Congratulations to VNB’s Chief Corporate Services Officer, Abbie Ford, for completing her American Bankers Association (ABA) Stonier Graduate School of Banking degree and receiving The Wharton School Leadership certificate.
The ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking Class of 2024 included 198 graduates.
Photo credit: ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking
“After delays due to COVID and a system conversion, I began my Stonier journey in 2022. Now, I am officially a graduate! What a tremendous honor to share in the experience with so many wonderful bankers from around the world!” said Ms. Ford.
The 2024 Finance Career & Leadership Academy (FCLA, Academy) Graduation Ceremony and Dinner took place in Charlottesville on Friday, June 14th, at Carmello’s Restaurant. During the evening’s proceedings, Virginia National Bank (VNB) honored the 2024 Academy’s graduates along with former graduates that have gone on to further milestones on their post-secondary educational path as part of VNB’s ongoing educational programs. This was the FCLA’s third year to graduate students.
(From left to right) The 2024 FCLA graduates: Sabrina Bialy, Kayden Wright, Shrey Panicker, Colin Douthit, Gabriella Gonzalez, Kate Quinn, Jack Viccellio, Eleanor Powers, Evie Porter, and Albina Piskunova.
Sabrina Bialy was recognized as valedictorian of the 2024 FCLA and presented with her graduation certificate by Meghan Crider (President, Educational Programs).
Evie Porter was honored as salutatorian for the 2024 FCLA.
John Hornsby (2019 FCLA graduate, 2020 VNB College Program – Business Banking/Staff Development Certification graduate, and current VNB credit analyst) was presented with his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Banking (BSBAB), from St. Joseph’s College.
Jack Flemming (2023 FCLA graduate and current VNB credit administrator) and Summer Weakley (2023 FCLA graduate and current VNB operations specialist) were presented with their College Program – Business Banking/Staff Development certificates. While continuing to fulfill their job duties, both Jack and Summer are in the process of obtaining their BSBAB degrees and are on track to complete their degrees before they are 20 years old.
The Finance Career & Leadership Academy is a free instructional program designed to not only provide advanced personal finance and employment readiness training, but also a path to career opportunities in banking for high school juniors and seniors within our communities. The Academy runs from February into June. The most promising and top performing students from the Academy are considered for VNB’s College Program (the Business Banking/Staff Development Program).
The College Program is a bank-sponsored, comprehensive, free training program that consists of 15 courses of which 13 are accredited college/university courses (39 credit hours that are transferable to a 2 or 4-year college/university) and work projects. Participants receive fulltime pay with full fringe benefits (includes 401k with company match) while completing the program and, if successful in the program, receive the CFTEA/VNB certification in Business Banking/Staff Development as well as have the potential opportunity for a career with VNB. Also, once employed, should they choose, they may go on to complete a 2 or 4-year degree at the company’s expense.
Virginia National Bank (VNB) is excited to announce the students who have been accepted into VNB’s 2024 Finance Career and Leadership Academy (FCLA, Academy), which runs from February 6 – mid June 2024. In total we have ten students who have earned positions in the Academy. (Due to space constraints and construction in Warrenton, the FCLA is only being held in Charlottesville, Virginia, this year.)
“We were extremely impressed by the number of talented and qualified young people who applied for entry into our program,” said Glenn Rust, President and CEO of Virginia National Bankshares Corporation (VABK) and VNB. “Congratulations to this year’s winners, who each show a strong commitment to furthering their financial education and improving their lives and their communities. We are proud to have them as participants in this year’s FCLA and to support their educational and professional journey.”
The students accepted into the Academy include:
Sabrina Bialy – Western Albemarle High School
Colin Douthit – Western Albemarle High School
Gabriella (Gabby) Gonzalez – Albemarle High School
Shrey Panicker – Charlottesville High School
Albina Piskunova – Albemarle High School
Evie Porter – Homeschooled
Eleanor Powers – Monticello High School
Kate Quinn – Western Albemarle High School
Jack Viccellio – Monticello High School
Kayden Wright – Albemarle High School
The participants were chosen based on their academic achievement, extra-curricular activities, community service, and overall character. Applicants also wrote an essay about what they hoped to accomplish with a stronger and deeper financial education and went through an interview process.
