Students in uniform join APGFCU Board of Directors Chairman David Gilbert, APGFCU President/CEO Don Lewis, Edgewood High School Academy of Finance Coordinator Carolyn Kustanbauter, HCPS Supervisor of Business & Technology Education LaVerne Pitts, Board of Education of Harford County President Leonard Wheeler, Edgewood High School Principal Larissa Santos to open the school's credit union branch. (photo courtesy of Lifetouch, Photo courtesy of Lifetouch / February 7, 2012) |
For the first time in Harford County history, students will operate a fully functioning credit union.
On Feb. 2, Edgewood High School's Academy of Finance proudly opened the doors of its student-run branch of Aberdeen Proving Ground Federal Credit Union — the first of its kind in the county.
According to the school's principal, Larissa Santos, Edgewood was chosen for the project because it is the home of the finance academy.
"It's a project we've been working on for several years," Santos said. Finally seeing the credit union come to fruition is "very exciting," she added.
The branch will be open 52 days during the school year — once a week on Wednesdays during lunch periods — and is within the school store.
Students of the school's finance academy — 11 or 12, Santos said — will run the branch, serving as tellers and running the daily operations, all under the supervision of the program's coordinator and representatives of the credit union. The branch is only open to Edgewood High School students and staff.
The school resource officer and administrative staff will provide additional security to support the branch, as well as a security camera and safe.
The employees will be responsible for basic savings and checking account activities and member service functions, such as opening new accounts and providing customers with brochures and information.
Each student employee was trained by the credit union and had to apply for each position, as well as interview for it.
"You can only imagine since this is their [the students] interest that they're very excited to have a real world experience right in their own school," Santos said. "They're pretty excited for the opportunity."
That real world experience was a main reason to open the student-run branch, Santos said, adding that APGFCU's goal is to increase financial literacy among students.
"The credit union is just one more example of the programs that are being offered at Edgewood High School, preparing students for life after graduation," Santos explained.
