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UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA AND TAKE CHARGE AMERICA SPONSOR SIXTH ANNUAL "DUEL IN THE DESERT"
STUDENT FINANCIAL-PLANNING COMPETITION RETURNS TO ARIZONA

PHOENIX (March 3, 2008) – The sixth annual Duel in the Desert, a nationwide intercollegiate case study competition in financial management, is taking place March 6-9 at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz. Sixty four students will represent 16 colleges at the national event. Take Charge America, a non-profit financial counseling and debt consolidation organization is a main sponsor of the Duel in the Desert, and has been since the inception of the competition in 2003. The event features teams belonging to the Students in Free Enterprise (S.I.F.E.) organization.

"The Duel in the Desert presents an excellent opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in situations that test their money management skills," said Dr. Michael Staten, director of the Take Charge America Institute at the University of Arizona. "The event serves as a great way to encourage financial responsibility and education among young adults."

More than 200 students, representing 56 universities, participate in eight regional competitions in order to qualify for the national Duel in the Desert at the University of Arizona. Regional champions and host teams are invited to the national contest to compete for over $11,000 in prize money. Teams participate in a complex case study, where they are charged with researching facts and supporting evidence in effort to develop short, medium and long-term solutions for a fictitious family experiencing extreme financial trouble.

The event’s keynote speaker is Dan Iannicola Jr., deputy assistant secretary for financial education at the U.S. Department of Treasury. Sponsors, judges and other financial contributors also will be in attendance, including representatives from JP Morgan Chase Bank, Wells Fargo Bank and Visa USA. The participating students will have the opportunity to present their ideas and solutions to these influential members of the financial community.

“Take Charge America is pleased to partner with the University of Arizona to provide a forum that fosters students’ critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities,” said John Fisher, CEO of Take Charge America. "The competition will serve as a way to encourage student leaders to develop skills in personal finance."

Take Charge America’s mission is to educate consumers about personal financial management. The organization is a proud supporter and sponsor of the Duel in the Desert and the high level of learning that it promotes.

Duel in the Desert participating universities:

• Boston College
• Syracuse University
• Drury University
• College of the Ozarks
• Metro State University
• California State-Bakersfield
• Regent University
• Messiah College
• Saint Francis University
• Youngstown State University
• University of North Carolina – Charlotte
• College of Charleston
• University of North Dakota
• Dakota State University
• Valdosta State University
• Georgia Southwestern State University

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
The mission of The University of Arizona is to improve life for the people of Arizona and beyond through education, research, creative expression and community engagement. The University offers the highest quality education, excels in creating new knowledge that has worldwide impact and provides leadership and collaboration to address the challenging issues facing Arizona, the nation and the world.

ABOUT TAKE CHARGE AMERICA
Founded in 1987, Take Charge America, Inc. (TCA) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Phoenix. TCA offers a variety of services including financial education, credit counseling and debt management. To learn more about TCA or its programs, please call 1-800-823-7396 or visit www.takechargeamerica.org.