Pub. 9 2018 Issue 2

www.wvbankers.org 8 West Virginia Banker Educating Bankers. Creating Leaders. W VBankers held its 71st annual West Virginia School of Banking at the University of Charleston in May. The School of Banking has the strategic mission of preparing bank employees to have a broad and funda- mental understanding of significant banking, economic and monetary issues, as well as a better understanding of major aspects of day-to-day banking operations. Since 1944, WV- BA’s two-year program has featured a challenging curriculum taught by a faculty possessing excellent teaching credentials and having vast experience in banking and financial services. In addition to lectures and home study assignments, the stu- dents also participate in a series of bank simulation exercises in order to provide more practical tools for learning about the management of financial institutions. Once students graduate from the two-year program, they have the option to participate in continuing education for a third year at the Lloyd P. Calvert Graduate School of Banking. This third year allows students to continue their professional education by providing an even more challenging curriculum, including advanced level simulation scenarios. The Calvert Graduate School is also designed to prepare career bankers for their participation in upper level national graduate schools of banking. WVBankers School of Banking had 36 graduates of the two- year program this year along with 11 students who success- fully completed the requirements of the Lloyd P. Calvert Graduate School of Banking. In addition to providing a professional educational oppor- tunity, the WVBankers School of Banking facilitates the development of interpersonal and business relationship skills among the students through informal social networking ac- tivities — all leading to career long friendships and business connections with bankers from all around the state. The University of Charleston has provided WVBA with an ideal en- vironment for professional learning and off-hours relaxation for students and banking school faculty alike. One aspect of the WVBankers School of Banking involved a week-long competition of student teams in the simulation exercises, for which the winning team members each received a cash award of a $500 scholarship toward the Lloyd P. Calvert Graduate School of Banking, with the second-place team winning a $250 scholarship. The decisions the students made during the bank simulation exercises helped them under- stand the difficult task their own management faces at their bank, leaving them with a greater appreciation of the CEO role and the decisions a CEO, senior leaders and bank boards must make. WVBankers was again fortunate to have had a great group of students this year. The 82 participating students showed the type of enthusiasm and positive spirit that helped make the school productive and fun, while keeping it vibrant and relevant for future classes. We look forward to next year’s school and greatly appreciate the commitment made by our members in support of this core program of the West Virginia Bankers Association. 