Marshall, MI (May 29, 2024) |
Marshall Community Credit Union (MCCU), with support from the Michigan Credit Union Foundation, recently hosted three financial reality fairs at Union City High School and Battle Creek Central High School. The events were held at Union City High School on April 22, 2024, and Battle Creek Central High School on May 6 and 7, 2024.
A Financial Reality Fair is an interactive simulation that provides students with practical experience in managing a budget and making real-world financial decisions. Led by MCCU’s Financial Education Specialist, Laura Van Dyke, the events engaged over 350 students combined.
“The Financial Reality Fair gives students a glimpse into what adulthood looks like, offering an opportunity to practice spending decisions in a low-stakes environment,” says Van Dyke. “Students must balance their budget and make important decisions between wants and needs, considering big-ticket items like housing and transportation while also dealing with lifestyle temptations such as sports betting, coffee runs, and online shopping binges. We aim to use real-life budget busters so students understand the challenges they will face after high school.”
“This event was a powerful illustration of the importance of financial literacy using real-world scenarios,” says Paul Kunde, Career Connections Teacher at Battle Creek Central High School. “Students easily identified and understood the material covered, making connections with their everyday life. We couldn’t have been more pleased with the outcomes of the Financial Reality Fair and are thankful for the incredible effort the team at MCCU put into this event for our students.”
“So many of our students raved about the interaction and practice they had with real-life skills,” Union City High School Teacher, Jamey Cerka-Wilks added. “It was an amazing opportunity for our students, and they even recommend bringing the Financial Reality Fair back for students every year.”
Students also benefited from the diverse backgrounds and insight provided by the event’s volunteers who are all members of the Battle Creek Area Association of Realtors and/or the Branch County Associations of Realtors. The volunteers represented the following companies: Honor Credit Union, Midwestern Realty Group, MTP Real Estate Group, RE/MAX Perrett & Associates, and Sturgis Bank & Trust.
For additional information on MCCU’s financial education efforts, visit https://www.
Financial Reality Fair- Students Discussing Their Budgets (BCPS)
Union City FRF (Union City)