Three Community Ambassadors Earn Scholarship Awards
Sunflower Bank’s third annual Community Ambassadors program culminated across its Kansas and Colorado markets with the selection of three $5000 college scholarship winners.
High school seniors Chris Eakin of Osborne, Kan., Katlin Hornig, Monte Vista, Colo., and Eli Logan, Manhattan, each earned a $5000 college scholarship – the highest honor presented to a Sunflower Bank Community Ambassador.
Each earned the scholarship award as a result of a “business possibility plan” – an essay and presentation that required students to research and describe an idea for launching a successful, local business. Students drew on backgrounds of economic development, entrepreneurship, and local government as presented throughout monthly Community Ambassadors sessions.
More than 150 select students served as Sunflower Bank Community Ambassadors in Kansas and Colorado. Now in its third year, the interactive, educational scholarship program features monthly discussions and workshops with local business, government and leadership development. The program encourages high school seniors to consider their hometown communities as viable destinations for their futures. Interested in applying? Click here.
Chris Eakin is a senior at Osborne High School and will attend Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Mich.) in the fall. Eakin’s business plan focused on development of a local recreation and fitness center in the Osborne community.
Katlin Hornig, of Monte Vista, Colo., developed a detailed plan for launch of a family dining and entertainment center in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. She will attend Colorado State University in the fall, beginning a veterinary career. Pictured, Hornig receives her scholarship award from Sunflower’s Nick Malone and Yvonne Hoffman at Sargent High School Awards Night.
Eli Logan, a senior at Manhattan High School, unveiled a plan for a unique design firm. Logan will attend Kansas State University.
Each Sunflower Bank Community Ambassadors class also selected a local $1000 scholarship winner. In sum, Sunflower Bank donated more than $30,000 in scholarship money to deserving high school seniors who excelled within the Community Ambassadors program.
“We’re honored to work with eager and enthusiastic students, who exhibit a passion for learning, growing, and giving back to their hometowns,” said Mollie Carter, President & CEO of Sunflower Bank. “As a community bank, we’re proud to support local students – and also help them gain leadership skills invaluable to their futures.”
Facilitated locally in each of Sunflower Bank’s seventeen cities, Community Ambassadors attend sessions each month throughout the school year, culminating with April and May graduation ceremonies in most locations.
Sunflower Bank is now accepting applications for the next class of Community Ambassadors, beginning in fall 2009.
Applications will be accepted at local Sunflower Banks and online until Monday, June 8. Program membership is again limited to a small group, and classes will feature at least nine participants. Applicants are evaluated on current class work, community activities, and a series of short essay questions. Questions about application or about the program itself can be directed to Sunflower Bank’s customer service line at 1-888-827-5564. Applications are available at www.sunflowerbank.com.
