The words financial responsibility and teenager are not usually used in the same sentence. Adrian Kimmok, winner of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling's (NFCC) 2010 National Financial Literacy Poster Contest, defies that stereotype.

Kimmok, an 11th grade student at West High School in Torrance, CA, was one of more than 3,000 students across the nation who submitted posters around the theme of "$mart Money Choices = A Brighter Future." Making smart money decisions is not a new concept to Kimmok. After the family immigrated to America from Argentina, Kimmok began tutoring his neighbor for a wage of $3 per hour. Kimmok, the young entrepreneur, was in fifth grade and the neighbor in second.

When the family came to America, they arrived with little more than the clothes on their backs and a few suitcases. Kimmok states that "When I saw the theme of the contest, I didn't have to look any further than my family to know that this idea is true. At a young age, my parents stressed the value of stretching a dollar, the significance of conserving money and making smart financial choices."

Kimmok put his parent's teaching into practice, and at the age of 10 took the money he'd earned tutoring and bought his first computer. Kimmok understood that he could have easily spent the money elsewhere, but instead he relied on the lessons of patience, determination and perseverance that his parents had instilled in him.

The purpose of the annual poster contest is to introduce young people to the concept of financial literacy, and allow them to express their understanding of it through art. A panel of judges representing the news media, government, nonprofit organizations and academia found Adrian's poster to be not only artistically creative, but also practical in that it specifically defined the path to achieving your financial goals.

As a part of the prize, Adrian was recognized at a Congressional Briefing on Capitol Hill earlier this week and honored at the Jump$tart Coalition Annual Awards Dinner last night where the NFCC presented him with the grand prize award of a $500 savings bond. During his trip to Washington, DC he toured the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and met with both Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

"Adrian sets an excellent example for us all, and is well on the road to a lifetime of financial stability. As a matter of fact, many adults could learn a lesson or two from this fine young man," said Gail Cunningham, spokesperson for the NFCC.

Kimmok's poster was submitted by NFCC Member Agency, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Orange County. "We couldn't be happier for Adrian. Having a strong work ethic and sound financial principles in place at such a young age bodes well for him down the road," said Jim Frannea, president and CEO of the agency.

Grade category winners of this year's poster contest are as follows:

High School Winner: Michelle Ma, 9th grade, Morgantown High School, Morgantown, WV (submitted through Consumer Credit Counseling Service of North Central West Virginia)

Middle School Winner: Daniel Carr, 8th grade, Homeschooled, Tampa, FL (submitted through GreenPath Debt Solutions)

Elementary School Winner: Lydia Chen, 4th grade, Bee Meadow School, Whippany, NJ (submitted through GreenPath Debt Solutions)