Won The 2024 State of MS Personal Finance Challenge

In the spring of 2024, four seventh-grade girls—Miranda, Kennedy, Khloe, and Raelee —defied the odds and shocked the state of Mississippi. Competing against students from elite schools, these underdogs defied the odds and won the Mississippi State Personal Finance Challenge.Their triumph wasn’t just about a trophy. It was about showing the power of determination and financial literacy in middle school—a subject too often ignored, minimized, or delayed until it’s too late. Through budgeting, credit, investing, teamwork, and leadership, the Four Queens discovered not only how money works, but also how to believe in themselves.This inspiring true story is perfect for:Students who want to see how financial literacy can shape their future.Teachers who want to prepare kids for life, not just state tests.Parents who want to break cycles of financial struggle and empower their children.Along the way, you’ll discover practical lessons on compound interest, saving vs. investing, teamwork, goal-setting, public speaking, and confidence. You’ll see how games like Shady Sam, Build Your Stax, and the Stock Market Game taught life-changing lessons, and how conversations at home opened doors for entire families.If you’re looking for an inspiring true story, a practical guide, and a call to action for why personal finance education must be taught early, this book is for you.Dr. Eric C. Hite, is an award-winning educator, preacher, author, and nonprofit leader with more than two decades of experience teaching students how to thrive in faith, finance, and life.State of MS Economics Teacher of the Year (2024)National Personal Finance Teacher of the Month (Jump$tart National Education Consortium, 3-time scholarship recipient to their national conference)Mississippi Statewide Financial Literacy Coach (2021–2023)Led students to 1st and 2nd place finishes in Mississippi Stock Market Game, 1st place in the MS Personal Finance Challenge, and 3rd in the nation in the Capitol Hill Stock Market Challenge (2024).A 20+ year veteran teacher whose innovative programs have transformed Title 1 classrooms, producing state and national champions.He is also the founder of NUBIAN (National Council on Urban Investing Education), a nonprofit dedicated to bringing financial literacy to underserved communities through Teacher Workshops, Family Financial Fun Nights, and Future Millionaire Academies.Additional Books by Dr. Eric C. HiteTransformational Teaching 1 Remember Your WhyK.I.S.S. (Keep Investing Simple Strategy)Basics of Investing for TeensFuture Millionaire Academy WorkbookCountdown to MillionsThriving in God’s Will, Through God’s Word Romans Road to Salvation SeriesEphesians 5 to Make Your Marriage Thrive / Ephesians 5 for a Marriage to Thrive CovenantAdventures of Bus 425 (Children’s Series)60 Years Later, Jim Crow Still Exists in Rankin County School District: My Experience at McLaurin High SchoolFrom Teacher of the Year to Termination: The Problems with K–12 Public School EducationWhether you are a student searching for financial freedom, a teacher looking for practical inspiration, a parent eager to empower your children, or a Christian seeking biblical encouragement, Dr. Hite’s catalog offers something for you. Each book is written with clarity, passion, and purpose, reflecting his life’s work: preparing people not just for tests, but for life. Read more