Luke Wiley, a 17-year-old student from Greenwood, Ind., is the national winner of the American Bankers Association Foundation’s Lights, Camera, Save! video contest.
Lights, Camera, Save!, which launched in 2010, is a unique national competition that encourages kids to use video to communicate the value of saving and motivate their peers. This year, 131 banks hosted 149 contests in 48 states for the local levels of the competition and selected a winner to represent their bank to compete at the national level.
Wiley’s video—chosen by a panel of personal finance and communications experts— is a cautionary tale about the importance of saving. In the film, Wiley is visited by future versions of himself at different ages, encouraging him to hold off on buying unnecessary items now and instead saving for life’s inevitable curveballs. Wiley was named a national finalist after winning the local contest at Security Federal Savings Bank in Logansport, Ind.
“With a creative story line and outstanding visual effects, Luke successfully highlights the importance of saving and smart money management,” said Corey Carlisle, executive director of the ABA Foundation. “His video will be a fantastic tool for inspiring other students to make saving a priority.”
“We are thrilled for Luke and proud to be a part of this major accomplishment,” said Annette Russell, president and CEO, Security Federal Savings Bank. “Lights, Camera, Save! is an incredibly enriching program and it’s given Luke and Security Federal Savings Bank the opportunity to educate those in our community about the value of saving for the future.”
The Lights, Camera, Save! judging panel also selected the second and third place winners announced today. Julia Hocker of Arlington, Va. earned second place for her film ‘Saving to Give’ and Taylor Brown of Harrisburg, Penn. came in third for ‘Cash Flow.’
First Place Winner—$5,000
A Time to Save
Luke Wiley (Center Grove High School, Greenwood, Ind.)
Security Federal Savings Bank (Logansport, Ind.)
Second Place Winner—$2,500
Saving to Give
Julia Hocker (Home School, Arlington, Va.)
Burke & Herbert Bank (Alexandria, Va.)
Third Place Winner—$1,000
Cash Flow
Taylor Brown (Central Dauphin High School, Harrisburg, Penn.)
Centric Bank (Harrisburg, Penn.)
This year’s expert panel of volunteer judges includes George Barany, director, Consumer Federation of America; Dominic Chu, markets reporter, CNBC; Katlyn Grasso, CEO and founder, GenHERation; Ashley Jacobs, director of marketing, Wise Bread; and Laura Levine president and CEO, Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.
In addition to the cash prizes for the national finalists, the ABA Foundation will also award a scholarship for a teacher from each winning school to attend the 2019 Jump$tart National Educator Conference in Washington.
Note to Editors: Click here to view the grand prize announcement video and national finalists.
About the ABA
The American Bankers Association is the voice of the nation’s $17.5 trillion banking industry, which is composed of small, regional and large banks that together employ more than 2 million people, safeguard $13.5 trillion in deposits and extend nearly $10 trillion in loans.
About the ABA Foundation
Through its leadership, partnerships, and national programs, ABA’s Community Engagement Foundation (dba ABA Foundation), a 501(c)3, helps bankers provide financial education to individuals at every age, elevate issues around affordable housing and community development, and achieve corporate social responsibility objectives to improve the well-being of their customers and their communities.