June 7, 2022 -- Marketing Management CTE students and DECA program participants visited Citizens Bank for an in-depth lesson on finance. Under the direction of their instructor Sarah Parker, students were able to shadow Citizens Bank employees in both the University Heights and downtown Cleveland locations for a day.
The bank’s Branch Manager began the visit with a discussion on the importance of building and strengthening their soft skills. These skills included: clear communication, the ability to work on a team, accepting others’ differences, and being able to handle conflict. The importance of using these skills in both formal and informal environments was greatly emphasized.
Once the students arrived at the Citizen Bank's downtown Cleveland location, they were divided into three groups. Each group visited three essential departments: Commercial Banking, Business Banking, and Community Development Financial Institution. At each department, an employee spoke about the uniqueness of the department and their roles within the organization.
After shadowing and speaking with employees, the students returned to the bank's Board Room to participate in a “working lunch” with a discussion on personal finance for students, specifically focusing on finding funding for college. This was followed by a fun, bank-themed scavenger hunt.
“I really learned a lot about banking,” said senior Maurice Hamilton, “I plan to major in Business Administration at West Virginia State University next year, and may consider minoring in finance.” Freshman Trevor McPherson appreciated learning more about personal finance. “I’m really interested in entrepreneurship and banking, so this was a great trip for me,” he said. Overall, The students enjoyed the day learning about finance and expanding their networks. They were very impressed with the building’s beautiful interior.
The Cleveland Junior Achievement program connected Ms. Parker’s program with Citizens Bank. The Marketing Management Program is part of the Career and Technical Education Program at Heights High.