May 08, 2025
High School Senior Hosted by VNB Wins VBA Bank Day Program Scholarship
Posted in Community News
Virginia National Bank (VNB) is thrilled to announce that Ibtihal Hanna, a Fairfax High School senior, has been selected as the VBA Bank Day Scholarship Program’s Northern Virginia Region Winner. As such Ibtihal has been awarded a $2,500 college scholarship and has been entered into the statewide contest.
This past March, VNB hosted Ibtihal and 59 other students as part of the VBA Bank Day Scholarship Program sponsored by the Virginia Bankers Association Education Foundation. Through this program, students learn about banking, financial services, career opportunities and the vital role banks play in their communities from local banks and credit unions.
The third Tuesday in March was declared Bank Day by the Virginia General Assembly in 1991 and this year VNB was proud to be a host for this important program. From their experience, participating students wrote an essay for the chance to win a scholarship. In all, twelve students statewide will receive scholarships totaling $28,500.
Each of the six regional winners receives a $2,500 college scholarship. These students are then entered into a statewide contest for a chance to win an additional $2,500 or $5,000 scholarship as the statewide runner-up or overall statewide winner. There are also six honorable-mention winners, each of whom receives a $1,000 college scholarship.
VNB wishes to congratulate each of the students awarded regional scholarships:
- Capitol Region Winner: Ayla Zook, King George High School, Hosted by C&F Bank
- Capitol Region Honorable Mention Winner: Parker Wells, John Randolph Tucker High School, Hosted by Atlantic Union Bank
- 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
- Southwest Virginia Region Winner: Brenna Green, Abingdon High School, Hosted by First Bank & Trust Co.
- Southwest Virginia Region Honorable Mention Winner: Kyleigh Harmon, Eastside High School, Hosted by New Peoples Bank
Read an excerpt from Ibtihal’s award-winning essay:
