BATTLE CREEK, Mich.–Marshall Community Credit Union (MCCU) said it is partnering with Battle Creek Central High School (BCCHS) on financial education and hands-on learning opportunities for students. The collaboration includes the launch of MCCU’s “CU in School” program and a student-run credit union branch.
By incorporating hands-on, real-world learning into the Career Academies Model, BCCHS creates meaningful pathways for students to explore future careers, build essential skills, and graduate with confidence, the organizations said.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with Battle Creek Central High School,” Alyssa Jones, marketing director and brand manager with MCCU, said in a statement. “We’ve been incredibly inspired by BCCHS’ commitment to student success through their Career Academies Model and are honored to collaborate with such dedicated staff to help shape meaningful learning experiences.”
A ’Key Step’
The partnership was announced during the “Back to School Kickoff” to introduce the program to the district. The CU in School program will begin at BCCHS for the 2025/26 school year and focus on financial education, MCCU said.
The credit union added that the student-run branch will open during the 2026/27 school year and will serve as an internship opportunity for two high school seniors enrolled in the Business, Engineering, and Industrial Technology (BEIT) Academy.
“This is a key step in addressing the gap in finance-related internships within the academy and providing students with practical, career-connected experience,” Blake Nordman, BEIT Academy principal, said in a statement.
The program will slowly roll out into all schools within the BCPS district.
Leads to Career
According to Marshall Community CU, Laura Van Dyke, a 2013 graduate of Marshall High School and the first student teller with the CU in School program is a testament to the impact of the program.
“I applied to serve as a Student Teller as an opportunity to explore an industry I knew very little about,” Van Dyke, community and youth engagement manager, said in a statement. ”The combination of experiential learning and instruction shaped my career path and gave me a chance to learn something new, discover my strengths and interests before stepping out into the into the real world.”
Van Dyke pursued an insurance and risk management degree in college and worked in the insurance industry before returning to MCCU to lead the CU in School program in 2022, the CU reported.
Annual Financial Reality Fair
In addition to the student-run branch, the credit union will further support BCCHS with an annual Financial Reality Fair, giving sophomores the opportunity to practice managing a budget and making real-world financial decisions in a guided, hands-on environment. The partnership also includes a classroom-based financial simulation aligned with Michigan’s new state curriculum standards, allowing students to explore the consequences of everyday money choices in a safe, educational setting, MCCU said. To extend learning beyond the classroom, the credit union will provide resources to parents and caregivers to help reinforce financial skills at home.
This partnership marks the ninth CU in School program established by MCCU.
