Breaking the Cycle: Cumberland County Hosts First-Ever High School Financial Literacy Boot Camp with Real-Life Simulation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Crystal McLean
Email: connect@moneyboxacademy.org
Phone: (910) 983-2803
Website: www.moneyboxacademy.org

Breaking the Cycle: Cumberland County Hosts First-Ever High School Financial Literacy Boot Camp with Real-Life Simulation

Fayetteville, NC — In a powerful step toward equipping the next generation with essential money management skills, Money Box Academy Inc., in partnership with the City of Fayetteville, ACT, and the FTCC Innovation Center, proudly presents the first-ever High School Financial Literacy Boot Camp for Cumberland County students.

This groundbreaking initiative was designed to combat the alarming statistic that more than 54% of Gen Z feel unprepared to manage their finances after high school (National Financial Educators Council, 2023). With many young adults falling into cycles of debt, challenged credit, and limited savings due to a lack of financial education, this Boot Camp aims to shift the narrative.

Spanning multiple days, this program offers high school students real-world financial knowledge tailored to their future. “The goal is to ensure students don’t graduate and immediately get caught in the traps of financial instability just because no one ever taught them how to budget, manage credit, or make smart financial decisions,” said Crystal McLean, Founder of Money Box Academy. “As a first-generation college student on both sides of my family, I know firsthand how much can be lost—money, peace of mind, and time—simply from not knowing. This program is what I wish I had growing up.”

Immersive Real-Life Simulation

The culminating day of the Boot Camp is a dynamic financial simulation where students take on roles based on their self-identified career aspirations. Community partners—including professionals in insurance, banking, entrepreneurship, and investing—will represent real-world responsibilities and obstacles. Students will be challenged to make financial decisions that mirror adult life, such as paying rent, managing credit cards, handling emergencies, and balancing budgets.

Each simulation is customized, offering career-aligned scenarios and presenting unexpected financial curveballs, encouraging students to problem-solve using the knowledge they’ve gained.

Local Leaders, Real Stories

Students will also engage in a live panel discussion featuring local employers, entrepreneurs, content creators, skilled trades professionals, and investors who will share candid stories of their own career and financial journeys. These testimonies will highlight the importance of resilience, budgeting, and adaptability in today’s economy.

Community-Driven, Student-Focused

This Boot Camp is the first of its kind in the region and a reflection of what’s possible when education, innovation, and community come together. Supported by major local institutions and fueled by a mission to make financial intelligence the norm—not the exception—this initiative marks a new era for student readiness in Cumberland County.

To learn more or to partner with this initiative, contact Money Box Academy at connect@moneyboxacademy.org or sign your High Schooler up at https://moneyboxacademy.info/mbahsbootcamp while seats last.