United Way of Central Kansas first brought Reality U to Great Bend High School in 2016. The success of that program inspired UWCK to take it one step further, with the hopes of imparting a little more “reality” on our students before they head off to college, said UWCK Director Gaila Demel. 

This year’s graduating class was the first class to go through Reality U and will now be the first class to go through #RealWorld. The event takes place from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, May 12, in the GBHS auditorium.

“The goal is to start the journey away from home with the life skills they will need to venture out on their own,” Demel said. “UWCK has a lineup of local speakers ready to get them started on the right foot.”

These include: 

• Money Matters - Becca Maxwell, Sunflower Bank, will be speaking about budgeting and basic banking know how.

• Renting 101 - Aaron Andrews and Jessica Milsap, MPIRE Realty, will be speaking about knowing their rights as tenants as well as how to be a good tenant, how to apartment hunt and how to set up utilities.

• Consequences of Decisions - Katie Hales, Central Kansas Community Corrections, will talk to them about how criminal activities can affect their future and the punishments that come with those crimes.

• Finding Balance - A panel of experts will speak to the students about how to balance work, school, family and friends. The panelists include: Alisha Bell-Markley, Alisha Markley Therapist LLC.; Kelley Johnson, LCAC–Avenues for Change; and Shanna Long, Center for Counseling.

• Healthy Relationships - Kasey Dahlke, Family Crisis Center, will talk to them about stalking, manipulation and how to be a part of a respectful relationship.

“From the time we first brought Reality U to the area, it has been a goal of the United Way board and staff to take this concept to the next level,” Demel said. “We could not be more proud of and honored by USD 428 embracing this partnership and helping us to bring this new program to their seniors.”