John F. Kennedy High School partnered with Allegacy Federal Credit Union this week to kick off a new year of savings with the school’s Student Run Credit Union.
Allegacy works with nine of the district’s high schools to operate SRCUs, which provide an early point of access for students to both start thinking more carefully about their personal money management and explore career opportunities in finance.
“We empower Kennedy and Carter students with a financial education so they can start making good money decisions,” said Career Development Coordinator Deborah Cochran, the advisor for the SRCU at JFK. “We engage student bankers, and many of them pursue careers in financial institutions.”
Under the guidance of professional bankers, student bankers run SRCUs as small branches of Allegacy on their school campuses. They help their classmates, school faculty, and other members of their local community set up savings accounts.
Student bankers take pride in helping their peers prepare for a secure financial future, and they learn valuable information that helps with their own monetary decisions as well. JFK Senior Chloe Patterson says that the program is especially helpful for high school students who are preparing to graduate and enter the workforce.
“We want to make sure we help everyone dive into financial literacy,” Patterson said. “Life gets real in a hurry, so it’s never too early to start thinking about money.”
This week, student bankers at JFK are kicking off another year of service with a series of promotional festivities. Visitors to the SRCU can play games to win prizes, sample some bananas foster ice cream made by students in the school’s foods program, and enjoy the musical stylings of Sophomore Clinton Smith on his electric guitar. There’s a diverse collection of talent on display, and it’s got everyone excited about the SRCU.
“It makes me a little nervous, since I’m performing in front of like half the people I know,” Smith said. “But it’s definitely drawing in people’s attention.”
As in years past, this year’s opening ceremonies were also open to guests from neighboring Carter High School. Carter Teacher Assistant Faye Hairston brought her students to the first day of the festivities and was pleased to see them so excited to start saving their money.
Students with disabilities benefit from participating in activities with their peers without disabilities, as well as from opportunities to be more independent, so Hairston is thankful that the SRCU welcomes them to an event that meets both of those needs.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to practice self-sufficiency,” Hairston said. “It means so much to them.”