385 High School Students Experience HCC Financial Reality Fair

BRIDGEPORT ‑ Some 385 area high school students received a hands-on dose of financial reality recently at a Financial Reality Fair at Housatonic Community College.
           Attending students, who came from Ansonia, Derby. Shelton, Monroe, Fairfield, Trumbull, Hamden and Bridgeport, chose an occupation that interests them and researched the starting salary. Then, they made living choices, based on the income.
           They made financial decisions in areas like housing, transportation, food and clothing, insurance, entertainment and other categories, moving from station to station in the Events Center in Beacon Hall to learn about costs and options in these categories. Then, the students met with financial counselors to review their spending choices and ensure that they stay within budget.
         This annual event provides students with a hands-on financial experience that is both educational and fun. The fair was funded, in part, through a grant the college received from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation and the American Library Association (ALA) as part of Smart investing@your library®.
         Housatonic Community College provides an affordable and accessible education through two-year degrees, transfer preparation, and certificate programs, as well as a wide variety of continuing education and personal/professional enrichment seminars and workshops.  In addition, HCC offers employee and occupational training for businesses, municipalities, government agencies, and professional associations to help develop the educated and skilled workforce required to meet regional business and industry needs.
           HCC is nationally recognized as an “Achieving the Dream” institution.  To learn more, visit the college’s website at: www.hcc.commnet.edu.
           HCC is located at 900 Lafayette Blvd. in downtown Bridgeport, less than 150 yards off I-95 (Exit 27) and Rte. 8 (Exit 1), a block from the Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard.