Kettering, OH – On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, Day Air Credit Union partnered with Centerville High School to host Mad City Money Financial Reality Day, a dynamic, hands-on simulation designed to teach students real-world money management skills. The event offered financial literacy students a practical and engaging opportunity to learn budgeting and financial decision-making.
As part of the simulation, students were assigned careers and family scenarios, which they received the day before the event. During the activity, they visited various stations to allocate their “monthly incomes” toward expenses such as food, entertainment, personal care, and savings. This immersive experience helped students understand the complexities of balancing budgets and making responsible financial choices.
“The Mad City event was a great success,” said Adam Priefer, Business Academy Teacher and overseer of the CHS Credit Union at Centerville High School. “Students had to make decisions they felt were best for their situation and quickly saw the value of budgeting, spending, and saving.”
Approximately 350 students participated in the event over six class periods, including those enrolled in Financial Literacy and an Entrepreneurship class. This initiative supports Ohio’s financial literacy graduation requirement, which began with the Class of 2026 (this year’s juniors).
The goal of the simulation was to make financial literacy not only informative but also interactive and engaging for the students. By tailoring the simulation to fit 50-minute sessions, it was ensured that each group could experience the core lessons in a meaningful way.
The collaboration between Day Air Credit Union, Centerville High School, and the Centerville Business Academy ensured the event’s success. The Day Air team is already planning their return in the spring, with ideas to further enhance the program and make it even more impactful for students.
Day Air Credit Union is proud to support financial literacy initiatives, empowering young people with the skills and knowledge they need for lifelong financial success. To learn more about Day Air Credit Union’s Financial Education programs, contact the Day Air Community Development team at community@dayair.org.