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January 27, 2026

2026 Finance Career and Leadership Academy Students

Posted in Community News

Virginia National Bank (VNB) is excited to announce the students who have been accepted into VNB’s 2026 Finance Career and Leadership Academy (FCLA, Academy). In total we have ten students who have earned positions in the Academy.

“Each year, we are continually inspired by the growing number of highly talented and motivated students applying to our program,” said Glenn Rust, President and CEO of Virginia National Bankshares Corporation (VABK) and VNB. “This year’s winners truly stand out for their dedication to advancing their financial education and making a positive impact in their communities. We are honored to welcome them to the FCLA and look forward to supporting their continued academic and professional success.”

The students accepted into the Academy include:

• Skye Cuellar – Monticello High School
• Kathryn Hornsby – The Covenant School
• Remington Kuecker – The Covenant School
• Emma Lau – Albemarle High School
• Jaylin Margerum – Charlottesville High School
• Mira Masri – Charlottesville High School
• Ty Meyer – Liberty High School
• Olivia Moore – Western Albemarle High School
• Anya Piskunova – Albemarle High School
• Damari Turner – Fluvanna County High School

 

The participants were chosen based on their academic achievement, extra-curricular activities, community service, and overall character. Applicants also wrote an essay about what they hoped to accomplish with a stronger and deeper financial education and went through an interview process.

The Finance Career & Leadership Academy is a free instructional program designed to not only provide advanced personal finance and employment readiness training, but also a path to career opportunities in banking for high school juniors and seniors within our communities. The most promising and top performing students from the Academy are considered for VNB’s College Program (the Commercial Banking/Staff Development Program).

Our partnership with the Center for Financial Training and Education Alliance (CFTEA) has allowed us to create a credentialing program specifically designed to prepare students to meet the demands of our industry, and to do so without the prohibitive cost of a four-year degree. This bank-sponsored, comprehensive, free training program consists of 15 courses of which 13 are accredited college/university courses (39 credit hours that are transferable to a 2 or 4-year college/university) and work projects. Participants receive fulltime pay with full fringe benefits (includes 401k with company match) while completing the program and, if successful in the program, have the potential opportunity for a career with VNB. Also, once employed, should they choose, they may go on to complete a 2 or 4-year degree at the company’s expense.  

“Helping local students develop their financial skills on both a professional and personal level while also giving them a career path without the high levels of student debt is our goal,” said Rust. “Our educational programs are a means by which we give back to our community and we look forward to continuing these programs for years to come.”

VNB would also like to personally thank all those who helped us reach so many qualified, talented, and hard-working young people in our community. Including, but not exclusively or in any particular order, –

Albemarle County Public Schools, particularly

• Gabi Sukovich, Personal Finance Teacher, AHS
• Caroline Chang, Personal Finance Teacher, AHS
• Holly Newman, Talent Development & Gifted Specialist, AHS
• Tim Hamlette, Career Specialist, AHS
• Trevor Przyuski, Film & Video Production Teacher, AHS
• Zoe Padron, Talent Development Specialist, WAHS
• Kate Innes, AP Economics Teacher, WAHS
• Katie Bledsoe, Career Specialist, MHS
• Megan Parson, Director of Counseling, AHS
• Irvin Johnson, Director of Counseling, MHS
• Lauren Hunt, Communications Coordinator, Central Office
• Jennifer Butler, Deputy Chief Communications Officer, Central Office

Charlottesville Public Schools, particularly

• Deborah Tewksbury, Personal Finance Teacher, CHS
• James Daly, Economics and Personal Finance Teacher, CHS
• Dalton Wilcox, Personal Finance Teacher, CHS
• Chris Meyer, Charlottesville School Board

Sedriana Willis, Government & Personal Finance Teacher, CATEC
Jackie Jamison, Development Director and College Counselor, Regents School of Charlottesville
Margo D. Bruce, Principal, Fluvanna County High School
Stuart Hornsby, Owner of Lux Ventures and Campaign Manager, The Center for Christian Study at UVA
Heaven Chamley, Counselor, Fluvanna County High School
Kala Somerville, Executive Director at C4K (Computers4Kids)
Hunter France, Director of College Advising, The Covenant School
Lisa Taylor, Principal, Madison County High School
Jessica Hurd, Foundation Board Member, VHSL, and Teller, VNB
Samantha Savage, Director of Foundation Relations and Special Programs,VHSL
Reed Golomb, Youth Minister, Saint Thomas Aquinas University Parish
Erin DiVello, Personal Finance Teacher, Liberty High School