The Virginia Bankers Association Education Foundation, in collaboration with four Virginia banks, is contributing $110,000 to support 11 community college students through the Virginia Banking Fellows Program. This initiative, run in partnership with the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, aims to help students achieve academic success, develop leadership skills and gain insight into the banking industry.
Each of the 11 students selected as Virginia Banking Fellows will receive $7,000 to cover educational expenses such as tuition, books and fees. An additional $3,000 per student will is awarded to cover educational elements and administrative costs, bringing the total to $10,000 per student. The Fellows are part of the larger VFCCE Fellows Program, established in 2011 to support promising second-year community college students in Virginia.
The Fellows program launched last week at an orientation in Richmond and will run through May 2025. Throughout the program, Fellows engage in leadership training, cultural activities and community service. They also have opportunities to participate in online banking industry trainings and various networking and educational events specific to the banking sector.
For the 2024-2025 school year, the VBA Education Foundation has committed a total of $60,000 to sponsor six Fellows from the following community colleges:
- Central Virginia Community College
- Northern Virginia Community College
- Reynolds Community College
- Southwest Community College
- Tidewater Community College
Four Virginia banks have also committed a total of $50,000 to sponsor a student from each of the following community colleges for the 2024-2025 Virginia Banking Fellows Program:
- Danville Community College – Atlantic Union Bank
- Laurel Ridge Community College – Bank of Clarke Foundation
- Laurel Ridge Community College – First Bank, Virginia
- Reynolds Community College – Atlantic Union Bank
- Reynolds Community College – Chesapeake Bank
The VBA Education Foundation was established in 2007 with the aim to improve personal financial literacy and economic education in all public and private schools in the Commonwealth. To learn more, visit www.vabankers.org/vba-education-foundation.
As the supporting arm of Virginia’s 23 community colleges, VFCCE broadens educational access and supports student success, securing funds and resources for statewide initiatives. For more information, visit www.vfcce.org.
