Pub. 10 2019 Issue 2

www.wvbankers.org 26 West Virginia Banker M ay 2019 wrapped up the WVBankers 72nd Annual West Virginia School of Banking. Held at the University of Charleston, sixty seven bankers were given the oppor- tunity to expand their knowledge and understanding of day-to-day banking operations, economic and monetary issues and the industry as a whole. Since 1944, the WV School of Banking has pro- vided a challenging curriculum taught by industry experts and professionals. The WV School of Banking class of 2019 celebrated 29 two-year program graduates and 9 third-year graduates. Instructors and fellows included profes- sional experiences, industry knowledge and career insight into the courses and topics, giving students invaluable build- ing blocks to further their expertise. Though the course work and educa- tion is the main focus of the week-long school, students and faculty come together throughout the week for networking and socialization. Monday evening kicked off the first day with a welcome mixer, where a cookout and a friendly cornhole competition provid- ed a chance to put aside the readings and assignments to have some fun. Wednesday’s event provided the group with a blast from the past 80’s themed murder mystery dinner party, which gave students some much-needed wind down time before the last few days of classes resumed. Throughout the week, students partic- ipated in the Bank Exec competition. Placed in teams, each group was given their own community and three banks. The competition was to see which team at the end of the week received the highest stock price for their community and banks. The winning prize was a $500 Lloyd P. Calvert School of Banking scholarship to each team member, while the second place team received a $250 scholarship. The last assignment is a bank simulation exercise, which is one of the most excit- ing and difficult projects. Students used what they have learned and achieved throughout the week to make challeng- ing judgement calls in a mock bank simulation that one day could reflect real-life bank scenarios. Throughout the process, students are given the chance to take on a bank CEO role where they experience first-hand the decisions a CEO and the Board are tasked with. Following final presentations, students and faculty congregated in University of Charleston’s Erma Byrd Art Gallery for the graduation ceremony. It is always a bittersweet end to the week, graduation marks another chap- ter closed and for nine lucky graduates, it recognizes three years of dedicating time to further their educations and careers. We are so proud and honored to host the WV School of Banking each year and to see students take their new found connections and knowledge out- side the classroom back to their banks and communities. The West Virginia Bankers Association would like to thank the students, faculty, UC staff, and our members for your continued support. We hope to see you in 2020! Building Bankers Since 1944 By Amanda Cunningham, WVBankers Director of Education