South Dakota high school students are becoming more money savvy in the midst of a rough economy. Volunteers with Junior Achievement are going into classrooms throughout the state to teach students about the importance of getting their finances in order, even at a young age.

Students in the class of 2010 will have to take a semester of personal finance or economics before they can graduate. Junior Achievement role models will meet with them for five sessions, teaching them about budgeting, insurance, identity theft, investments and credit.

These 28 Lincoln High School students have money on their minds.

"What are some of the ways that you can acquire money? Job," Tim Reuer of Midland National Life Insurance said.

They're the first class in the state to take a personal finance course through Junior Achievement.

"And I think it's great that part of your curriculum now is also personal finance so you can learn about these things in high school," Reuer said.

Reuer is leading the class. Today's topic is budgeting.

"What types of goods or services or things do you end up spending? Food. Got to have food, that's right." Reuer said.

Junior Achievement organizers say most teenagers, 60 percent in fact, don't know the difference between cash, a check or a credit card.

"We don't really think about it, and so all we really have on our mindset is going out and buying the latest CD that's out," Senior Allison Kolander said. 

CD as in compact disc, not certificate of deposit.

"Some people would rather be in gym or art class, but it's definitely going to help you out in the future," Kollander said.

Seniors like Kolander are already thinking about budgeting for college. And the added challenges of a recession mean paying attention in class now will pay dividends far into their financial futures. 

Fifteen-hundred high school students across South Dakota are required to take the personal finance classes. Junior Achievement has about 2,000 volunteers teaching the sessions.