June 24, 2005 – FirstBank VI has awarded funding to two high school students to attend prestigious leadership development programs this summer. Shenique Henry, a junior at the St. Croix Educational Complex High School, will be attending the Congressional Student Leadership Conference in Baltimore, Maryland and Nyomi Gumbs, a junior at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, will attend the Junior Statesmen Summer School at Princeton University. Students are accepted into the programs based on academic excellence, leadership abilities, personal development from extra curricular activities and involvement in their local community.
LeadAmerica, whose mission is to transform the world's next generation of young leaders, sponsors CSLC. They are inspired and educated in ethical and principled leadership values, attitudes and skills. Sen. Juan Figueroa-Serville, who wanted to see a local student receive and benefit from this exceptional opportunity, coordinated funding support for Henry. "FirstBank VI has a record second to none in being an outstanding corporate citizen and a great champion for our community," said the senator. "The conference will be a life changing experience for Ms. Henry, inspiring her to make decisions that will mold her future as a potential leader of her community."
JSSS is a month-long program that introduces students to American government and politics. Students will develop an appreciation and understanding of democracy through honors and advanced placement courses in political science and speech communication, a high-level speakers program and debates on current political issues. Relative to FirstBank's contribution, Gumbs said, " I believe attending the summer school will be a beneficial experience for me and would not have been possible without FirstBank's generous contribution."
Gumbs will be studying Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics, as well as Honors Speech and Communication. Henry's focus at the Congressional Conference will be Law and Trial Advocacy.
