As part of its mission to prepare the next generation of community bank leaders, the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (GSBC) and state bankers associations partner to fund scholarships annually. As the school prepares for its 74th Annual School Session, scheduled for July 13-25, 2025, GSBC is pleased to announce and congratulate the following scholarship recipients: 

Alumni Association Scholarship Recipients 

GSBC funds up to 10 scholarships per year in the name of its Alumni Association. The 2025 Alumni Association Scholarship recipients include: 

• Melissa Chown, Oregon Coast Bank (Newport, Ore.) 
• Bobbie McGraw, Platte Valley Bank (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 
• Mike Morey, Bank of North Dakota (Bismarck, N.D.) 
• Michelle Oliver, Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka (Topeka, Kan.) 
• Tyler Smith, Century Bank of Kentucky, Inc. (Lawrenceburg, Ky.) 
• Hammer Stinson, First Westroads Bank (Omaha, Neb.) 
• Ashli Treadwell, Chambers Bank (Danville, Ark.) 
• Jessica Turner, Bank of Edmonson County (Brownsville, Ky.) 
• Melany Wynn, Frandsen Bank & Trust (Arden Hills, Minn.) 
• Christofer Yacoub, Unison Bank (Gilbert, Ariz.) 

  

Intermediate School Scholarship Recipients 

Intermediate School Scholarships are awarded to those who recently graduated from their respective states’ intermediate-level banking school and exhibited outstanding academic performance while in the program. Recipients are chosen by intermediate school administrators.  

The 2025 Intermediate School Scholarship recipients include: 

• Megan Biermaier, Concordia Bank (Odessa, Mo.), top graduate of the Missouri School of Banking 
• Bryan Blundell, Bankers’ Bank of Kansas (Cheney, Kan.), awarded by Schools of Banking, Inc. Advanced School of Banking 
• Erica Clesse, First Citizens Bank (Dundee, Mich.), top graduate of the Texas Tech School of Banking 
• Kim Hurt, Concordia Bank (Concordia, Mo.), top graduate of the Missouri School of Banking 
• Stephen Mallory, Field & Main Bank (Lexington, Ky.), top graduate of the Kentucky Bankers Association General Banking School 
• Kayla Palmer, Union State Bank (Hazen, N.D.), top graduate of the Dakota School of Banking 
• Heather Smedra, Cornhusker Bank (Lincoln, Neb.), awarded by Schools of Banking, Inc. Advanced School of Banking 
• Chris Uhlenkamp, Breda Savings Bank (Breda, Iowa), top graduate of the IBA Iowa School of Banking 

  

Bolder Banking Scholarship Recipient Banks 

Founded in 2023, the Bolder Banking Scholarship affords GSBC’s co-sponsoring state bankers associations the opportunity to recognize and reward their member banks displaying innovative approaches to banking. GSBC funds a scholarship for a rising star within the recipient bank to use toward tuition at GSBC. The 2025 Bolder Banking Scholarship recipient banks include: 

• Chambers Bank (co-presented by Arkansas Bankers Association) 
• First Federal Bank of Kansas City  (co-presented by Missouri Bankers Association) 
• First Westroads Bank (co-presented by Nebraska Bankers Association) 
• Jonah Bank of Wyoming  (co-presented by Wyoming Bankers Association) 

  

Other Awards 

Independent Community Bankers of Colorado Scholarship 

The Independent Community Bankers of Colorado (ICBC) awards $2,000 scholarships to four rising third-year students from ICBC member banks who have displayed stellar academic performance in their first two years at GSBC. The 2025 ICBC Scholarship recipients include: 

• Maranda Blake, First Bank (Lakewood) 
• Karena Downey, Farmers Bank (Ault) 
• Bentley King, Alpine Bank (Basalt) 
• Sylvia Veltri, High Country Bank (Salida) 

Conference of State Bank Supervisors Scholarship 

Each year, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) awards a scholarship worth one-third of the GSBC tuition to an incoming first-year student. The 2025 CSBS Scholarship has been awarded to: 

• Tyler Houseman, Ohio Department of Commerce (Springfield, Ohio) 

More information on GSBC’s scholarship opportunities can be found here.