Photo: A Leland & Gray student spins the Wheel of Fortune hoping he doesn’t land on a flat tire or a surprise medical bill.
Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) hosted its fourth annual Reality Fair at Leland & Gray High School on Wednesday, October 1, helping students across Windham County gain practical financial literacy and “adulting” skills they’ll carry for life. Over 250 eighth graders and juniors from Twin Valley Middle/High School, Leland & Gray Middle/High School, Bellows Falls Union High School, Brattleboro Union High School and the Windham Regional Career Center attended the event. Over 80 volunteers from local businesses, colleges, and other organizations ran interactive booths to guide students through a series of challenges.
At the Financial Literacy Experience students received a “paycheck” from an entry-level job connected to their passions and postsecondary goals. Career opportunities included jobs in the trades, healthcare, education, the arts, and more, and these jobs actually exist right here in Windham County. With their monthly earnings, students were challenged to navigate the “Game of Life,” balancing needs like housing, transportation, and retirement savings with wants like pets, vacations, and dining out. Adding to the fun and the realism was the Wheel of Fortune where a spin could lead to an unexpected car repair, a late payment on a credit card, or if they’re lucky, a surprise birthday gift from grandma. To complete their assignment, students met with financial advisors to balance their budget and discuss taxes, credit, and student loans. Advisors included approximately 30 employees from area banks, as well as students in the WRCC Business Level II class and seniors from TVHS and LGHS who take business and finance classes at their home schools.
Beyond finances, students rotated through an Adulting 101 Experience, a series of booths focused on the practical skills every young adult needs. Local professionals volunteered their expertise to teach skills like changing a tire, cooking on a budget, managing personal health, tying a tie, gardening, and even preparing for travel abroad. Students capped off the event with snow cones, gift card prizes, and a sense of accomplishment — along with a new appreciation for the realities of adult life. The Reality Fair is a beloved annual event that continues to grow each year.
“Because of the incredible support from our community, students got hands-on practice making informed financial and life decisions—exactly the kind of experience that sticks,” said Christy Betit, BDCC Workforce & Education Specialist. “With so many community volunteers, plus support from school staff and educators, this event embodies the power of partnership in preparing students for life after high school.”
BDCC will continue to provide opportunities for Windham County students to connect classroom learning with career and college readiness experiences throughout the year. For more information or to learn how to participate in future workforce and education initiatives at your local schools, please contact Christy Betit at cbetit@brattleborodevelopment.com.
About Pipelines & Pathways
BDCC’s Pipelines and Pathways Program (P3) provides career education within the four southeastern Vermont public high schools and the Windham Regional Career Center. P3 helps students develop their personalized learning plans (PLP) by providing work-based learning experiences that increase their knowledge of career opportunities and achieve their postsecondary goals. Students develop soft skills, financial literacy, knowledge about economic sectors and skills that are in-demand through hands-on informational interviews, work-based learning, and mentorships. Pipelines & Pathways is a BDCC Workforce Center of Excellence program based on SeVEDS strategies to increase the size and quality of the region’s workforce. For more information please visit: https://brattleborodevelopment.com/engaging-with-high-school-students/
P3 was originally launched as a five year pilot, thanks to historic investment from the Vermont Community Foundation and McClure Foundation, the Vermont Training Program, WCEDP Vermont Yankee closure funds, and municipal contributions to SeVEDS. In 2023, at the end of that pilot phase, P3 reached a major program milestone by commitments from the private sector. M&T Bank, whose support was matched by local employers G.S. Precision and C&S Wholesale Grocers joins funding partners McClure Foundation, the George W. Mergens Foundation, the Windham Regional Career Center, the West River Education District, and the Windham Southwest Supervisory Union, in supporting P3 across southeastern Vermont. Portions of the program also receive support through the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) program of the Northern Border Regional Commission.
