SPS shares plan to open credit union at Hillcrest
Jan. 26, 2023
Hillcrest High School will be home to a branch of Volt Credit Union, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. This collaboration will allow HHS students to gain real world work experience in the financial services industry while learning valuable financial literacy skills.
This will be the first student-operated high school credit union in Missouri. Students who work in the credit union will develop a deeper understanding of how financial institutions operate, learn specific job skills and be better prepared to manage their own financial wellness. The new program was announced during the opening session of SPS University on Thursday.
“We believe that financial literacy and personal financial management are important life skills that will benefit students well into their futures,” said Loretta Roney, Volt credit union president and CEO. “The opportunity for students to be trained as credit union employees and gain real-world preparation in a professional environment is priceless, and we are thrilled to be launching this new program.”
The credit union will operate during the school day and will be available for use by Hillcrest students and staff. Between 10 and 15 students will have the opportunity to be fully immersed in the learning experience as they work shifts under the guidance of a Hillcrest teacher and a Volt employee.
The partnership with Volt Credit Union will also provide classroom learning experiences aligned with coursework such as Personal Finance, Introduction to Business and Freshman Seminar.
“We are excited about the potential this partnership has to give high school students more opportunities to develop relevant job skills,” said Dr. Grenita Lathan, superintendent. “Expanding options that allow students to explore career and workforce pathways before they graduate will help them identify areas of interest and begin to prepare early to pursue their goals.”
About Volt Credit Union
Volt Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative offering banking services, loans, mortgages, and investments for local community members of Springfield and the surrounding counties since 1935. As a federally insured state-chartered credit union headquartered in Springfield, MO, they have 2 branch locations and over $90 million in total assets. Volt has over 7,000 members and employs 22 full and part-time employees. For more information about Volt Credit Union, visit www.voltcu.org
