The Article
AMARILLO, TX – FirstBank Southwest (FBSW) will celebrate the graduation of its second Banking Advisory Council (BAC) class on June 3, 2025, at the Amarillo Country Club. This innovative program, launched in 2023, brings together student leaders from across the Texas Panhandle to explore careers in community banking and develop skills that will serve them well into the future.
The BAC program offers high school seniors and college underclassmen a behind-the-scenes look at the financial industry, pairing them with FBSW leadership for mentorship, networking, and career development. Students were selected through a competitive application process involving essays, academic requirements, and in-person interviews.
This spring, the BAC received statewide recognition as a 2025 Texas Bankers Association Cornerstone Award recipient. The award honors community banks that make a meaningful difference in their communities—something the BAC has done by empowering students while helping the bank learn from a rising generation.
“This group has truly risen to the challenge,” said Kelly Preston, Banking Advisory Council Program Director and Senior Vice President, Human Resources Director at FirstBank Southwest. “They’ve shown curiosity, leadership, and professionalism beyond their years—and we’re excited to see where they go from here.”
The June 3 graduation ceremony will feature remarks from FBSW CEO and President Andy Marshall, FBSW Board Chairman Mark Shaffer, and student representative Miguel Quinonez. Each student will be awarded a certificate of completion and a $3,000 scholarship to the school of their choice.
2024–2025 BAC Graduates:
- Nick Prieto, Amarillo College
- Ben Kohler, Amarillo High School
- Queen Pride, Amarillo High School
- Braden Swanson, Canyon High School
- Noah Neighbors, Canyon High School
- Nicolas Gaston, Caprock High School
- Alyssa Ek, Caprock High School
- Taylie Wheeler, Palo Duro High School
- Ethan Flores, Palo Duro High School
- Lizzie Page, Randall High School
- Miguel Quinonez, Randall High School
- Ashlyn Hill, Tascosa High School
- Carey Dawson, West Plains High School
- Canaan Biesboer, West Plains High School
About FirstBank Southwest
FirstBank Southwest (“FBSW”) was founded in 1907 and family-owned since 1934. FirstBank Southwest is a dynamic 1.8B+ regional bank that has the privilege of serving the families and businesses of the Texas Panhandle, DFW Metroplex, and Austin and San Antonio metro markets. It is the mission of FBSW to be the preferred community bank in the great state of Texas by providing focused financial services for commercial customers and retail customers. Get social with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X. Visit us on our webpage at: www.fbsw.com.
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Aimee Grubbs, Marketing Director, 806.322.7229, [email protected]