The Virginia Bankers Association (VBA) Education Foundation is pleased to announce that Brenna Green is the statewide winner of the VBA Bank Day Scholarship Program (Bank Day). Brenna, who is a senior at Abingdon High School, was hosted by First Bank & Trust Co. to participate in Bank Day. Previously named the Southwest Virginia region winner, Brenna was awarded a $2,500 scholarship and will now receive an additional $5,000, for a total of $7,500 for her college education.

Grace Fleshman, a senior at Rockbridge County High School, was named this year’s statewide runner-up winner. Grace was hosted by Bank of Botetourt to participate in Bank Day. Previously named the Central/Southside region winner, Grace was awarded a $2,500 scholarship and will now receive an additional $2,500, for a total of $5,000 for her college education.

The VBA Bank Day Scholarship Program began in 1991 when the third Tuesday in March was declared Bank Day in Virginia by the Virginia General Assembly. More than 625 students registered to participate with 23 Virginia banks for this year’s program. These participating banks hosted the students for a day and provided resources and information so the students could learn about banking, financial services, career opportunities in the industry and the vital role banks play in their communities. Throughout this program, students also had access to a variety of resources from the VBA, including videos, articles and podcasts, which covered industry topics such as banking fundamentals, understanding credit, careers in banking, and banks’ economic impact in Virginia.

Students were asked to write an essay about their experience and thirteen scholarships (six regional, six honorable mention, and one overall statewide) were awarded based on the merit of the essays.

Brenna reflected on her time with First Bank & Trust Co. in her essay titled Don’t Judge a Bank by Its Cover, saying, “All of the things I learned at VBA Bank Day showcase how crucial banks are to the communities that they serve, while at the same time teach high schoolers the importance of financial literacy and making good financial decisions. Through my positive experience at VBA Bank Day, I found that banking goes beyond debits and credits; it is a vital resource that enables community growth, enhances financial literacy, and prepares young people to make prudent financial decisions.”

“We are excited to award Brenna and Grace, and all of this year’s winners, with these scholarships. The amount of information these students learn about banking in one day never ceases to amaze me. A key objective of the VBA Education Foundation is to make sure that Virginia’s students are prepared for their financial futures, and it’s clear that Bank Day is key driver of progress towards that goal,” said Bruce Whitehurst, Mid-Atlantic Bankers Association and VBA president and CEO.

The following students had winning essays:

• Capitol Region Winner: Ayla Zook, King George High School, Hosted by C&F Bank
• Capitol Region Honorable Mention Winner: Parker Walls, John Randolph Tucker High School, Hosted by Atlantic Union Bank
• Statewide Runner-Up and Central/Southside Region Winner: Grace Fleshman, Rockbridge County High School, Hosted by Bank of Botetourt
• Central/Southside Region Honorable Mention Winner: Lucy Adams, Jefferson Forest High School, Hosted by The Farmers Bank of Appomattox
• Eastern Virginia Region Winner: Julia Diggs, Kecoughtan High School, Hosted by Old Point National Bank
• Eastern Virginia Region Honorable Mention Winner: Ashley Soto, Poquoson High School, Hosted by C&F Bank
• Northern Virginia Region Winner: Ibtihal Hanna, Fairfax High School, Hosted by Virginia National Bank
• Northern Virginia Region Honorable Mention Winner: Johnathan Johnson, Culpeper County High School, Hosted by Oak View National Bank
• Valley Region Winner: Kieran Lackey, Staunton High School, Hosted by Pendleton Community Bank
• Valley Region Honorable Mention Winner: Iris Chen, Wilson Memorial High School, Hosted by Pendleton Community Bank
• Statewide and Southwest Virginia Region Winner: Brenna Green, Abingdon High School, Hosted by First Bank & Trust Company
• Southwest Virginia Region Honorable Mention Winner: Kyleigh Harmon, Eastside High School, Hosted by New Peoples Bank, Inc.

Since 2012, the VBA Education Foundation has distributed $324,500 in scholarship monies to 150 students, all while educating more than 5,100 participating students about the banking industry through the Bank Day program. The VBA Bank Day Scholarship Program will take place again next March.

About the Virginia Bankers Association Education Foundation

The Virginia Bankers Association (VBA) formed the VBA Education Foundation in 2007 with funding from the majority of VBA member banks for the Walter Ayers Fund for Financial Education. The Foundation’s mission is to improve personal financial literacy and economic education in all public and private schools in the Commonwealth. The Foundation recognizes the importance of economic education and financial literacy in Virginia and supports the banking industry as a key participant in these areas. For more information, visit www.vabankers.org/vba-education-foundation.