Waltham High School Seniors Run Virtual Pizzi Farms Ice Cream Truck in Financial Fair

WALTHAM, MA — April 29, 2026 — Waltham High School's entire senior class — approximately 500 students — spent this morning running a virtual ice cream truck during a school-wide Financial Fair, in a custom simulation built by Boston-based ed-tech company Stickball and sponsored by Pizzi Farms, a Waltham landmark since 1933.

During an 8:30 AM assembly period, seniors stepped into the role of summer employees at the Pizzi Farms ice cream truck. Students reviewed a realistic pay stub, allocated their paycheck across needs and wants, set personal savings goals, modeled the impact of compound interest, and practiced setting up a bank account for direct deposit — all in a single interactive session designed to mirror the financial decisions they'll face after graduation.

The simulation was guided in-game by a digital version of Mike Wilder, the Waltham High Business Teacher and Boys Varsity Basketball Coach who led the event in person. Stickball developed a custom in-simulation likeness of Coach Wilder to serve as the students' on-screen guide.

“These are skills my students are going to use the day they get their first paycheck. Having the simulation set in a place they actually know, with a face they actually recognize, made the lessons land in a way a textbook never could.”

The event was funded in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Financial Education Innovation Fund, a state program supporting financial literacy in public schools. Pizzi Farms — family-owned since 1933 and run today by third-generation owner Rick Pizzi and his sister Cheryl — served as the local sponsor, both as the setting for the simulation and by providing ice cream for participating students.

“Teaching students the fundamentals of finance through a business they all can relate to is a worthy investment.”

Stickball built the simulation specifically for the Waltham event and delivered introductory financial literacy content through its platform in advance of the assembly. All Waltham High seniors will retain access to Stickball's full platform through the summer.

“Using Stickball at the Financial Literacy Fair brought these concepts to life for students in a way that felt relevant and engaging. Our senior students were especially invested. They were highly engaged, asking thoughtful questions, and clearly recognizing the real-life impact these skills will have as they transition out of high school into adulthood. It wasn't just about learning financial concepts, but about building confidence in real-world decision-making. The experience made financial literacy more accessible, interactive, and meaningful for everyone involved.”

Stickball's mission is to build financial confidence and real-world money skills through engaging, interactive learning. By grounding lessons in localized examples — like a summer job at a Waltham ice cream truck — Stickball makes financial education more relevant and memorable for every learner.

The Waltham High event is the first of several customized Financial Fairs Stickball is delivering across Massachusetts this spring, with similar events scheduled in May at Everett High School and Malden High School.