YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Sarah Jenyk, senior lecturer of economics in Youngstown State University’s Lariccia School of Accounting and Finance, has received a Blackboard Exemplary Course Program Award.
The award recognizes Jenyk’s ECON 1505 Personal Financial Literacy course for excellence in course design, student engagement and instructional quality.
The Blackboard Exemplary Course Program recognizes faculty members and course designers from schools, colleges and universities worldwide who develop courses that use technology to support teaching and learning.
Jenyk’s Personal Financial Literacy course teaches students practical financial skills, including budgeting, financing a vehicle, navigating the mortgage process and planning for retirement. The course also includes a stock market project in which students research a company and analyze its performance.
The course was recognized in four areas: course design, interaction and collaboration, assessment and learner support.
Applicants for the award must use the Blackboard learning management system. Submitted courses are evaluated by instructional designers, faculty members and other educational professionals using the Exemplary Course Program rubric.
“We are proud to recognize educators like Sarah Jenyk, whose work reflects the creativity, care and intention behind impactful course design,” said Lisa Clark, associate vice president of Academic Transformation at Blackboard. “Their efforts help create learning experiences that are more engaging, effective and supportive for students.”
Jenyk earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from YSU and has been a member of the university’s faculty since 2009. She received YSU’s Distinguished Professor Award in Teaching in 2025.
In addition to Personal Financial Literacy, Jenyk teaches Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics and Survey of Economics.
Pictured at top: Sarah Jenyk, senior lecturer of economics at Youngstown State University, received a Blackboard Exemplary Course Program Award for her ECON 1505 Personal Financial Literacy course.