AUBURN- Maine's credit unions helped "pump-up" the moneymanagement minds of 150 high school juniors during the first everFinancial Fitness Money Management Experience Event. Students fromsix high schools participated in the three-hour event. Created as aunique and fun experience for high school juniors, the FinancialFitness Money Management Experience provided each participant witha scenario packet of their life at age 22, including theiroccupations, income and credit history. From there, students had tomap out their financial future from financing their housing topurchasing their food and clothing. Students were selected toparticipate in this event by their teachers based on theirexperience with financial goal setting. Students were also requiredto visit each of the event's eleven booths manned by some 50 fiftyvolunteers from credit unions and other organizations who served as"coaches". "The junior year is an opportune time to start learning`real life' financial responsibility," said Maine Credit UnionLeague Governmental/ Public Affairs Manager Jon Paradise. "Thisevent was about helping teenagers realize that the financialdecisions they make now can affect their futures. Based on thefeedback that many of the kids provided, this was an eye-openingexperience and, hopefully, will enable them to become financiallysuccessful and savvy adults." Plans are underway to hold FinancialFitness events in multiple locations in the state next year.Representatives from the Norm Nolette Chapter of Credit Unions,Maine CUL, the Maine Council on Economic Education and CentralMaine Community College organized the event.