2026 New Black Knight Branch Staff
First State Community Bank at Farmington High School will replace this year’s graduating students with next year’s seniors. These students will get hands-on real-life experiences with banking. Students will learn how to deposit money into accounts, as well as make withdrawals, and filling the ATM with money for students to use. During second semester, these students can start working at a real branch to get more experience with transactions and soon will learn to make loan payments.

“We have a two-week period of time where we do training during the summer at the local branches. During the span of the two weeks, students will learn how to deposit money, withdraw money, work the system that we use, and count money,” said Bank Manager, Donna Miller

Every year, BKB chooses six incoming seniors to manage the bank for the upcoming school year. Miller explains the process of choosing the students.

“The process is that there is a Google Form that is sent out to Juniors. They fill that out, then each of those students gets an interview with me and my supervisor, Gabby Collins,” said Miller. “After all the interviews are complete, we meet together to discuss which students we feel would be a good fit for the bank. This process can be challenging. Last year, we had 15 applications, and it was very difficult to choose only six applicants.”

To say goodbye to the 2025 seniors, Miller tells us her favorite memory of this year’s students.

“This year, we upgraded the bank by getting a new awning and new wrapping of the ATM to stand out,” said Miller. “My favorite memory was the excitement that the students expressed with the new awning and ATM wrap.”

Even though this year’s students move on, Miller says she still always tries to stay in contact with them to check up and see how they are doing.

“I have been a part of BKB for 4 years now, and it is very difficult to let the seniors I have connected with go, but there are several that I am still in contact with from over the years,” said Miller.

Miller tells us more of what she hopes to accomplish with the new group of bankers

“I believe we will have another great group. I hope to get more traffic at the bank and continue getting the word out about us,” said Miller. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the upcoming bankers and how they will achieve this goal.”

The new bankers include Niyah Hayward, Layna Wade, Bailea Bock, Claire Callahan, Brodey Williamson, and Hayden Duncan. Wade shares the skills she hopes to achieve while working in the bank.

“I hope to gain valuable knowledge of working in a bank setting and a professional setting,” said Wade. “I also hope to gain real-world experiences and skills that I can apply to my life after high school, and as I go on to college,”

Hayward shares her thoughts about how this experience can be intimidating.

“It is a little intimidating,” said Hayward. “I have always struggled with being confident with money, but I am so excited to learn.”

Duncan tells us what he is looking forward to with this experience.

“Being able to have a community around you and helping others,” Duncan said.

Callahan tells us her plans after college and how this experience will educate her more on how to go about it.

“I plan on going to get an agriculture business degree and starting my own business after college,” Callahan said. “I’m very excited to see what new doors that this opportunity opens for me so I can learn how to eventually start my own business.”

Bock shares more about how she hopes this experience will help with what she wants to accomplish in the future.

“Not dead set on what my future plans are, but I think it will be a great experience and may even help me decide what I want to do in the future,” Bock said.

Williamson shares what made him decide to interview for the bank teller position.

“I have always wanted to learn more about how money works, and I might possibly work at the bank or own my own business in the future, so I thought this was a great opportunity to do that,” Williamson said.

Every year, the bank provides a luncheon for the graduating seniors and the incoming seniors to say farewell to those departing and welcome the new students. Miller explains more about what happens at the luncheon and what it is.

“We say farewell to the current bankers and welcome the new student bankers. We also announce the officer positions for next year,” said Miller. “The FSCB Focus Board Scholarship is given out to the current seniors who applied, and each current student banker is recognized with signing the BKB logo picture, making a farewell speech, and getting their honor cords.”

Wade enthusiastically shares that she is excited about the luncheon and what she is excited for.

“I’m so excited to talk to the current members of the Bank and hear their speeches!” Wade said, “It will be so interesting to hear about their experience throughout this year, and it will get us all excited for next year! I’m also really excited to finally find out what position everyone got!”

All six applicants applied for different positions in hopes of getting one. The results are in!
Layna Wade is the incoming President, Niyah Hayward is the incoming VP/Marketing, Bailea Bock is the VP/Public Relations, Claire Callahan is the incoming Security Officer, Brodey Williamson is the incoming Chief Financial Officer, and Hayden Duncan is the incoming Board Secretary. Congratulations to all the new applicants! BKB’s last day of being open will be the 13th of May.