Hampton banks team together to provide yard signs for West Fork, H-D-CAL grads

The cancellation of scheduled graduation ceremonies and other major school events is a sign of the times but Hampton banks have joined together to provide seniors with literal signs of support and encouragement.

First Bank Hampton, First Security Bank & Trust and United Bank and Trust Company teamed up to purchase congratulatory signs for the yards of graduating seniors at Hampton-Dumont-CAL and West Fork High Schools.

The signs feature the student’s name and photograph, as well as “Class of 2020.”

John Trewin, President and CEO of UBTC, said backing the project was a no-brainer. Recalling his own senior year and the recent graduation of one of his own children, Trewin said that it’s a gesture of compassion and celebration for students deprived of the last few months of their high school careers.

“You about want to cry for these kids,” he said. “They’re going to have memories, but they’re going to be different than what the rest of us remember the last three months of high school can be.

“The graduation ceremonies and leading up to that, senior skip day, the last day of school and getting to say goodbye to everyone, you feel for these seniors who won’t get to do that,” he added. “If we can do some part to help, we want to do that.”

Administration at Hampton-Dumont-CAL and West Fork are currently working to plan alternative graduation ceremonies and Prom dances. In the meantime, representatives of the banks wanted to give students recognition during they time they would make final preparations for their final moments of high school.

“We don’t want to have the H-D-CAL seniors to feel like they were forgotten,” said Dave Heuberger, President and CEO of First Bank Hampton. “We wanted to make sure they get recognized throughout the community for graduating and wish them the best.”

“They’re missing out on a lot of stuff, so we felt like if we can give the individual recognition and let them know we’re thinking about them, that can go along ways,” added Ron Raney, Market President at First Security Bank in Hampton.

The banks agreed that this was meaningful gesture for the students and one that should be made regardless of competition with one another. While all three businesses compete in the same industry, the gravity of the situation at hand elevates the importance of working together.

“The three banks in town here are very competitive with each other, but there are times where you have to come together and do good for the greater good,” said. Raney. “I think it’s nice we can come together for this particular project.”

“It takes a village to raise a child and I think that saying is so true, even in times of crisis and need, people need to put aside their differences and come together for the good of the common goal,” said Trewin. “That’s what makes small town rural Iowa so successful.”

Not only do the signs give students a slight sense of normalcy and the feeling of being celebrated, they also remind the communities of the accomplishments of the young men and women in the graduating class. Each graduation ceremony is filled with not only parents, students and staff, but individuals who show up to pass along their well wishes. The signs also pose as a chance for community members to celebrate each student who has passed through high school.

“In these smaller towns, it feels more connected and like everyone is related in a way,” said Trewin. “People will like to driving through these communities and showing support for our local seniors.”

Info about sign distribution Bank representatives agreed that one of the most important reasons of the sign project is to show seniors that their community is still there for them even in the most uncertain at times. The impression made by seeing gestures offered by countless organizations and businesses will provide a set of memories no other graduating class will have had to this point.

“The community responds well to situations like this,” Heuberger said. “We want to support our graduates and I do think they’ll remember this for the rest of their lives.”

Raney added, “It shows them that they’re valued and I do hope they remember this and remember the feeling they got from their small hometown community.”

Editor’s note: Check next week’s issue of the Chronicle for more distribution information regarding the signs.