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Cumberland County to host High School Financial Literacy Boot Camp

By Staff Report, posted Jun 2, 2025 on BizFayetteville.com

Image courtesy of Money Box Academy

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 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 Founder of Money Box Academy Crystal McLean in a press release. “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.”

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. 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. 

To learn more or to partner with this initiative, contact Money Box Academy at connect@moneyboxacademy.org or sign your child up at

https://moneyboxacademy.info/mbahsbootcamp while seats last.

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