TruMark Financial Credit Union recently celebrated the successful completion of the Making My Mark program with a student showcase held at the credit union’s headquarters in Fort Washington. The event marked the culmination of a 12-week financial education and entrepreneurship initiative designed to equip high school students with real-world knowledge and skills.
The program was created by TruMark Financial team member Olivia Morton with support from Erin Derby, Instructor of Business and Technology at the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology. Over 12 weekly sessions, it provided students with hands-on lessons in financial education — covering credit, budgeting, and consumer behavior — and business development training in idea generation, marketing, and presentation skills.
The program also included a special session with Philadelphia entrepreneur John Zito, owner of South Fellini, who shared insights on launching a business and the role of AI in today’s economy.
From dozens of applicants, three high school seniors completed the full program and presented their business ideas to an audience of credit union professionals, educators, and mentors:
- Makaila Dupree: Growing Hearts and Minds Psychiatry Clinic, a youth mental health center featuring therapy dogs.
- Kayla Ervin: Strategic Safety Protection, a company designing bulletproof school infrastructure.
- Judah Jackson: TrueShot, an AI-powered basketball shot tracker with global connectivity.
Each student received a $500 award for completing the program. Their presentations reflected not only their technical knowledge but also personal connections to the problems they set out to solve, highlighting issues such as mental health, school safety, and the power of sports technology.
“These students weren’t afraid to tackle real-world problems,” said Morton. “This program was about more than financial education. It gave them a platform to think big, build confidence, and turn their ideas into action.”
Making My Mark was originally developed by Morton as part of her entry into the CrossState Credit Union Association’s Credit Union Ambassador Contest, where it earned second place statewide. The program not only exemplifies innovation in financial education but also addresses a growing need to engage the Gen Z and Alpha generations in the credit union movement.
Learn more about TruMark Financial Credit Union, one of the strongest, most progressive credit unions in the nation.
