United Way presents ‘Reality U’ for all 8th Graders Wednesday, Jan. 29 at EMS/EHS

Who: All 8th Graders

Time: Wednesday, Jan. 29 

9:30 am - 2:30 pm

Location: Ellinwood Middle School/EHS

Reality U brings a bit of “reality” to students through a 75-minute interactive and engaging personal finance simulation. Students imagine their life as a 26-year-old and complete an online lifestyle survey. This information is entered into trademarked software, along with their current GPA, to create a unique and individualized future scenario. Each scenario includes the student’s monthly income, credit card debt, student loan information, as well as marital and family status. Students are given a checkbook register to track their monthly purchases from the 12 booths representing services and/or products that adults typically must purchase or consider each month. Sometimes they must return a “purchase” and make a different decision. The checkbook register can’t fall below zero!

This event actively engages students to help them understand the importance of how their performance in school today impacts their future. It also provides the community an opportunity to share in local students’ learning and developing an understanding of the world of work.

United Way of Central Kansas is bringing this event to students from Ellinwood Public Schools - USD 355, Central Plains High School - Claflin, Hoisington USD 431, Ft. Larned USD 495, Otis-Bison Cougars, Pawnee Heights Unified School District 496, Saint Joseph Parish and School, and Stafford Schools USD 349, Stafford, Kansas thanks to the generous support of Sunflower Bank, as well as Doll Insurance Group, Ellinwood School/Community Library Foundation, Ellinwood Hospital and Clinic, Jensen Associates Inc. Insurance Agency, and Zip Stop. With lunch being provided by Ellinwood Packing Plant, Inc., Ellinwood Family Foods, and Gather and dessert from Two Chicks And Some Old Bird.