The Finance Career & Leadership Academy is a free instructional program designed to not only provide advanced personal finance and employment readiness training, but also a path to career opportunities in banking for high school juniors and seniors within our communities. The most promising and top performing students from the Academy are considered for VNB’s College Program (the Commercial Banking/Staff Development Program).
The College Program is a bank-sponsored, comprehensive, free training program that consists of 16 courses of which 14 are accredited college/university courses (41 credit hours that are transferable to a 2 or 4-year college/university) and work projects. Participants receive fulltime pay with full fringe benefits (includes 401k with company match) while completing the program and, if successful in the program, have the potential opportunity for a career with VNB. Also, once employed, should they choose, they may go on to complete a 2 or 4-year degree at the company’s expense.
“Helping local students develop their financial skills on both a professional and personal level while also giving them a career path without the high levels of student debt is our goal,” said Rust. “Our educational programs are a means by which we give back to our community and we look forward to continuing these programs for years to come.”
VNB would also like to personally thank all those who helped us reach so many qualified, talented, and hard-working young people in our community. Including, but not exclusively or in any particular order, –
Albemarle County Public Schools, particularly
Gabi Sukovich, Personal Finance Teacher, AHS
Caroline Chang, Personal Finance Teacher, AHS
Holly Newman, Talent Development & Gifted Specialist, AHS
Tim Hamlette, Career Specialist, AHS
Caroline Bertrand, Career Specialist, WAHS
Zoe Padron, Talent Development Specialist, WAHS
Beth Costa, Principal, MHS
Katie Bledsoe, Career Specialist, MHS
Megan Parson, Director of Counseling, AHS
Irvin Johnson, Director of Counseling, MHS
Kate Acuff, Albemarle County School Board – Jack Jouett District
Judy Le, Albemarle County School Board – Rivanna District
Amber Roberts, Work & Community-Based Learning Coordination, Central Office
Jennifer Butler, Senior Communications Analyst, Central Office
Lauren Hunt, Web and Social Media Specialist, Central Office
Phil Giaramita, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Officer, Central Office
Charlottesville Public Schools, particularly
Deborah Tewksbury, Personal Finance Teacher, CHS
James Daly, Economics and Personal Finance Teacher, CHS
Carlos Blackwood, Personal Finance Teacher, CHS
Megan Fitzgerald, Career & Technical Education Instructional Specialist
Kayla Edwards, College Advisor, CHS
Colin Anderson, Head of Upper School, The Covenant School Jackie Jamison, Development Director and College Counselor, Regents School Peter Gaines, Director of College Counseling, Tandem Friends School Sharon Mack, Greene County School Board – Chair/Ruckersville District Dr. Andrea Whitmarsh, School Superintendent, Greene County Public Schools Margo D. Bruce, Principal, Fluvanna County High School Daniel Soderholm, Ph.D., Principal, Culpeper County High School Natalie Masri, President and CEO – Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce Ann Marie Hohenberger, Marketing – Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce Kevin G. McDonald, UVA – Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Partnerships Joshua Rashad Epps, UVA – Division for DEI – Program Manager of MOCHA/WOCHA Kate Lambert, Chief Executive Officer, The Boys and Girls Club of Central Virginia Stuart Hornsby, Owner of Lux Ventures and Campaign Manager, The Center for Christian Study at UVA Connie Sylvester, Equis Financial and ACTS Board Director Robin Rakow, President, Albemarle Christian Teaching Support (ACTS) Reed Golomb, Youth Minister, St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish Matt Lloyd, Charlottesville StudentLife Director, The Point Church Benji Hall, Youth and Family Pastor, First Baptist Church Park Street
