Get to Know the 2026 VBA Bank Day Scholarship Program Winners
Congratulations to the Statewide Winner!
Congratulations to Aakriti Rustagi, who was named this year’s statewide winner. Aakriti was hosted by Virginia National Bank. As the statewide winner, Aakriti received a $5,000 scholarship in addition to her $2,500 regional scholarship.
Congratulations to the Statewide Runner-Up Winner!
Congratulations to Earling M. Hunter, II, who was named this year’s statewide runner-up winner. Earling was hosted by Blue Ridge Bank. As the statewide runner-up winner, Earling received a $2,500 scholarship in addition to his $2,500 regional scholarship.
Congratulations to the Bank Day Regional and Honorable Mention Winners!
Each of the six regional winners will receive a $2,500 college scholarship. There were also six honorable mention winners who will each receive a $1,000 college scholarship.
Regional Winners:
Capitol Region Winner:
Peter Roberts, Midlothian High School, Hosted by C&F Bank
College Attending: Hampden- Sydney
Potential Major: Business
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? Learn how to surf
- Favorite Weekend Activity? Fishing
- How would you spend one million dollars? Investments
Central/Southside Region Winner:
Riley Price, Glenvar High School, Hosted by Bank of Botetourt
College Attending: Princeton University
Potential Major: English
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? To go skydiving
- What’s the most-used app on your phone? Camera
- If you could host a talk show or podcast, who would be your first guest? Matthew McConaughey or Noah Wyle
- Favorite weekend activity? Playing tennis with my friends
- How would you spend one million dollars? Install a custom, fully functional Chick-fil-A in my house
Statewide Runner-Up & Eastern Virginia Region Winner:
Earling M. Hunter, II, King’s Fork High School, Hosted by Blue Ridge Bank
College Attending: Norfolk State University
Potential Major: Construction Management Engineering Technology
- What’s the most-used app on your phone? That’s easy, it’s Instagram
- If you could host a talk show or podcast, who would be your first guest? Bill Greason, the oldest living Negro League Baseball player
- Favorite weekend activity? Hanging out with my teammates before we all leave for college
Statewide & Northern Virginia Region Winner:
Aakriti Rustagi, Langley High School, Hosted by Virginia National Bank
College Attending: The University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
Potential Major: Business Administration
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? Skydiving in Hawaii
- What’s the most-used app on your phone? TikTok
- If you could host a talk show or podcast, who would be your first guest? Zendaya
- Favorite weekend activity? Strolling around Georgetown, DC
- How would you spend one million dollars? I would set aside a portion for college, invest a significant amount for long-term growth, and then treat myself to a shopping spree.
Southwest Virginia Region Winner:
Peyton Williams, Lee High School, Hosted by Powell Valley National Bank
College Attending: East Tennessee State University
Potential Major: Nursing
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? Traveling the world is at the top of my list, with a few sky-diving stops too!
- Favorite weekend activity: When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my friends and getting 7Brew!
- How would you spend one million dollars? If I had a million dollars, I’d save most of it and invest in my future – but I’d definitely leave room for a few shopping trips.
Valley Region Winner:
Lauren Funk, James Wood High School, Hosted by F&M Bank
College Attending: Virginia Tech
Potential Major: Agribusiness
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? Travel Europe
- What’s the most-used app on your phone? Instagram
- If you could host a talk show or podcast, who would be your first guest? Steve Perry
- Favorite weekend activity? Painting
- How would you spend one million dollars? I would invest it in the stock market to make it more than a million dollars.
Honorable Mention Winners:
Capitol Honorable Mention Winner:
Kaitlynne Kelsey, Cumberland High School, Hosted by The Farmers Bank of Appomattox
College Attending: Sweet Briar College
Potential Major: Biology
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? As of right now, the top thing on my bucket list is to own my own Mobile Equine Veterinarian Practice.
- What’s the most-used app on your phone? The most-used app on my phone right now is Facebook.
- If you could host a talk show or podcast, who would be your first guest? My first guest on my own talk show would be Taylor Swift because I love her music and it makes a great playlist.
- Favorite Weekend Activity: My favorite weekend activity, if I’m not helping my dad with something around the house, is to work with my cows and get them ready for show.
- How would you spend one million dollars? I would use the funds to invest in my creative projects, finally purchase a Highland Cow, and support my parents. My parents have always gone above and beyond for me, so being able to share this with them is a major priority. For me, it’s about balancing my own goals with the chance to show gratitude to the people who helped me get here.
Central/Southside Honorable Mention Winner:
Idrak Anwar, Western Albemarle High School, Hosted by C&F Bank
College Attending: University of Virginia
Potential Major: Chemistry
- What’s the most-used app on your phone? Instagram
- Favorite weekend activity: Volunteering as an EMT
- How would you spend one million dollars? Invest it in real estate
Eastern Virginia Honorable Mention Winner:
Christopher Iyinbor, Hampton High School, Hosted by C&F Bank
College Attending: Virginia Commonwealth University
Potential Major: Biology
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? Learning to play the guitar
- What’s the most-used app on your phone? TikTok
- If you could host a talk show or podcast, who would be your first guest? Solange
- Favorite weekend activity: Running errands around town
- How would you spend one million dollars? I would explore the world for a month then use the rest to pursue higher education and invest.
Northern Virginia Honorable Mention Winner:
Hunter Guthrie, James Madison High School, Virginia National Bank
College Attending: Brown University
Potential Major: Environmental studies or environmental engineering
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? I’d love to visit Japan.
- What’s the most-used app on your phone? Instagram
- If you could host a talk show or podcast, who would be your first guest? Josh Allen
- Favorite weekend activity? Swimming
- How would you spend one million dollars? I’d invest it conservatively.
Southwest Virginia Honorable Mention Winner:
Kylan Brooks, Lebanon High School, Hosted by First Sentinel Bank
College Attending: Radford University
Potential Major: Nursing
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? Visit at least 20 different countries
- What’s the most-used app on your phone? TikTok
- Favorite weekend activity? Hiking
Valley Honorable Mention Winner:
Isam Mousa, Spotswood High School, Hosted by Virginia National Bank
College Attending: William & Mary
Potential Major: Human Health & Physiology
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? Study abroad and learn new languages in college
- What’s the most-used app on your phone? The Weather App
- If you could host a talk show or podcast, who would be your first guest? Gandhi
- Favorite weekend activity: Getting sufficient sleep
- How would you spend one million dollars? I would pay for my college + graduate school and invest a lot and then spend the rest on Chipotle