Shippensburg University students to navigate money management challenges during upcoming Financial Reality Fair
HARRISBURG, PA (March 15, 2019) — Shippensburg University students will “make waves” as they navigate the challenging seas of money management during a PSECU-hosted Financial Reality Fair on March 19. Open to all students and held on campus in the university’s Ceddia Union Building (CUB) from 3:30-5:30 p.m., the event simulates a real-life, post-graduation scenario during which students must make money-smart decisions and lifestyle changes to remain within a set budget based on their intended career fields.
“The Financial Reality Fair is a great interactive learning opportunity for students. It’s comprised of 15 booths, all representing unique aspects of personal finance, like housing, transportation, meals, or pets,” said PSECU Financial Education Manager Sara Weiser. “Participants visit the booths and interact with the staff at each to select options that fit their individual needs but don’t overstrain their finances. After making their way around the fair, the goal is for the students to achieve a balanced budget or, better yet, to have extra money to save.”
With the help of volunteers from PSECU and Shippensburg University, the Financial Reality Fair is designed to be a highly educational experience for student participants. Students receive a budgeting worksheet with salary information based on their intended career and level of education. They then visit a series of booths to learn about and make choices pertaining to living expenses, from entertainment to insurance. To end the activity with a balanced budget, students are encouraged to revisit each booth as many times as needed.
“Shippensburg University understands the value of students gaining knowledge about financial literacy early in their college career,” said Javita Thompson, the university’s Director of First Year Experience and Community Engagement. “We are encouraging not just our first-year students to take part in the Financial Reality Fair, but all of our students.”
Last year, PSECU hosted Financial Reality Fairs at Bloomsburg University, California University of Pennsylvania, and Kutztown University. Of the 187 total participants, 146 students completed surveys about their experience. They were asked questions about skills they acquired, thoroughness and clarity of information provided, and likelihood of event recommendation to peers. The survey results were overwhelmingly positive with each question receiving an average score of at least 4.7 out of a maximum score of 5.
“For students to realize their full potential after graduation, it is important that they have a solid understanding of the financial environment they’ll be entering, and that’s just what a Financial Reality Fair provides,” said Mike Verotsky, Director of University Development for PSECU. “Following credit unions’ ‘people helping people’ philosophy, we at PSECU are proud to have the opportunity to sponsor the Financial Reality Fair and help impart that education to Pennsylvania’s students.”
When registering for the Financial Reality Fair, each Shippensburg University student will also be provided with a giveaway toolkit of resources and financial education materials to help them as they continue working toward financial success.
About PSECU
Opened in 1934, PSECU was founded by 22 ordinary people who pooled $90 and made an extraordinary commitment to each other: To create a financial institution where collective resources benefit all members. Today, PSECU continues that legacy as Pennsylvania’s digital-first credit union, with $8 billion in assets, an economic impact of over $700 million, more than 590,000 members, and a convenient anytime, anywhere banking model. For more information about PSECU, visit psecu.com. PSECU has been recognized as a Best-In-State Credit Union by Forbes, a Best Credit Union by GOBankingRates, a Best Bank by Money.com, and one of America’s Best Banks by Newsweek. View its Year In Review to learn how PSECU contributes to the greater good.
About Shippensburg University
Shippensburg University is committed to student learning and personal development through high-quality and innovative coursework that is enhanced by out-of-class experiences. With more than 100 undergraduate programs and more than fifty graduate programs that offer undergraduate through doctoral degrees, Shippensburg University has enriched the lives of its students for nearly 150 years, and is poised to continue this tradition well into the future.
