The start of the school year is exciting – new teachers, new clothes, seeing your friends daily again. It is also a fresh start for Alliance Bank, Francesville’s Junior Board of Directors. As schools were starting, the 16-member group gathered at the First Christian Church of Francesville for an orientation session.
Members
The Junior Board is comprised of juniors and seniors from four area high schools – North White, Twin Lakes, West Central and Winamac. Students apply to be part of the leadership experience, typically a two-year term – learning the aspects of board membership while being exposed to businesses and non-profits in their communities. This year’s Junior Board is comprised of the following members.
- Kandace Kroft, Chairperson – Winamac, Senior
- Ethan Need, Vice Chair – Twin Lakes, Senior
- Sydney Mellon, Secretary – West Central, Senior
- Audrey Dickinson, Marketing – Winamac, Senior
- Jacob Ramirez Menjivar – North White, Senior
- Carter Sterrett – North White, Senior
- Brody Koppelmann – Twin Lakes, Senior
- Maddox Gutwein – West Central, Senior
- Olivia Dahlenburg – North White, Junior
- Katelyn Westerhouse – North White, Junior
- Tatem Goyer – Twin Lakes, Junior
- Mary Kate Waikel – Twin Lakes, Junior
- Makylah Holle – West Central, Junior
- Katie Scholz – West Central, Junior
- Jaelyn Huddleston – Winamac, Junior
- Sean Stark – Winamac, Junior
Orientation
Junior Board officers gathered early on Orientation Day to meet with Bank President Shane Pilarski and COO Tanya Burton. They reminded the officers of their responsibilities, discussed changes for the upcoming year and prepared them for the day ahead. Once the rest of the members had assembled, Pilarski gave an overview of expectations and plans for the year. Each month the students visit a local business to learn about industry and career opportunities in their back yard. At each meeting, a senior member will highlight an area non-profit organization and juniors will be tasked with providing financial literacy tips. Volunteer opportunities are also sprinkled in throughout the year – selected by the students or alongside bank employees at community events.
Alliance Bank leaders use the Junior Board as a sounding board for input on bank direction and decisions. Ashley Bice, the bank’s marketing director, presented their first opportunity during the orientation session. She presented four design options for a new Alliance Bank canned water giveaway. Students had the opportunity to discuss the designs before Chair Kroft led them through parliamentary procedures to vote on a final design.
Students also enjoyed a fried chicken lunch from The Patio ahead of their session, had the opportunity to learn and network with other student leaders from their nearby communities, and participated in a team-building exercise led by bank president Shane Pilarski.
Next session
Junior Board members will gather for their first business visit in September. Students will visit Cives Steel Co. outside of Wolcott.
The Alliance Bank Junior Board of Directors is comprised of juniors and seniors from North White, Twin Lakes, West Central and Winamac high schools. The students typically apply at the end of their sophomore year for a two-year term on the Board. The students have monthly meetings throughout the school year on-location at a variety of local businesses and non-profits. Students learn about the organization and career opportunities in their community. Junior Board members also volunteer together throughout the year at various community events and non-profits.
