Stories

The U.S. Bank Student Scholarship program, a sweepstakes for participants in financial education modules, continues to evolve in its 10th year.

An aspiring nurse, physical therapist and psychologist are the latest high school seniors to be named U.S. Bank Student Scholarship Program winners. The three female scholarship recipients competed against nearly 23,000 students from across the U.S. and hail from Arkansas, Missouri and Louisiana.

“I was overjoyed when I heard the news at school about winning the scholarship,” said Kamdyn Lee, the grand prize winner from Denham Springs, Louisiana. “I excitedly told all my friends and then I applied for more scholarships!”

Lee earned a $10,000 scholarship that will go toward her first-year studies this fall at Louisiana State University, where she’ll study psychology. Twice each year, students who register and complete a certain number of financial education modules become eligible for various prizes as part of the Scholarship Program sweepstakes. The more modules they finish, the more scholarship money they could earn.

“The information in the financial modules was interesting,” said the Denham Springs High School student. “I work part-time as a waitress, so I’ve been learning to budget.”

The U.S. Bank Student Scholarship Program is in its 10th year and continues to evolve and touch the lives of students.

“The last few years have shown all of us the value of understanding how to manage our money, the tools and resources that are available to both get through and take advantage of the unexpected,” said Kaori Yamada, U.S. Bank’s senior vice president of financial education strategy. “We’re delighted to support over 50,000 students this past year with financial education and help them feel increased confidence in managing their personal finances.”

Iresha Williams from Little Rock, Arkansas, hopes to be a traveling nurse and is considering attending either Philander Smith College or the University of Arkansas Little Rock. The first prize winner of $5,000 didn’t expect to win. “I was shocked when I received the news,” she laughed. “You never know what opportunities you can unlock with a scholarship. I am looking forward to continuing my education and branching out to experience new people and places.”

Just north of Arkansas in southern Missouri, Gwendolyn Broderick, also a $5,000 first prize winner, was just as surprised. “I didn’t think someone from little ol’ Gainesville, Missouri, could win a national scholarship.”

Broderick, whose stepdad is a customer of U.S. Bank and told her about the scholarship, thought the financial education modules were helpful. “They were easily retainable lessons,” said the future Missouri Southern State University student who plans to study physical therapy. “For other students out there, if you complete the lessons and learn, it could be you.”

In 2022, there will be two entry periods for students to apply for future scholarships. The first application window is open now and will run until June 26. A second window will open on June 27 and run until October 30. For complete details, visit the U.S. Bank Student Scholarship Program page.