Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank honors winning student essayists

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In the front row from left are Alexis Condon, her twin sister and first place essay contest winner Mackenzie Condon, second place winner Samuel Rollins, and his brother Kyle Rollins. In back, from left are Edgartown School teacher Pati Nelson, Mackenzie's and Alexis's parents Carlene Gatting and Fred Condon, Edgartown School principal John Stevens (partially obscured), MVSB president and CEO Paul J. Falvey, and Samuel's and Kyle's parents Greg and Suzanne Rollins. Third place winner Julia Reagan was absent. — Photo by Patti Leighton

The Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank (MVSB) honored the winners of a bank-sponsored essay contest in a ceremony at the Main Street branch in Edgartown last Friday, May 24. The bank launched the student contest last month in connection with “National Teach Children to Save Day” on April 23.

The contest was open to all students in grades five through seven. Students were asked to answer the following essay question: Imagine you had the opportunity to provide a family with all its basic financial needs for one year. What would you include in a family budget? Give your reasons for why these things would be important. In your conclusion, explain how could a bank assist a family in reaching this budget for important items.

The three contest winners, all from Edgartown School, were: Mackenzie Condon, first place; Samuel Rollins, second place; and Julia Reagan, third place. As the first-place winner, Mackenzie won a $200 certificate of deposit (CD). Samuel won a $100 CD and Julia a $50 CD.

Todd Sawyer, an English literature teacher at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, Margaret “Peg” Reagan, the high’s school’s former principal, and MVSB board of trustees member Ann Tyra served as the contest’s judges.

Bank officer Patti Leighton said Mr. Sawyer and Ms. Reagan helped develop the essay question in keeping with MCAS standards and school curriculum. Ms. Leighton, who oversees a school savings program offered by MVSB, said she tells students, “The next step in financial literacy is to go from a savings account to investing.”

The winning essays may be read at mvtimes.com.