December 13, 2024
WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn. – Royal Credit Union (Royal) and White Bear Lake Area High School partnered for the first time to present students with a signature financial education experience Test Drive…Next Stop Reality® (Test Drive). Test Drive is a simulation of real life when it comes to money and finances. The event was held on Thursday, December 12 at White Bear Lake Area High School. Over 650 students and 200 volunteers participated in the event. In addition to Royal team members, many members of the White Bear Lake community helped throughout the day.
“It was such a pleasure to have our Career Pathways program partner with Royal Credit Union to offer Test Drive Reality Fair to the junior class” said Katy Olson, Career Pathways Coordinator at White Bear Lake Area High School. “The school was buzzing with students excited to share their personal experience with peers and teachers after their eyes were opened to so many important financial decisions that they will soon be facing. This event will certainly help shape and perhaps influence the path students take after high school.”
Test Drive is a hands-on experience where students select a career, research the education needed, and determine a realistic salary that would come from that career. To further the simulation of real life, students are also given random family assignments. Students visit a series of twenty-two stations and pay for basics such as housing, utilities, transportation, clothing, and food. Additional expenditures such as entertainment, pets, and unexpected expenses are also factored into the simulated activity. Each station is staffed by volunteers ready to help the students make decisions and offer guidance as they are faced with difficult decisions.
“We are proud to partner with White Bear Lake Area High School to offer students this unique learning opportunity,” said Deb Paulsen, Community Financial Education Coordinator at Royal. “Royal Credit Union developed Test Drive…Next Stop Reality® so that students learn to balance their wants and needs, understand what it takes to make it on their own and better prepare for their future.”
Royal offers a wide variety of free financial education for all ages and stages of life. A full list of financial programming can be found at rcu.org/FinEd.
About Royal Credit Union
Royal Credit Union is a federally insured credit union proudly serving over 300,000 Members in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Royal is driven by a core ideology built on a strong purpose and values. You can open an account or apply for a low-rate loan at Royal Credit Union if you live or work in 26 counties in western Wisconsin or 16 counties in Minnesota. Counties served in Wisconsin include Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Lincoln, Marathon, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Washburn, and Wood. Counties served in Minnesota include Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Olmsted, Pine, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Wabasha, Washington, Winona and Wright. A complete list of Member eligibility requirements is available on the Royal Credit Union website. To learn more about Royal, visit rcu.org or call 800-341-9911.
