This past March, Virginia National Bank (VNB) hosted students as part of the VBA Bank Day Scholarship Program sponsored by the Virginia Bankers Association Education Foundation. Through this program, students learn about banking, financial services, career opportunities and the vital role banks play in their communities from local banks and credit unions.
We are thrilled to announce that Aakriti Rustagi from Langley High School has been selected as the VBA Bank Day Scholarship Program’s Northern Virginia Region Winner as well as the Statewide Winner! As such, Aakriti has been awarded a $2,500 college scholarship for the regional contest and a $5,000 college scholarship for the statewide contest. Well done, Aakriti!
Read an excerpt of Aakriti’s award-winning essay below:
Additionally, VNB hosted the Northern Virginia Region Honorable Mention Winner, Hunter Guthrie from James Madison High School, and the Valley Region Honorable Mention Winner, Isam Mousa from Spotswood High School. Each of the honorable mention winners receive a $1,000 college scholarship.
VNB wishes to congratulate each of the students awarded regional scholarships:
Capitol Region Winner: Peter Roberts, Midlothian High School, Hosted by C&F Bank
Capitol Region Honorable Mention Winner: Kaitlynne Kelsey, Cumberland High School, Hosted by The Farmers Bank of Appomattox
Central/Southside Region Winner: Riley Price, Glenvar High School, Hosted by Bank of Botetourt
Central/Southside Region Honorable Mention Winner: Idrak Anwar, Western Albemarle High School, Hosted by C&F Bank
Eastern Virginia Region Winner: Earling Hunter, II, King's Fork High School, Hosted by Blue Ridge Bank
Eastern Virginia Region Honorable Mention Winner: Christopher Iyinbor, Hampton High School, Hosted by C&F Bank
Northern Virginia Region Winner: Aakriti Rustagi, Langley High School, Hosted by Virginia National Bank
Northern Virginia Region Honorable Mention Winner: Hunter Guthrie, James Madison High School, Virginia National Bank
Valley Region Winner: Lauren Funk, James Wood High School, Hosted by F&M Bank
Valley Region Honorable Mention Winner: Isam Mousa, Spotswood High School, Hosted by Virginia National Bank
Southwest Virginia Region Winner: Peyton Williams, Lee High School, Hosted by Powell Valley National Bank
Southwest Virginia Region Honorable Mention Winner: Kylan Brooks, Lebanon High School, Hosted by First Sentinel Bank
VNB continues to invest in the financial health and education of students in our communities and is proud to support this program.
Virginia National Bank’s Finance Career & Leadership Academy (FCLA) spring 2026 semester is underway! The new class launched in January with an exceptional group of students (see announcement here) and will run through the beginning of June.
We are pleased to share a few articles from Charlottesville City Schools and Albemarle County Public Schools highlighting their students who were accepted in this year’s cohort.
VNB is proud to continue the FCLA program another year, educating high school students with advanced financial training as well as preparing them for employment opportunities.
We appreciate the dedication and hard work of the students throughout the semester and thank the administrators, teachers, counselors, community members, and parents that support the importance of financial education through the FCLA program.
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
We are thrilled to announce that Aakriti Rustagi from Langley High School has been selected as the VBA Bank Day Scholarship Program’s Northern Virginia Region Winner as well as the 
Valley Region Honorable Mention Winner, Isam Mousa from Spotswood High School. Each of the honorable mention winners receive a $1,000 college scholarship.
