The Graduate School of Banking at Colorado’s (GSBC) 73rd Annual School Session blended core banking essentials with peer-focused initiatives to cultivate and inspire bold leaders for community banks.  

Approximately 500 community bankers representing 40 U.S. states collaborated on the University of Colorado Boulder campus July 14-26 over topics focused on Financial Management and Strategy, Innovation and Engagement, Leadership and Culture, and Lending. GSBC’s curriculum combines these essentials with cutting-edge strategies on how to lead a future-focused financial institution. 

Bolder Banking in Action: Innovation Meets Education 

This year’s session featured several new and expanded initiatives under the Bolder Banking umbrella, a campaign created to support the school’s current strategic plan. 

One such initiative marked a significant change to the first-year testing model. The First Year Experience & Action Journal focused on encouraging students to expand on their unique insights, experiences and career aspirations garnered from each course—a departure from traditional standardized tests which fall short in capturing the nuanced takeaways and practical applications of banking education.  

Through Bolder Banking, GSBC has provided a dynamic environment where education meets innovation. Initiatives experienced by the 2024 student body include an enriched new-student peer group program, collaborative hard questions course, the optional Committed to Lead micro-credential in leadership, and a series of readiness courses delivered in the third year designed to introduce community bank leaders to tools and methodologies to plan and execute for the future. 

Celebrating the GSBC Class of 2024 

Completing their final year at GSBC was a distinguished group of 160 banking professionals representing 28 U.S. states who are equipped to serve as leaders in their organizations and trusted financial providers in their communities. GSBC awarded these individuals with its prestigious diploma in banking in a ceremony in Boulder, Colo. on July 25. 

Of the 160 graduates, 20 were recognized with Honors, an accolade given to those who graduate in the top 10 percent of their class based on their intersession project performance. The honorees include: 

  • Kayla Bosch, Security First Bank (Bismarck, N.D.)
  • Kenneth Brower, Waypoint Bank (Colorado Springs, Colo.) 
  • Michael Casarez, Integrity Bank & Trust (Monument, Colo.) 
  • Jerika Coffman, Quail Creek Bank (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 
  • Javin Cyriacks, First Bank (Lakewood, Colo.) 
  • Dallas Dupey, FDIC (Golden Valley, Minn.) 
  • Christine Frederick, Great Southern Bank (Springfield, Mo.) 
  • Bryant Hall, Citizens State Bank (Ouray, Colo.) 
  • Audrey Hermanson, Bank of North Dakota (Bismarck, N.D.) 
  • Haley Hill, Lead Bank (Kansas City, Mo.) 
  • Emily Jobe, PCSB Bank (Clarinda, Iowa) 
  • Derek Layton, Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka (Topeka, Kan.) 
  • Lara Miller, NContracts (Mo.)
  • Andrew Nolan, Benchmark Bank (Dallas, Tex.) 
  • LaVonne Olsen, Peoples Bank (Bellingham, Wash.) 
  • Eric Schulze, FDIC (Omaha, Neb.) 
  • Catherine Shaver, Kentucky Dept. of Financial Institutions (Frankfort, Ky.) 
  • Abigail Tardiff, ANB Bank (Castle Rock, Colo.) 
  • Tracy Witt, Bank of the Bluegrass (Lexington, Ky.) 
  • Amy Wolfskill, NebraskaLand Bank (North Platte, Neb.) 

About the GSBC Diploma 

Graduates receive their diploma after successfully completing two weeks of classroom training for three consecutive years. The curriculum focuses on four key areas: Financial Management and Strategy, Innovation and Engagement, Leadership and Culture, and Lending. In addition to classroom training, students completed six intersession projects and culminated their studies with an extensive bank management simulation course. 

The GSBC’s 73rd Annual School Session was a testament to the power of Bolder Banking – where education, innovation and leadership converge to shape the future of community banking. 

Pre-enrollment for the 2025 session is now open! Learn more.