Reality Fair in Athens
INSURANCE BOOTH - Marathon business owner Keith Paul works with Marathon High School senior Liz Goergen at the insurance table during the Reality Fair on April 9 in Athens. The first annual Reality Fair was sponsored by CoVantage Credit Union and local business leaders from Athens and Marathon ran the booths. The booths included items such as housing, insurance, clothing, groceries, county government and utilities. Students visited every booth during their time to pay their monthly bills based on the choices they made for housing, transportation and their family status. At the end of the event, students could have up to $100 in their account or students needed to re-evaluate their spending and investing options. Students later reflected on their experience.
BUDGETING THEIR EXPENSES -
Athens High School students Sarai Aguilar-Hernandez, left, and Brianna Sheahan work on completing their budget sheets at the Reality Fair. Each student listed the amount for each expense from the various booths and at the end they needed to have enough money to pay all of their bills. If they had a lot of money leftover, they had to make some additional investments. If they had a negative balance, they had to revisit the different booths to adjust their spending.
THEY SURVIVED THE EVENT - Shown is a large group of Athens junior and senior high school students who are wearing their “I survived” shirts that all students received after completing the first annual Reality Fair on April 9 in the Athens middle/ high school gym. During the Reality Fair, the Athens students along with Marathon High School seniors were assigned an occupation and a monthly income based on this area and their future career goals. Their family status (married, single, children) was randomly assigned. After deducting their fair share of taxes and any credit card and student loan obligations, students then visited various booths to “take care” of additional monthly financial obligations including groceries, insurance and housing. Athens students pictured, from left to right, front row: Lana Yang, Amanda Paul, Isabella Zastrow, Danica Knott, Evin Passehl, Kamden Zarnke and Gavin Frahm; second row: Max Yang, McKenzie Belter, Brianna Sheahan, McKenna Lepak, Brooklynn Soens, Vanessa Espinoza-Quiroz, Alyvia Haehlke and Shaylon Blake; third row: Danica Delis, Kirestin Passehl, Natalie Salber, Pretty Blake, Katelyn den Otter, Ava Ford, Sarai Aquilar-Hernandez, Aleah Frahm, Malaina Telschow and John Zunker; back row: Alejandro Vasquez-Yeager, Austin Dean, Brandon Krause, Bradley Yessa and Zachary Martyn.
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
CHILDCARE BOOTH - Marathon High School senior students Anna Chesek, left, and Morgan Gore visit the childcare table at the first annual Reality Fair in the Athens middle/high school gym. Marathon senior Alex Doty is in the background.
