‘Who Wants to be a Bazillionaire?’ teaches Lake Oswego Middle School students financial literacy

When you were a middle schooler, did you know what a budget was? How about inflation, interest rates or even a savings account?

For the students of Lake Oswego Middle School, the answer will be, “Yes!”

On Wednesday, May 22, Lake Oswego Middle School, formerly called Lake Oswego Junior High or LOJ, hosted the special all-school assembly “Million Bazillion Live: ‘Who Wants to be a Bazillionaire?’”

Based off of American Public Media’s Marketplace podcast for kids and teens, “Million Bazillion,” the immersive event brings the game show to life with financial trivia, challenges and prizes. The touring show is a partnership between APM’s Marketplace and Greenlight, a company that makes debit cards for kids to learn about finances.

Two student teams, blue and yellow, competed against each other in challenges.

“Bringing Home the Bacon” taught how interest adds value to savings accounts and involved throwing stuffed money across the stage at their teachers dressed as pigs. Other challenges explained how inflation has increased the cost of goods over time and the risks and rewards of saving versus spending.

The big prize? The chance to smash a whipped cream pie into the face of Assistant Principal Alix Loeber or Dean of Students Kelly Farrell.

“Million Bazillion” was created by Marketplace to help increase the financial literacy of young Americans. Teens scored an average of only 64% on the national financial literacy test, according to Marketplace. “Who Wants to be a Bazillionaire?” brings financial literacy to the students in person at their schools.

Earlier this year, the Oregon state Senate passed a bill to require all Oregon high schoolers to earn a financial literacy credit toward their diplomas. This new requirement goes into effect during the 2026-27 school year.