At D. Russel Lee, students in the Business Program are gaining hands-on experience while helping their school community access real financial services through a partnership with AurGroup Credit Union.
The student-run credit union, which held its soft opening Nov. 5, allows students, staff and parents or guardians to open AurGroup accounts using iPads and a dedicated online landing page at school. While deposits, withdrawals and cash transactions are not conducted at the school location, student employees and managers gain valuable experience in customer service, marketing, leadership and daily operations while earning work-based learning hours.
Under the guidance of Business instructor Yufang Van Gaasbeek, students Ashley Gonzalez Ortiz, Holden Wagner and Ash Pandher are helping bring this opportunity to life, connecting classroom learning with the responsibilities of a professional workplace.
For Wagner, the experience is helping him prepare for his goal of owning a business.
“This opportunity has definitely been helpful for my future,” Wagner said. “I’m now able to get real customer service experience and I can really get a feel for how it’ll be to handle people wanting to sign up for my service, and help them if they encounter any problems.”
He sees a direct connection between his current responsibilities and his future ambitions.
“I plan on owning my own business one day also, so this has been actively helping me work towards that goal.”
For Pandher, taking on a management position as a sophomore has been an opportunity to develop confidence and leadership skills.
“Taking on a manager role as a sophomore was definitely a little intimidating at first,” Pandher said. “Yet once the experience started it was amazing to connect with peers who have the same interest. It’s awesome showing that you don’t have to wait until you’re older to step up and make a real impact.”
The experience also reflects the spirit of Butler Tech’s Pay It Forward initiative, which encourages students and staff to recognize how their skills and actions can make a difference for others. By helping members of their school community navigate financial services, these students are discovering that leadership is about more than personal achievement. It is also about using what they learn to support those around them.
Through the AurGroup partnership, students are building professional relationships, supporting customers and developing skills that will serve them in future careers. Just as importantly, they are learning that even early in their careers, they have something valuable to contribute.