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Mentoring in action

Alpine hosts CU Denver’s first-generation and multicultural business program 

In, February, Alpine Bank Denver hosted 13 students from CU Denver’s First-Generation and Multicultural (FaM) Business Program for a lunch-and-learn session at its Union Station branch.

A comprehensive program designed to help its students build social capital and career networks, gain meaningful exposure to careers of interest, and access resources and people who might help them complete their degrees, FaM fills a critical need in higher education in Colorado.

“We provide peer, career and alumni mentorship and scholarships, year-round programming and internships,” said FaM director Nimol Hen. “That, and many opportunities to engage in learning experiences — both in and outside the classroom — help students successfully navigate their future career fields.”

Students in the program study in a range of business disciplines, such as accounting, entrepreneurship, finance, financial management, human resources, information systems, international business, marketing, risk management and sports business. The students themselves are equally diverse, representing Middle Eastern, Black, Asian, Latinx and other ethnicities and nationalities. Alpine Bank supported the FaM program with funding to get it started, even as the in-person event was slow in crystallizing due to the pandemic.

“The students interacted with professional staff representing many different roles and departments, and they engaged in a group discussion about the challenges the financial industries may face in the future,” said Esgar Acosta, Alpine’s VP of community inclusion and engagement.

Alpine Bank staff who helped to host the event included representatives from senior management, marketing, human resources, lending, operations, wealth management, risk management and commercial services.

Student Omayma Aouinat validated that for her, the event was thought-provoking and inspiring.

“Thank you for the site visit at Alpine Bank. I had a great experience,” said Omayma. “I never thought about a career in banking, but after today it’s something I’m considering!”

Learn more at business.ucdenver.edu.

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Alpine Bank Staff

Alpine Bank is an independent, employee-owned organization with headquarters in Glenwood Springs and banking offices across Colorado’s Western Slope, mountains and Front Range.

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