Richland CU opens student-run high school branch

RICHLAND, Wash. - When Gesa Credit Union opened a branch in the local Richland High School last month, not everyone knew how successful it would be. On March 16, Angela Kudsk, the teacher whose dedication and tenacity were the spark that got the student-run credit union going at her high school, will receive a Crystal Apple Award for Excellence in education. Last year, while Kudsk was getting the program organized at Richland High School, other area school districts passed on Gesa's offer to help set up a credit union in conjunction with high school accounting courses. They may want to re-think that position when they see how the Richland program is working. It all began in 1998, when the Richland H.S. business teacher took a position in the accounting office at Gesa CU for six weeks to learn how credit unions operate. Her appointment came with funding from the state of Washington, which encourages teachers to work at a business related to their teaching specialty. While Kudsk was there, officials at the credit union began to talk about forming a learning co-op for students at her high school. It was no coincidence that Gesa's board of directors had just decided to put more emphasis on community involvement. "One of the best ways to help the community is by supporting the school systems in providing students with a real life financial experience," said Michele Turner, media/events specialist at the credit union. It wasn't an easy sell for the dedicated teacher. First, she had to get an accounting class reinstated and tied to a student-run credit union. That took months of lobbying administrators and school board members, but it finally was approved. Meanwhile, Gesa staff were doing their own preparation. Roger Fishback, president of Gesa CU, Steve Oord, controller, and Don Miller, drove up to the other high school credit union in Washington, the Lake Roosevelt HS CU near Grand Coulee Dam. That student-run credit union, now in its sixth year, is sponsored by the Coulee Dam FCU. Students receive no pay or class credit to be an employee or board member of the credit union, but view the functions as an honor to be able to do. Kudsk and her students did most of the work, with the students dividing themselves into three committees -policy, facilities and marketing. While she and her students run the credit union, Gesa staff members are always available to help and advise and finance equipment and supplies. Several dozen high school students and staff members opened up accounts even before the official opening day Feb. on 11. In addition to deposits, members can cash checks, a boon for high school employees, since the school district no longer does that for its staff. -mcintyre@viclink.com