To find the adventures of the newest superhero, there’s no need to look up in the sky. But rather, look in the … bank?
The San Diego Council on Literacy’s Financial Literacy Superheroes Competition invited youths ages 4-17 to submit comic-book-themed graphic art entries with a message about financial literacy or money management.
The winner of the CEO’s Choice Award was 14-year-old La Jollan Diego Sopielnikow, who was honored with other award winners from across the county at a ceremony April 13 at San Diego’s Comic-Con Museum.
Diego’s one-page comic features the exploits of Money Man, who stops a villain determined to brainwash the world into making bad financial decisions.
“I wanted it to be funny and cartoonish because I thought the message would get across better that way,” Diego said. “The message is that saving and investing will get you more money in the long run.”
The unnamed villain creates a mind-control machine that persuades people to spend their money until it is gone instead of saving it. But by saving, the villain (and the reader) learn, one has the chance to “live like a millionaire,” according to the comic.
“It was a fun story to write,” said Diego, a student at Day Prep, a private school with locations in La Jolla, La Costa and Escondido.
“As the CEO in CEO’s Choice, I liked that Diego’s submission was hand-drawn, colorful, featured an original superhero and taught a clear financial literacy message about saving money,” said San Diego Council on Literacy Chief Executive Jose Cruz.
“I also liked the small details and the angles of the visuals. Some were almost animated. There were action shots and sound effects! And plot-wise, there was a beginning, middle and end. This submission had essence. Diego’s confidence comes through.”
Diego has been making comics since early childhood.
“I have always liked drawing comics and stuff, and I also read comics every now and again,” he said. He added that he enjoys the character Carnage from the Spider-Man franchise.
“I like drawing stories because I get to put ideas from my mind into an image,” Diego said. “I like that it is like a movie that you can make on paper.”
After seeing a flier for the contest at a local library — and the $100 cash prize — Diego knew he wanted to enter. Though he said he plans to save as much of the prize money as possible, he its he also has his eye on a particular pair of shoes he wants to buy.
Through the competition, Diego has learned the importance of saving “so you aren’t broke when you’re older,” he said.
That’s exactly what the Council on Literacy had in mind.
“Getting kids excited about financial literacy can be challenging, but it’s incredibly important to an individual’s long-term success, so we developed this competition with a fun focus on mediums that families love — comics and superheroes,” Cruz said. “Through this artistic approach, we can spark family conversations on key critical money management skills like the importance of saving or borrowing wisely.”
To learn more, visit literacysandiego.org. ◆
