 West High is working to become a “Center of Community,” and its partnership with Credit Union 1 is helping them achieve this goal. In the Fall of 2009, Credit Union 1 will open a cyber branch on the West campus. This branch will bring convenient banking services to West students, staff, parents, and community members.
In addition to convenience, the campus branch will provide several educational opportunities. Students who work at the cyber branch are sure to become financial mentors to their peers, and the entire school will have the opportunity to open and operate online bank accounts. The importance of establishing and maintaining solid credit scores will be addressed as well.
This ambitious plan did not evolve over night. West High School and Credit Union 1 have been partners since 2007, when CU1 employees gave a “Financial Fitness” presentation at the school. This initial contact paved the way for several exciting, innovative collaborations. Credit Union 1 is represented at several school events, such as the annual back-to-school night. Each semester, they give a School Business Panel presentation and participate in mock interviews. The partnership expanded significantly in June of 2008 with the development of a School to Career program in Financial Management emphasizing 21st century banking needs.
The pair has teamed up for community service projects as well. When West students decided to participate in the United Way Day of Caring food drive, Credit Union 1 sent three representatives from its marketing department to help promote the event. Together, the students and professionals designed posters, which were professionally printed at Credit Union 1 and displayed throughout the school. West High students also designed food collection boxes that were placed in each of Credit Union 1’s seven branch locations. Credit Union 1 collected donations throughout the week, and then delivered the items to the Food Bank of Alaska on behalf of West High. Thanks to this outstanding collaborative effort, 856 pounds of food were collected!
Rachel Ramsey, a Credit Union 1 employee, is currently helping West High SBP class teacher Mary Peterburs design eye-catching posters and develop a marketing strategy to attract more students to the SBP class.
Peterburs said, “Debbie Casey and the rest of the Credit Union 1 team are some of the most creative innovators and problem solvers I’ve ever had the privilege of working with. This relationship is exactly what I’d hoped a School Business Partnership would be.” |
 |
 |
Maria Delgado and Debbie Casey (right), CU1 share a laugh at the School Business Partners’ Panel Presentation September 2008. |
| |
 |
|
