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Honor Credit Union partners with Northern Michigan University for Financial Reality Fair for high school students

MARQUETTE, MI (October 2, 2024) — Honor Credit Union, in collaboration with Northern Michigan University’s College of Business (NMU), proudly hosted a Financial Reality Fair on Friday, September 27th, welcoming nearly 350 students from local high schools to NMU’s campus. Participating schools included Gwinn Area Community Schools, Ishpeming Public Schools, Negaunee High School, Nice Community Schools, and Republic Michigamme Schools.

This impactful event provided high school students with a hands-on opportunity to explore the realities of adult financial management. Each student took on a simulated adult role, complete with a career, salary, credit score, and navigated various lifestyle spending choices. The Financial Reality Fair enabled students to experience firsthand the challenges and decisions involved in managing a budget, from dining out versus cooking at home to the impact of credit scores on purchasing a vehicle.

On-site, members of Team Honor, NMU College of Business faculty, and students were present at each station to engage with the high school students and guide them through their decisions, enhancing the learning experience.

Honor Credit Union’s commitment to advancing financial literacy was brought to life through this event, supported by the Michigan Credit Union Foundation (MCUF) and in partnership with NMU’s College of Business. The collaboration with NMU further exemplified a shared dedication to preparing students for future success.

“Our partnership with NMU highlights our mutual dedication to education and providing students with real-world experiences,” said Jamie Gollakner, Community Development Officer at Honor Credit Union. “By hosting this interactive experience on a college campus, we aimed to empower students with practical financial skills and boost their confidence as they approach adulthood.”

Following the end of each session, Dean Carol Johnson of NMU’s College of Business engaged students in conversations about their experiences, asking insightful questions about their budgeting challenges, whether they successfully managed their monthly budgets, and how they handled unexpected expenses.

“The NMU College of Business is pleased to partner with Honor Credit Union on this important educational effort. We are especially delighted to welcome local students to campus and introduce

them to NMU, along with practical financial skills. Empowering and enlightening young people is a major objective for us,” commented Dean Johnson. “Having a ‘safe space’ to practice this simulation enables these students to fully embrace this educational experience. This collaboration benefits everyone involved. We are grateful to Honor, local high school administrators, and our many volunteers. We are looking forward to next year already!”

Honor Credit Union welcomes inquiries from other schools interested in hosting similar events. Schools looking to explore financial literacy opportunities for their students can contact Honor Credit Union at 800.442.2800 or by email at marketing@honorcu.com for more information.

About Honor Credit Union

Honor Credit Union is a non-profit, full-service financial institution serving over 110,000 members in 28 member center communities throughout Western and Northern Michigan. Providing solutions for financial success and giving back to the communities we serve remain the driving forces behind Honor Credit Union. For more information, call 800.442.2800, or visit www.honorcu.com.