Get to Know the 2025 VBA Bank Day Scholarship Program Winners
Congratulations to the Statewide Winner!
Congratulations to Brenna Green, who was named this year’s statewide winner. Brenna was hosted by First Bank & Trust Co. As the statewide winner, Brenna received a $5,000 scholarship in addition to her $2,500 regional scholarship.
Congratulations to the Statewide Runner-Up Winner!
Congratulations to Grace Fleshman, who was named this year’s statewide runner-up winner. Grace was hosted by the Bank of Botetourt. As the statewide runner-up winner, Grace received a $2,500 scholarship in addition to her $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:
Ayla Zook, King George High School, Hosted by C&F Bank
College Attending: Dartmouth College
Potential Major: Physics, Neuroscience, and Public Policy
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? Hiking Mount Fuji and exploring Japan
- What’s the most-used app on your phone? Camera
- Favorite Weekend Activity? Going on walks with my dogs and thrifting
Statewide runner-up and Central/Southside Region Winner:
Grace Fleshman, Rockbridge County High School, Hosted by bank of Botetourt
College Attending: James Madison University
Potential Major: Media Arts and Design
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? African safari tour
- What’s the most-used app on your phone? Instagram
- Favorite Weekend Activity? Shopping with friends
Eastern Virginia Region Winner:
Julia Diggs, Kecoughtan High School, Hosted by Old Point National Bank
College Attending: Virginia Tech
Potential Major: Computer Engineering
- What’s the most-used app on your phone? Sadly, TikTok
- Favorite Weekend Activity: My favorite weekend activity is finding new things to do with friends. I love checking out local festivals when possible and new food spots.
- How would you spend one million dollars? I wouldn’t spend much of it, Bank Day taught me the importance of saving. I’d probably invest most of it or put it into a CD so it can grow over time. I might use some of it for college essentials.
Northern Virginia Region Winner:
Ibtihal Hanna, Fairfax High School, Hosted by Virginia National Bank
College Attending: Yale University
Potential Major: Mechanical Engineering & Economics
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? Skydiving
- What’s the most-used app on your phone? Pinterest
- Favorite Weekend Activity: Spending time with family and friends, especially over a good meal.
Statewide and Southwest Virginia Region Winner:
Brenna Green, Abingdon High School, Hosted by First Bank & Trust Co.
College Attending: Virginia Highlands Community College
Potential Major: Radiography
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? Take a trip to Egypt or Greece
- Favorite weekend activity: Hanging out with friends
- How would you spend one million dollars? I would donate some to charities, give some back to my parents, buy myself a very nice house and car, and then take the trip to either Egypt or Greece.
Valley Region Winner:
Kieran Lackey, Staunton High School, Hosted by Pendleton Community Bank
College Attending: Blue Ridge Community College
Potential Major: Physics
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? Travel America
- If you could host a talk show or podcast, who would be your first guest? Sabine Hossenfelder
- How would you spend one million dollars? Buy a private compound in Europe and offer friends and family a community there.
Honorable Mention Winners:
Capitol Honorable Mention Winner:
Parker Walls, John Randolph Tucker High School, Hosted by Atlantic Union Bank
College Attending: University of Virginia
Potential Major: Foreign Affairs
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? I want to learn at least five languages.
- Favorite Weekend Activity: I love making art: drawing, painting, and sculpting.
- How would you spend one million dollars? I would use the skills I learned at Bank Day to invest for my family’s future, as well as support nonprofits.
Central/Southside Honorable Mention Winner:
Lucy Adams, Jefferson Forest High School, Hosted by The Farmers Bank of Appomattox
College Attending: Virginia Tech
Potential Major: Public Health
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? Travel to every continent
- If you could host a talk show or podcast, who would be your first guest? Taylor Swift
- Favorite weekend activity: Shopping
Eastern Virginia Honorable Mention Winner:
Ashley Soto, Poquoson High School, Hosted by C&F Bank
College Attending: Virginia Tech
Potential Major: Biology
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? Hiking the Devil’s Bathtub Trail in Fort Blackmore, VA.
- What’s the most-used app on your phone? Pinterest
- Favorite weekend activity: Cleaning the house or fishing with my brother.
Northern Virginia Honorable Mention Winner:
Johnathan Johnson, Culpeper County High School, Hosted by Oak View National Bank
College Attending: Averett University
Potential Major: Aerospace Management
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? Go skydiving
- What’s the most-used app on your phone? TikTok
- How would you spend one million dollars? School and my future
Southwest Virginia Honorable Mention Winner:
Kyleigh Harmon, Eastside High School, Hosted by New Peoples Bank
College Attending: UVA Wise
Potential Major: Nursing
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? My top item on my bucket list is to visit all seven wonders of the world.
- If you could host a talk show or podcast, who would be your first guest? My first guest would be the actress who played Elphaba in Wicked, Cynthia Erivo
- How would you spend one million dollars? I would travel the world and visit as many countries as possible.
Valley Honorable Mention Winner:
Iris Chen, Wilson Memorial High School, Hosted by Pendleton Community Bank
College Attending: University of Virginia
Potential Major: Biochemistry and Pre-Medicine
- What’s the top thing on your bucket list? Visit all the Nordic countries
- What’s the most-used app on your phone? Instagram
- Favorite weekend activity: I’m open to doing anything, as long as I get to be with my family and friends!