Kurn Hattin Homes Career Awareness Program Invests in the Future with a Visit to the Savings Bank of Walpole

Westminster, VT, and Keene, NH – Kurn Hattin Homes for Children’s Career Awareness Program (CAP) continues to bank on strong relationships with local organizations to introduce students to diverse career opportunities. This month, Kurn Hattin students and staff visited the Savings Bank of Walpole’s main office on Marlboro Street in Keene, NH, for an engaging and informative session on financial literacy and careers in banking.

The visit brought together Kurn Hattin eighth graders with SBW Universal Banker Robby Smith, Regional Vice President Lisa Bierweiler-Franks, Kurn Hattin math teacher Carmen Menendez, and Mark Bodin, president of the Savings Bank of Walpole. The group engaged in a lively discussion covering essential topics such as growing savings, building and maintaining a strong credit score, planning budgets, understanding how banks operate and generate income, and the levels of education needed to pursue various positions within the industry.

Dollars and good sense weren’t the only themes explored. Mark Bodin emphasized that banking goes beyond financial transactions—it’s about building strong relationships and serving the community. He explained that banking professionals have a responsibility not only to their staff and customers but also to the community as a whole. “Being part of a team, whether in banking or any other field, involves recognizing individual strengths, playing by one set of rules, and cultivating the best traits in every team member to achieve success,” Bodin shared.

The students also had an opportunity to tour the premises, going behind the customer counter to see current technology used by banking professionals to count and sort currency, as well as stepping into the bank vault and learning about the state-of-the-art security systems that protect customer assets.

The warm hospitality extended by SBW hosts made for an educational and memorable CAP visit. Spending time in the bank provided the students with valuable insight into the variety of roles and significant effort required to deliver everyday banking services. This experience not only broadened their perspectives but also demonstrated how transferable skills, such as teamwork and leadership, are critical in any career path.

For the Kurn Hattin eighth graders, the visit to SBW was more than a lesson in financial literacy—it was an investment in their futures. Whether it sparked interest in a career in banking or simply provided a

greater understanding of financial responsibility, the experience encouraged the students to dream big, pursue their education, and explore a wide range of career opportunities.

Career exploration trips, such as this one to SBW, are great student motivators. They open young minds to new ideas and encourage them to think about where their paths forward might lead. Upcoming CAP visits are planned at Keene State College, Subaru of Keene, Fireworks Restaurant, the Colonial Performing Arts Center, Keene Beauty Academy, and RE/MAX Town & Country, with other destinations in the planning stages. If your organization is interested in hosting a CAP visit, please contact Lorie Rogers at 802-721-6917 or lrogers@kurnhattin.org.
 

About Kurn Hattin Homes

Since 1894, Kurn Hattin Homes for Children, located in Westminster, VT, has helped thousands of children and their families by offering a safe home and quality education in a nurturing environment. To learn more, please visit kurnhattin.org.
 

About the Savings Bank of Walpole

Savings Bank of Walpole supports the well-being of the Monadnock Region by providing financial services to meet the ever-evolving needs of our customers and by being a local leader that supports and engages with the many organizations that help our communities thrive. To learn more, please visit walpolebank.com.