Pub. 10 2015-2016 Issue 3

September/October 2015 7 Extraordinary Service for Extraordinary Members. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Growing the “NExt Generation” of Nebraska Bankers 233 South 13th Street, Suite 700 Lincoln, NE 68508 Phone: (402) 474-1555 • Fax: (402) 474-2946 NBA Board of Directors NBA Editorial Staff Richard J. Baier Joni Sundquist NBA President & CEO Senior Vice President of Communications richard.baier@nebankers.org joni.sundquist@nebankers.org  President’s Message — continued on page 11 Richard J. Baier, President & CEO, Nebraska Bankers Association Michael Pate NBA Chairman (402) 916-1401 United Republic Bank Omaha Jerry A. Catlett NBA Chairman-Elect (402) 353-2555 Bruning State Bank Bruning Robert A. Balfany (402) 434-1035 U.S. Bank, N.A. Lincoln Nicholas W. Baxter (402) 602-1839 First National Bank of Omaha Omaha Cory A. Bergt (402) 434-4122 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Lincoln Alan L. Fosler (402) 323-1272 Union Bank & Trust Co. Lincoln Karl W. Gramann (402) 988-2255 Adams State Bank Adams Kristie K. Holoch (402) 363-7431 Cornerstone Bank York Michael J. Homa (402) 351-4248 Mutual of Omaha Bank Omaha Chris Hove (402) 420-8344 Nebraska Bank of Commerce Lincoln Dale L. Johnson (308) 452-3225 Town & Country Bank Ravenna Susan K. Koranda (402) 256-3247 Security Bank Laurel John F. Kotouc (402) 399-5088 American National Bank Omaha Kevin J. Larson (402) 372-5147 CharterWest National Bank West Point Brian D. Lierman (308) 217-1382 Great Western Bank Lexington Larry E. McPhillips (402) 367-4334 Bank of the Valley Bellwood Donald E. Moore (308) 345-4994 First Central Bank McCook McCook Debbie R. Newkirk (402) 449-0902 Security National Bank of Omaha Omaha Ken H. Niedan (308) 368-5555 Hershey State Bank Hershey Anthony Rappa (402) 918-5442 Bank of the West Omaha Kimberly A. Schroll (308) 534-2861 NebraskaLand National Bank North Platte Jason R. Smith (402) 372-5331 F&M Bank West Point John C. Wilkins (402) 759-8126 Heartland Bank Geneva Lydell L. Woodbury (402) 439-2168 First Nebraska Bank Stanton Craig G. Brewster NBA Past Chairman (402) 775-2271 Butte State Bank Butte T HE DESIRE TO NURTURE AND GROW THE NEXT GENERATION of Nebraska bankers is a key theme I hear when travel- ling across our great state tomeet with bankers—regard- less of their institution’s size or geographic location. The NBA, through both the Nebraska Bankers Educational Foundation (NBEF) and the University Foundation Allocation Committee (UFAC), has had a long-standing tradition of sup- porting college students through scholarships and internships. Fall 2015 represents a milestone anniversary for one of these leading programs: the Ag Banking & Finance Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Ag Banking Programwas initiated by UNL in the spring of 2005 with strong financial support throughUFAC. This one- of-a-kind program provides scholarships to students for up to four years of undergraduate study, coupled with a summer internship between the student’s junior and senior years. The goal is to prepare students for a career in agricultural lend- ing while encouraging university students to return to rural communities in Nebraska as ag lenders following completion of their studies. To date, 61 students have graduated from UNL with an ag banking major. Of these, 39 students have returned to rural banks as ag lenders; 37 of these young bankers remain em- ployed at a Nebraska financial institution. Twelve students re- cently completed their summer internships withNBA-member financial institutions. Based upon recent conversations, it appears that several of these young interns have already been offered full-time banking employment opportunities with their host banks following graduation. The past and future success of this programhinges not only uponworking with quality students interested in an ag banking career, but also, and just as importantly, upon having Nebraska banks that are willing to host an intern. Since the program’s inception, 38 Nebraska banks have hosted summer interns.