Pike County eighth-graders will receive a glance into the rigors of the real world at an upcoming Pike County Chamber of Commerce event.
The two-day Real Life program will take place Wednesday and Thursday at the Pike County Safe Room. The morning session will begin at 8:30 and the afternoon session will begin at 12:15.
The event gives eighth-graders from all Pike County schools a preview of adulthood and teaches them how to effectively budget.
Students are given salaries based on their grade-point averages then decide what kind of house, utilities, car, insurance and other luxuries they can afford.
At the end of the event, if a student has any money left they get a Payday candy bar. If they don’t have any money left, they will get a Zero candy bar.
The event also is the first introduction the students will receive on the Mississippi Scholars program, which encourages them to take tougher courses in high school.
The Mississippi Scholars and its vocational-oriented counterpart, the Mississippi TechMasters program, is sponsored by the Mississippi Economic Council.
In April, the Chamber will host a banquet for Mississippi Scholars and TechMasters, where students who have completed the programs will receive $500 scholarships.
“I can’t imagine a better way to recognize these students,” chamber vice president of education Roger Graves said, adding that donations for scholarships are still being sought. “We can’t give scholarships without any money. We need your help.”
Graves said the Chamber gave $18,000 in scholarships last year.
The chamber also is looking to revamp some of its programs.
Vice president of economic development Barney Albritton said the division is looking to work with the Pike County Economic Development District, the mayors and town board members and Scenic Rivers Development. Albritton said there will be a meeting held to brainstorm on how to attract more businesses to the area.
“We need as many voices to be heard,” Albritton said, adding that all needed to come together to express how they feel about Pike County.
Vice president of community development Melanie Carruth said the division is working to revamp the fish fry, which is held in June, including a possible location change.
“We want to make it a larger event and open it up,” she said.
Carruth said she wants to event to be publicized more and “talked up” until the event is held. She also said she wants to plan events that remain stable and aren’t switched up every so often.
Vice president of retail development Barbara Simmons said her committee is working on revamping the Retail Therapy event that is usually held in the spring. She said the event hasn’t been as big as it could be.
In other news, the chamber board named Smith Brothers Collision the Business of the Month for February.
