Nebraskaland Bank has awarded $14,500 in scholarships to 52 graduates of the bank’s financial literacy program.

The awards ceremony on Monday, April 27 celebrated the students’ achievements and commitment to financial literacy.

Graduates successfully completed six courses to build essential money management skills. In addition, they participated in an essay contest. During the ceremony, Kelly Lammers, Director of the Nebraska Department of Banking, presented commemorative coins to the top three essay winners. The coins symbolize the students’ hard work, determination, and commitment to mastering financial literacy, bank spokeswoman Evonne Keck said.

Essay winners:

• 1. Aidan Long, $1,000
• 2. Ava Welch, $750
• 3. Daria Zheng, $500

Each of the remaining 49 graduates received a $250 scholarship for successful completion of the program, Keck said.

They are:

Emilee Allen, Colten Altig, Kason Baker, Lindsay Blomstedt, Lauren Bowers, Kenna Bringewatt, Piper Caldwell, Naomi Dekleva, Clara Denny, Emilio Dimas, Paige Dodson, Addison Frederick, Lillian Fuchser, Trey Furmanski, Mason Giebler, Rose Green, Allison Guthrie, Maleighya Harmon, MaKenna Johnson, Ean Julius, Rebecca Keneipp, Nicholas Krondak, JT Lantis, Kaylee Lundgreen, Ryleigh Melvin, Savannah Miles, Isabella Mitchell, Jamie Murtaugh, Aashi Naidoo, Maggie Nichols, Lilliana Otte, Jaydon Parker, Presley Pettera, Dimitri Pettit, Quintin Pinkerton, Alexis Read, Logan Robirds, Jackson Saner, Isabelle Scholz, Landon Shepherd, Makynzi Smith, Rameja Somers-Dehaney, Asher Strecker, Haydn Stretesky, Cooper Swanson, Sutton Tickle, Natalia Toribio, and Danyale Zheng.

Sen. Mike Jacobson, the president and CEO of Nebraskaland Bank, commended the students for putting forth great effort to take the course in their already busy schedules.

“We can confidently say they’ve acquired valuable skills and established a solid foundation to become astute financial leaders in both their personal and professional lives,” Jacobson said. “We look forward to watching them develop, grow, and lead.”

The in-depth program covers vital financial topics, including budgeting, savings, credit, loans, wealth building, and identity theft protection. Senior and executive officers from NebraskaLand Bank lead the courses, blending traditional financial knowledge with practical, real-world applications to prepare students for future success.

Since the 2014-15 school year, Nebraskaland University has awarded $124,250 in scholarships, reflecting enduring commitment to empowering young learners.

This initiative continues to make a meaningful impact by equipping students with the financial tools they need to thrive and by fostering a culture of lifelong learning within the community.

The graduates

Photo * Nebraskaland Bank

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