La Porte, Ind. — (June 10, 2025) Genevieve DeRubbo, a student at La Lumiere School, is a winner of the Banzai Life Literacy Scholarship—earning $2,000 toward her educational goals. Evie is one of just five standout students across the country selected for this award.
The Banzai Life Literacy Scholarship encourages students to build real-life money skills by completing at least two of Banzai’s interactive games. Each applicant worked closely with a Banzai-affiliated teacher to complete their coursework and submitted proof of completion; something her teacher, Mr. Brett Bahoff has enthusiastically supported in his classroom for several years.
Purdue Federal Credit Union (Purdue Federal), a Banzai program sponsor, is proud to see a local student recognized on a national level. “Purdue Federal Credit Union supports financial literacy education to help students build a strong financial foundation before leaving home. Whether they head to college or the workforce, understanding more than just the basics prepares them for future success. By sponsoring La Lumiere School with Banzai, we hope to inspire others to invest in financial education at an early age,” said Molly Milcarek, Community Relations Specialist at Purdue Federal.
After finishing the coursework, Evie submitted a thoughtful essay on the importance of financial literacy, sharing, “The financial world is all too real, and can either make or break a person’s entire life experience... Despite a person’s background, wealth, or situation, finance is a universal factor that exists throughout life.” Evie went on to describe how using Banzai helped her understand budgeting, credit, taxes, and even impress her entrepreneur dad with the Stock Market Showdown module.
“We believe every student deserves a chance to pursue the education they want—especially when they’ve taken the initiative to learn critical life skills like personal finance,” said Nikole Clayton, Education Director at Banzai.
About Purdue Federal Credit Union
Purdue Federal has proudly partnered with Banzai for over fifteen years, providing invaluable financial education to our sponsored schools. As “Your Trusted Financial Partner for Life,” our commitment begins in the classroom, where students engage with Banzai’s interactive tools to navigate real-world financial scenarios. But our support doesn’t stop there. As students grow, Purdue Federal remains a steadfast resource offering investments, savings solutions, mortgages, and loans to help build a secure financial future, all the way through retirement. Beyond our educational initiatives, Purdue Federal is deeply invested in strengthening our local and surrounding communities. Throughout the years, we’ve been honored to financially support several local nonprofits dedicated to assisting those in need. Our mission is simple yet profound: to serve, uplift, and empower individuals, ensuring they feel confident and financially secure every step of the way.
About Banzai
Founded in 2007, Banzai is an award-winning financial literacy platform used by over 160,000 teachers nationwide. Its interactive courses simulate real-life financial decisions—covering budgeting, internet safety, college & career prep, and more—aligned with state standards. Through partnerships with local banks and credit unions, Banzai provides these resources at no cost to schools. The Banzai Wellness Center extends these tools to the broader community with free articles, calculators, and guided Coach sessions.
“We couldn’t offer these resources without our partners like Purdue Federal Credit Union,” said Jaron Glenn, Chief Operations Officer at Banzai. “It’s because of their support that students like Genevieve DeRubbo can learn skills that will serve them for life.”
Contact:
Brandon Christiansen, [email protected]