The Article
Amarillo, TX – FirstBank Southwest (“FBSW”) will celebrate the graduation of its third Banking Advisory Council (BAC) class on June 9, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the Amarillo Country Club. The program, launched in 2023, brings together student leaders from the Amarillo and Canyon area to explore careers in banking, business, leadership, and financial services while building real-world professional skills.
Throughout the school year, BAC students participated in monthly sessions led by FirstBank Southwest executives, community leaders, educators, and local professionals. Students gained hands-on exposure to leadership development, financial literacy, communication skills, entrepreneurship, customer experience, and career readiness through presentations, workshops, networking opportunities, and interactive projects. As part of the program, students also collaborated on promotional videos highlighting the Banking Advisory Council experience and the impact the program has had on their personal and professional development. View the videos here.
“This program continues to exceed our expectations every year,” said Andy Marshall, President and CEO of FirstBank Southwest. “These students are thoughtful, engaged, and eager to learn. What makes the Banking Advisory Council special is that it not only helps prepare students for future careers, but it also helps us better understand the next generation of leaders, customers, and professionals. We’re incredibly proud of this class and excited to see what their futures hold.”
Kelly Preston, Banking Advisory Council Program Director and Senior Vice President, Human Resources Director at FirstBank Southwest, said the class demonstrated tremendous growth throughout the year.
“Watching these students build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and challenge themselves throughout the year has been incredibly rewarding,” Preston said. “They embraced every opportunity to learn, ask questions, and engage with our leadership team and community partners. We are proud of the relationships they built and the future they are creating for themselves.”
Each student selected for the Banking Advisory Council completed a competitive application and interview process. Upon graduation, students will receive a certificate of completion and a $3,000 scholarship to the school of their choice.
The June 9 graduation ceremony will feature remarks from FBSW President and CEO Andy Marshall, FBSW Board Chairman Mark Shaffer, and Will Miller, President of Commercial and Corporate Banking. Student representative Riley Wilson will also deliver a speech reflecting on the class experience and growth throughout the program.
2025–2026 BAC Graduates: 
- Linda Jaimes, Amarillo College
- Veditha Chelikani, Amarillo High School
- Hayden Brillhart, Amarillo High School
- Riley Wilson, Canyon High School
- Cason Littau, Canyon High School
- Gabriela Bandes, Caprock High School
- Lorenzo Mondragon, Caprock High School
- Monica Agundiz Blanco, Palo Duro High School
- Sitey Muhidin, Palo Duro High School
- Jaycee Mata, Randall High School
- Gavin Snell, Randall High School
- Jacob Moore, San Jacinto Christian Academy
- Tabitha Fowler, Tascosa High School
- Mabel Franks, Tascosa High School
- Audrey White, 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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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Aimee Grubbs, Marketing Director, 806.322.7229, [email protected]