The announcement that VyStar Credit Union was donating over $31,000 to area high schools received quite a drumroll Wednesday afternoon.
The Ribault High School drum line kicked off a ceremony by marching through the VyStar Breezeway and into the VyStar Tower in front of a crowd made up of teachers, school administrators, students and VyStar employees. The event was the culmination of the first year of VyStar’s High School Debit Card Give Back Program, which was launched in 2022 to bring the community together in support of local education.
As part of the Give Back Program, each of the 19 high schools that participate in VyStar’s High School Branch Program has a unique debit card that is branded with the school’s logo. VyStar donates 5 cents to the corresponding school for every purchase made with that school’s debit card, up to $10,000 per school year. The donation from VyStar for 2022 added up to $31,061.15.
Ribault is one of 19 high schools in the High School Branch Program, where several VyStar staff members in attendance got their start in financial services. The students in the program run the day-to-day operations of the school branches under the co-supervision of the school’s career and technical education teacher and VyStar personnel.
VyStar Product Marketing Specialist Megan Brink served as the keynote speaker and explained her experience as a student intern at Matanzas High School. After three years in the program, she worked at VyStar’s Beach & I-295 branch while she earned a degree at the University of North Florida. She now works full time in VyStar’s Marketing department.
“I didn’t know it at the time, but the lessons I learned along the way set me up for success down the road,” she said during her speech.
The following five schools were the top earners:
Bartram Trail High School, $7,584.90
West Nassau High School, $3,709.25
Fleming Island High School, $3,570.85
Palatka High School, $2,462.80
Pedro Menendez High School, $2,407.50