Seven Whitefish High School students are getting a head start in finance and discovering the inner workings of a credit union this year.

Whitefish Credit Union recently selected the high school students to serve on the credit union’s Junior Board of Directors, mirroring the seven-member senior board of directors.

The program is in its second year promoting financial education.

Students will observe credit union board meetings, write articles for the credit union’s newsletter, listen to local guest speakers discuss real-world finance issues and cap their experience by organizing a community service project.

Returning junior board members include Whitefish High School seniors Perrey Sobba, Rachelle Brown and Kelsey McFeeley. New to this year’s board are juniors Sloan Ellis, Tommy Murphy, Nathan Boone and Caroline Carbo.

Sobba, 17, hopes this year’s board will accomplish as much as last year. Sobba’s community service project involved a weeklong healthy living and fitness program for Whitefish Middle School fifth- and sixth-graders.

“As a returning member of the J-BOD, I am honored and excited to be chosen again,” Sobba said in a press release. “Last year was a wonderful experience. I learned so much and truly enjoyed the service project we were able to put on.”  

Sobba is a member of Feat x Feet, Montana’s only performing tap dance company. After high school she plans to enroll in a pre-med program and pursue her dream of becoming a plastic surgeon.

Newcomer Carbo, 16, is a National Honor Society member and has a 4.0 grade point average.

She’s not sure which career path she’d like to follow after high school, but is currently leaning toward something in the field of business.

“Being selected for the J-BOD is quite an honor, since this is only the second year. I know it will be a wonderful learning experience with some really great people,” Carbo said. “I hope to experience valuable life lessons that can be used in my future, as well as creating new relationships with all of my peers and mentors. But overall I hope I am able to leave a positive impact on my community through volunteer work and junior board activities.”

The junior board of directors meets monthly through the school year.

Sue Schenck, Whitefish Credit Union’s business development director, said she expects the junior board members to actively participate in meetings where the students will practice Robert’s Rules of Order.