2023 VBA Internship Program Recap
May-August 2023
From May-August 2023, 53 students participated in the VBA Internship Program with 16 banks across the state. Through this program, interns were exposed to the industry through a variety of projects, online coursework, departmental rotations through their banks, community engagement and in-person and virtual training from the VBA. Interns who completed a set of requirements were eligible to receive the VBA Summer Internship Program Certificate of Completion.
In April, the VBA held a virtual Mentor Orientation for bankers who would be serving as intern supervisors throughout the program. Mentors learned about the importance of creating an educational experience for their interns by setting clear learning objectives.
Interns began the program in May at the Intern Orientation where they learned about the VBA, the banking industry, and how to maximize their summer internship opportunity. Interns heard from members of the VBA Emerging Bank Leaders, who shared their stories about their careers in banking, as well as participated in a session on business etiquette and other HR best practices with Jakeeta Plumley, Primis Bank, and Carla Moore, VBA.
At the Mid-Summer Meet Up in July, interns had an opportunity to interact with the Emerging Bank Leaders Steering Committee and had meaningful discussions on the different capstone topics that were researched throughout the summer. Frank Bell, Chesapeake Bank, joined Bruce Whitehurst for a leadership lessons learned fireside chat, and Jamie Covey, United Bank, shared presentation skills to help the interns prepare for their capstone projects. This year’s EBL panel included Scott Griffin, Skyline National Bank, Amy Mellinger, Powell Valley National Bank, and Meredith Elliott, TowneBank. They finished the day with a presentation on resumes and interview skills with Collee Lee and Lili Mori, C&F Bank.
Throughout the summer, interns also participated in virtual meetings on a variety of banking topics (see below for a full list of topics and presenters). Participating interns also had the opportunity to attend the Fed Field Trip at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond in July as well as a shadow day at the Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management.
Details about next year’s program will be announced in early 2024.
Noted & Quoted: Internship Program Edition
Congratulations to the Following Students for Earning the VBA Internship Program Certificate of Completion
| Student | Bank | College/ University |
|---|---|---|
|
Patrick Farrar Jackson Hardy Rebecca Boone Marisa Bringhurst Abigail Chappell Corbin McAllister Erin O’Shaughnessy Jason Rinker Emma Wilt Thomas Neale Olivia Saunders Carter Shifflett Arieanna Stevens Morgan VerMeer Ty’Asia Williams Charles Weyher Spencer Brockenbrough Owen Hendershot Frances Seldin Alexis Wong Henry Poarch Justin Sumiel Skylar Tenan Nathan Anderson Jennifer Carcamo Bonilla Sydney Cave Veronica Martinez-Lopez Olivia Wightman Olivia Bondurant Raelin Bowman Johnny Roop Joe Constantino Gustavo Gutierrez Ethan Russell Asia Brady Edward Cook Sam Guridy Desmond Harvey Sam Holley Landen Mays Cassidy Bosley Emma Deel Alanna Mosley Abbey Buetow Olivia Spiggle Jordan Whitehead Monica Codrington Robert Davenport Kelli Demkowski Declan Leavy Andrew Wheeler Brandon Miller William McGee |
American National Bank & Trust Co. American National Bank & Trust Co. Bank of Clarke Bank of Clarke Bank of Clarke Bank of Clarke Bank of Clarke Bank of Clarke Bank of Clarke Blue Ridge Bank Blue Ridge Bank Blue Ridge Bank Blue Ridge Bank Blue Ridge Bank Blue Ridge Bank Blue Ridge Bank Chain Bridge Bank Chain Bridge Bank Chain Bridge Bank Chain Bridge Bank Chesapeake Bank Chesapeake Bank Chesapeake Bank F&M Bank F&M Bank F&M Bank F&M Bank F&M Bank First Bank & Trust Co. First Bank & Trust Co. First Bank & Trust Co. First Bank, Virginia First Bank, Virginia First Bank, Virginia First National Bank First National Bank First National Bank First National Bank First National Bank First National Bank Pendleton Community Bank Pendleton Community Bank Southern Bank and Trust Company The Bank of Southside Virginia The Farmers Bank of Appomattox Touchstone Bank TowneBank TowneBank TowneBank TowneBank TowneBank TowneBank Village Bank |
Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Eastern Mennonite University Shepherd University Otterbein University Potomac State College Lehigh University James Madison University Virginia Tech James Madison University Auburn University Virginia Tech University of Mary Washington Randolph-Macon College James Madison University Virginia State University University of Pittsburgh College Virginia Tech The University of South Sewanee Marymount University Wake Forest University Christopher Newport University Delaware State University James Madison University Bridgewater College James Madison University James Madison University Virginia Tech NC State Virginia Tech Virginia Tech University of Tennessee James Madison University Mount St. Mary’s University Liberty University Liberty University Liberty University University of Lynchburg Liberty University James Madison University West Virginia University Virginia Tech ODU Northeastern University James Madison University VCU Virginia State William & Mary James Madison University James Madison University Radford James Madison University Virginia Tech |
Virtual Meeting Details & Speakers
Enneagram Workshop
Laura Shibut, StartUp Virginia
Cryptocurrency 101
Cary Ayers, Atlantic Union Bank
Bonus Session: Trends in Fintech
DJ Seeterlin, Chesapeake Bank
It’s Your Career – Grab the Wheel and Let’s Go Places!
Paul Carney, Carter Bank & Trust
DEI in the Banking Industry Panel
Panelists: Candace Davenport, First Bank, VA; Marcus Wade, Bank of Botetourt; and Denise Counce, TowneBank
Moderated by Leslie Schreiner, FHLBank Atlanta
Capstone Project Mini-Presentations
Pictures from the Program
