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As the 2021-2022 Youth Board finishes up their term of service, we’d like to introduce the final three board members who enthusiastically served this year.
Natalie Rusin is a junior at Denver South High School 
where she founded the Engineering and Architecture Club which has a high percentage of female members. She also competes on her school’s Speech and Debate Team and earned an honors award for an original speech about the positive effects of individuality. As an artist, Natalie enjoys painting, drawing, and sculpting, and had one of her art pieces accepted in the Evergreen Art Show. She also volunteers with the Metro Caring Food Bank.
William Johnson is graduating from Prospect Ridge Academy High School this Spring. He is the Founder and President of the Prospect Ridge Business Club and a member of student council. As Deputy Secretary General of Model United Nations Club (an educational club that empowers students to solve global problems), William has enjoyed the opportunity to explore his passion for International Business at a young age. That passion includes learning multiple languages, including German – a language his school does not offer – so he worked with the school Principal and Counseling Office to find a program that would allow him to study German.
Ben Katanic is finishing his sophomore year at Valor Christian High School where he is a member of the Student Leadership Board and Mock Trial Team. He also plays JV Tennis and participates in DECA. As a member of the Colorado Senate District Youth Advisory Council, he has enjoyed talking to state representatives about healthcare. Somehow he still has time to produce content for his YouTube Channel (with over 600,000 views) and locate and resell rare sneakers. A forward thinker, one of his short-term financial goals is to set up a ROTH IRA.
These go-getters are poised to succeed in whatever they pursue, and the Youth Advisory Board has certainly benefited from their participation.
All the best to every one of this year’s board members.
If you or a teen you know (8th-12th grade) would like to get involved with Young Americans Bank and Center for Financial Education in a governance capacity, please apply for the 2022-2023 Youth Advisory Board by May 12, 2022.
Find details and instructions to apply here: Youth Board – Young Americans Center (yacenter.org).
