Bank helps students grow

By Sydney Street

The International Bank of Commerce, known as IBC Bank, awarded six deserving Dallas/Fort Worth-area Texans Can Academies students scholarships as part of the bank’s “We Do More” philosophy. Each student received a $1,000 scholarship, totaling $6,000 in scholarships awarded.

The IBC Oklahoma A.R. Sanchez, Sr. Memorial Scholarship is awarded to students to recognize outstanding achievement and promise in academics, leadership and civic responsibility.  Scholarships are granted to students in Oklahoma and Texas who demonstrated a “Do More” attitude and leadership in student and community affairs throughout their years in high school. IBC Bank’s slogan “We Do More” reflects the bank’s dedication to the growth and success of the customers and the communities it has been serving since 1966.

“Texans Can Academies is thankful to IBC Bank and Bill Schonacher for recognizing our students that have shown great academic achievement,” said Richard Marquez, CEO of Texans Can Academies. “We are incredibly proud of the students receiving scholarships and continuing to further their education. Our goal for our graduating students is to provide the skills and options for a strong career path and higher education, and these six students have demonstrated they are ready to take the next step after graduation.”

Scholarship award recipients include:

• Nicholas Lynch, Texans Can Academy – Fort Worth Lancaster
• Jasmin Castro Mendoza, Texans Can Academy – Dallas North
• Aubrey Peter, Texans Can Academy – Dallas North
• Eric Shaw, Texans Can Academy – Dallas Carrollton/Farmers Branch
• Isabel Pedraza Suarez, Texans Can Academy – Fort Worth Lancaster
• Melannie Torres, Texans Can Academy – Dallas Carrollton/Farmers Branch

Typically, scholarships are presented by Bill Schonacher, President and CEO of IBC Bank Oklahoma and member of the Board of Trustees of Texans Can Academies at the IBC Bank facility in Dallas. Because COVID-19 prevented an in-person celebration, Mr. Shonacher sent personalized letters congratulating each student on their accomplishments.

Community leaders on the Board of Trustees offer their support and resources to help the schools in their mission of providing the highest quality education for all students, especially those who have struggled in a traditional high school setting, in order to ensure their economic independence.

“It gave me great joy to share a check for $1,000 with each of the students, which they will use to defray the costs of going to college, even if I could not congratulate them in person,” said Bill Schonacher, President and CEO of IBC Bank-Oklahoma. “We love giving back to our community and watching young people grow into great future careers.”

Texans Can Academies upholds the mission to ensure students have all the skills and opportunities for a strong, sustainable career path and higher education. The dropout recovery and prevention schools offer students, aged 14 to 21, a second chance at earning their high school diploma instead of a General Education Development (GED). Texans Can Academies is always grateful to those who participate in their scholarship matching programs with Texans Can Academies employees.

For more information about IBC Bank, visit www.ibc.com. For more information about Texans Can Academies, please visit www.texanscan.org.