La Porte, IN (June 10, 2025) |
Genevieve DeRubbo, a student at La Lumiere School, is a winner of the Banzai Life Literacy Scholarship—earning $2,000 toward her educational goals. Evie is one of just five standout students across the country selected for this award.
The Banzai Life Literacy Scholarship encourages students to build real-life money skills by completing at least two of Banzai’s interactive games. Each applicant worked closely with a Banzai-affiliated teacher to complete their coursework and submitted proof of completion; something her teacher, Mr. Brett Bahoff has enthusiastically supported in his classroom for several years.
Purdue Federal Credit Union (Purdue Federal), a Banzai program sponsor, is proud to see a local student recognized on a national level. “Purdue Federal Credit Union supports financial literacy education to help students build a strong financial foundation before leaving home. Whether they head to college or the workforce, understanding more than just the basics prepares them for future success. By sponsoring La Lumiere School with Banzai, we hope to inspire others to invest in financial education at an early age,” said Molly Milcarek, Community Relations Specialist at Purdue Federal.
After finishing the coursework, Evie submitted a thoughtful essay on the importance of financial literacy, sharing, “The financial world is all too real, and can either make or break a person’s entire life experience... Despite a person’s background, wealth, or situation, finance is a universal factor that exists throughout life.” Evie went on to describe how using Banzai helped her understand budgeting, credit, taxes, and even impress her entrepreneur dad with the Stock Market Showdown module.
“We believe every student deserves a chance to pursue the education they want—especially when they’ve taken the initiative to learn critical life skills like personal finance,” said Nikole Clayton, Education Director at Banzai.
Genevieve (Evie) DeRubbo, La Lumiere Senior, Winner of $2,000 Banzai Scholarship
Molly Milcarek, Community Relations Specialist at Purdue Federal