$5,000 Donation Given To Westlake Schools

WESTLAKE, OH — First National presented a $5,000 check to the Westlake City Schools last week. The money will be used to support a college and career readiness software program, and the expansion of the Beekeeping Club Project.

The donation comes after the bank achieved success in the city. First National opened a new Westlake branch over the summer and then approached the district about how it could give back to the community.

Those discussions led to the donation of $5,000 to expand the Naviance program to include middle school students, and the creation of a pollination garden to compliment the Westlake High School apiary.

About $2,000 of the donation will be used for the Naviance program, which is a college and career readiness program designed to help students identify their strengths, interests and steps to achieving their goals. The program also allows individual learning plans to be aligned to student goals.

The other $3,000 will go the high school's Beekeeping Club. That money will be used to build a pollination-friendly learning garden. The money will specifically be used to buy gardening materials like soil and native plants. The garden will be used by science classes and elementary school students.

The check for $5,000 was presented by First National Bank Regional President Boyd Pethel, Retail Banking Executive Todd Hays and Westlake Branch Manager Johnny Sikora. The check was accepted by Beekeeping Club founder and Westlake High junior Henyah Dardir, club member Clair Brewer and Westlake High science teacher Melissa Barth. Westlake High principal Paul Wilson was also on-hand to accept the donation.

Photo from Westlake Schools