Republic Bank Sponsor of Columbia State's Student Engagement and Services, Donates Funds to Baseball
Columbia State’s Student Engagement and Services Department is involved in an estimated 200 events and over 100 student development initiatives each year, with events including the Adulting 101 series, Weeks of Welcome, Spring Fest and the Lunch and Learn Career Industry Podcast.
In September, the Adulting 101 workshop series featured a lunch and learn session covering basic budgeting. Past workshop sessions have included car safety, insurance, filing taxes, healthy eating, renting and first-time home buying. Support from Republic Bank means more Adulting 101 sessions and other student activities can occur.
“It’s been great to have their support, and it goes beyond the financial,” said Tia Miller, Columbia State director of Student Leadership and Development. “They bring expertise and connections to experts on topics our students want to learn more about. It’s reassuring to know that the folks coming to our campuses to talk with our students are providing them with quality information and resources to meet them where they are. The partnership with Republic Bank has been fantastic all around over the last several years.”
“We appreciate the commitment Republic Bank has made to helping our students grow,” said Bethany Lay, Columbia State vice president for Advancement and executive director of the Columbia State Foundation. “We know that engaging learning opportunities outside of the classroom provide interactions that help develop skills students need. Athletics provides similar experiences. Republic Bank helps us focus on student success.”
In addition to their sponsorship of student engagement events, Republic Bank has also contributed to Columbia State’s Chargers Baseball program. This funding helps expand upon the college’s athletics program, reinforcing Republic’s support for students’ involvement at the college.
“While students are at Columbia State working on their education and planning their future, a big piece of that future is their financial future,” said Chad Hart, Republic Bank Tennessee market president. “As we learned about some of the programs that were offered here at Columbia State and preparing our next generation of leaders, we thought it was just a perfect fit for us to come on board and support student services and activities. It's now grown to expand into supporting the growth of the athletics program and the future student-athletes that are coming through the school. It's just part of who we are as Republic Bank, being truly a member of our community.”
“The role of community banks is to enhance the community that they are trying to serve, and this investment to Columbia State helps us with our mission to help our communities to grow and thrive, especially with the financial workshops that we are providing to the students,” said Luis Parodi, Republic Bank vice president, senior regional CRA and community development officer. “We believe that will have a long-term impact on the lives that we're trying to serve in this community. Also, as a Columbia State Foundation board member, I want to encourage other businesses and organizations in the area to collaborate and help our future leaders, not only with resources, but also sweat equity, volunteer hours and other resources to help our future leaders to be successful in their careers.”
To learn more about student activities at Columbia State, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/campus-life. And to find out more about Columbia State’s baseball program, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/baseball.
About Republic Bank
Republic Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of Republic Bank & Trust Company (Republic). As of Nov. 1, 2023, Republic operates 47 banking centers in five states, has over 1,000 employees, and offers a full array of business and consumer deposit and loan products, credit cards, equipment leasing and Treasury Management services. In addition to full-service banking in its retail footprint, Republic also provides mortgage banking services and financial products to customers in select states across the U.S.
Pictured (left to right): Luis Parodi, Republic Bank vice president, senior regional CRA and community development officer; Chris Cribbs, Columbia State dean of students; Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president; Tia Miller, Columbia State director of Student Leadership and Development; and Chad Hart, Republic Bank Tennessee market president.
Pictured (left to right): Ryan Huber, Columbia State head baseball coach; Katie Willingham, Columbia State athletics director; Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president; Chad Hart, Republic Bank Tennessee market president; Cooper Hart, Columbia State student and Chargers pitcher; and Luis Parodi, Republic Bank vice president, senior regional CRA and community development officer.
