Huron Valley State Bank Celebrates Bank at School Partnerships

Milford, MI, May 2017 – Huron Valley State Bank (HVSB) and three local elementary schools, Spring Mills, Johnson, and Heritage celebrated the success of the Bank-At-School program. This is a student-run bank located inside of the school that teaches hands-on financial literacy, money management, and provides for real life banking experience. Students applied and interviewed for positions earlier in the year, and were trained for actual banking positions to accept money from their fellow classmates to deposit into the bank. The schools celebrate the end of the year program with a ceremonial pizza party where all student bank customers and bankers enjoy food, fun and fellowship.

Spring Mills Elementary in Highland was the first school to partner with HVSB in 2011 and the bank is run by fifth grade students. The end of this school year marks the 6th year of partnership between both organizations. Assistant Vice President, Shelley Dickerson oversees operations with the assistance of Customer Service Representatives, Rebecca LeDuc and Janet Wooster, assisting the student bankers.

To demonstrate appreciation of the school partnerships, the bank is sponsoring one school assembly for their partner schools per year. Huron Valley State Bank has selected Kevin Szawala, also known as Mr. Peace, to present a segment on diversity at Spring Mills Elementary on June 1st. Mr. Peace is a national youth speaker & youth minister at St. Mary's in Milford. Based locally in Commerce Township, he provides anti-bullying and character empowerment assemblies all across the country. For more on his programs go to: www.mrpeace.org  “Spring Mills is an obvious choice for the first year of a sponsorship of this type. They were our first school and we have paved the way with other partnerships as a result of this relationship,” said Jack Shubitowski, President and CEO. “We look forward to offering this to Johnson and Heritage in the years to come.”

“We are grateful that Huron Valley State Bank is offering this program to our school,” said Randy Muffley, Principal of Spring Mills Elementary, “This couldn’t come at a better time with our school gaining a few new friends from Brooks Elementary. An assembly on diversity will touch the hearts and minds of our changing student body.”

In the fall of 2014, Huron Valley State Bank and Johnson Elementary School in Milford started a second Bank-At-School partnership. At Johnson, there is a combination of fourth and fifth grade students running the bank. Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager, Mara Jones, oversees operations while Customer Service Supervisor Nancy Gomez and Customer Service Representative Anna Winstead assist the student bankers.

In the fall of 2016, modeled after the abovementioned schools, Huron Valley State Bank formed its third partnership with Heritage Elementary in Highland. Heritage is run by fifth graders and operations are overseen by Susan Bowen, Vice President of Mortgage Lending and Sheri Miles, Marketing Director.

“Ending the school year celebrating three schools is something we are most proud of,” said Jack Shubitowski, President and CEO. “As a community bank, supporting our local elementary schools is a priority. I am pleased to announce that in the fall we will be taking on our fourth elementary school. This will mean we have partnerships in half our elementary schools within the district.”

Photo Descriptions:

Mr Peace & Sharky Peace Out – Mr Peace and Spring Mills Mascot, Sharky give a peace out sign to the students at the end of the assembly.

Spring Mills Bank at School Celebration – Back row: Becky LeDuc, Addison Payton, Elise Trulu, Kendal Schmidt, Morgan Robert, Awesome the Pig, Lillian Dick, Katelyn Nathan, Jane Thompson, Janet Wooster, Luke Greco, and Brendan Palmer. Front Row: Tatum Fisher, Avery Vandagriff, and Grace Kountouriotis

Heritage Bank at School Pizza Party – Awesome the Pig and the 5th Grade Bankers at the End of the Year Pizza Party. Back Row: Austin Hervey, Ayla Jednacz, Gwen Krohn, Ethan Buckner, Skyla Spencer and Natalie Elpedes. Front Row: Ellie DeYoung and Nicole McConnell.

Johnson Bankers – Back Row: Anna Winstead (Huron Valley State Bank), Awesome the Pig and Nancy Gomez (Huron Valley State Bank. Front Row: Hope Jenkinson, Alicia Dawe, Kylee Snyder, and Henry Theriault. Not pictured: Cyril Parr.

Huron Valley State Bank’s school bank program provides elementary aged students with hands-on experience in basic financial management and experience in banking. Huron Valley State Bank operates school banks in partnerships with Spring Mills Elementary and Johnson Elementary. Headquartered in Milford, Huron Valley State Bank offers a full range of checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, consumer loans, commercial loans and other financial services. The Milford branch is located at 130 S. Milford Rd. in Milford. Call (248) 684-9626. The Highland branch is located at 2920 E. Highland Rd. in Highland. Call (248) 887-9900.