Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 25, 1995 TAG: 9505250066
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
For the past nine months, Matt Dillon and his schoolmates have gotten an inside look at the banking world.
Dillon and 13 other eight-graders at Andrew Lewis Middle School in Salem spent one day each month in the First Union Tower in downtown Roanoke.
They worked in the bank's mortgage services division as part of an educational partnership designed to help keep the students in school.
The program, for those with academic, attendance or behavioral problems, is a first for the school system and the bank.
Not all of the students will become bankers, but now they know more about the business world, said Tony Wirt, one of their teachers.
"I'm not really sure I want to go into banking, but this has taught me that you need to do good in school," Dillon said.
"Real life is not a breeze. We have learned how to make good impressions, and that can be important," Dillon said.
Chad Thrasher, another student, said he has improved his computer skills and learned more about how a bank operates.
Renee Tickle can use the bank's computer to trace the history of mortgages. "I've learned how to sort checks and file information," she said.
First Union has extensive educational partnerships with public schools, said Tacy Beelman, an Excellence in Education coordinator for the bank. But this is the first time students have worked at the bank learning how it operates.
She said the bank linked up with Andrew Lewis Middle School because the wife of a mortgage officer teaches in Salem. The Salem school also was chosen because it provided the opportunity to work with children who need help the most, she said.
"We plan to use this as a blueprint to expand our mentoring program," Beelman said. "We will do it again next year."
First Union sponsors educational partnerships because it wants to help develop a good work force for the future and solve societal problems, she said.
The bank allowed the students to attend meetings of the mortgage services staff and hear reports from top executives on the bank's plans and performance.
They listened Wednesday as Jack Pearce, executive vice president of mortgage services, talked about First Union's growth in the past two years.
The students have been impressed with the bank, but not all want to become bankers.
"I've enjoyed it but, no, I don't think I want to go into banking," said Amanda Nolen. "It's too hard and complicated for me."
Another student, Janelle Duviella, isn't excited by computers, loans and interest rates.
"I like animals. I want to work with animals," she said.
The students were paired with individual bank employees, whom they shadowed each day they were at the bank.
Wirt said school officials have wanted to get the students into businesses so they could learn more about how the business world operates.
"It's good for them to get out and see the places they will work," he said. "The kids have enjoyed it, and I think they have learned something."
Jason Roe, 14, also likes the program for another reason. It is a chance to get out of the classroom one day every month.
"I've learned something about how the business world works. It is tougher than I thought," he said.
by CNB