"classroom" Articles

Building Financial Confidence in Local Classrooms What do superheroes, sororities and financial education have in common? BrightBridge Credit Union! Bringing financial literacy into the classroom helps build students’ confidence and strengthen their decision-making as they grow and become financially independent. BrightBridge team members made this a priority this fall by visiting local schools and educating students on a variety of financial topics—and they made sure to have some fun while doing it.

In November, BrightBridge Assistant Accounting Manager Karelyn Rozon went to the Lawrence Family Development Charter School to host a fun and informative financial literacy session with her son’s fourth grade class. Karelyn spoke about the importance of savings and opening a savings account and handed out goodie bags featuring special financial education Marvel comic books. According to Karelyn, the students were enthusiastic about the lesson. “The kids were so excited, and they absolutely loved their goodie bags!”

Karelyn has been part of the BrightBridge Accounting team for nearly five years, previously working as a senior accountant before her promotion to assistant accounting manager. She says that her favorite part about working for the credit union is the company culture that prioritizes teamwork and trust.

“I love how supportive everyone is, and that no matter how busy we get, we show up for each other,” says Karelyn. “In my accounting role, I enjoy being the person behind the scenes making sure everything balances and runs smoothly. It feels good to know that the work I do helps our members and makes a difference.”

In the same month, Consumer Loan Servicing Manager Ashley Duarte and Collections Team Lead Jakia Lopes visited Bryant University to speak to the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority. The duo covered several topics that the students inquired about, including savings accounts, managing credit cards with high limits, student loans, variable rates and making strong post-graduation financial decisions.

“Our presentation went really well and I enjoyed hearing about the different financial interests that current college students are focusing on,” Jakia says. “A frequent discussion point was loans and saving opportunities. It was interesting to see that even in 2025, many college students don’t have a good grasp on how student loans work and what they should know about them. It makes our visit to Bryant feel even more important knowing that we can offer them valuable advice and support.”

“I enjoyed sharing practical tips on simple ways to save for the future,” Ashley adds. “The girls were also curious about topics like how credit works, strategies for saving after graduation and the best types of savings accounts and credit cards. It felt rewarding to provide advice that could make a real difference for the students.”

For eight years, Jakia has worked her way up BrightBridge’s Collections team going from a collections representative to senior collector and now collections team lead. And she isn’t slowing down anytime soon, as she is excited to continue growing and learning through interacting with other departments across the credit union.

“I really enjoy the amount of exposure I get to all areas of the credit union,” Jakia says. “I’ve gained so much knowledge and insight by regularly interacting with different departments and other BrightBridge staff. There’s always something new to learn.”

Ashley has been a valued member of the BrightBridge Consumer Lending team for ten years, also working her way up from a part-time consumer loan servicing clerk to full-time consumer loan servicer, team lead and now manager. Like Jakia, Ashley appreciates regular opportunities for growth and learning, but she also shared that one of her favorite parts about working for the credit union is that her voice is valued.

“I appreciate that when I share my opinion, it matters,” says Ashley. “It may not always be implemented, but it’s heard. We spend so much time together and being able to be open and honest with one another truly makes a difference.”

After spending time offering advice to students, we asked if they could go back in time to chat themselves at that age, what advice would they give. Here’s what they said:

Karelyn: Make sure to save a little from every gift or allowance because building those habits young makes life easier later!

Jakia: Don’t be afraid to speak up and share ideas. Don’t hold back. Asking questions and offering input can only help you grow. I’d also tell myself to stay curious.

Ashley: Stay open-minded, because every choice you make now can shape your future. Build habits that align with the life you want and never forget—your potential has no limits except the ones you set for yourself.

Thank you to our incredible team members for spending time in our communities and supporting local students with much-needed financial guidance! If you are interested in collaborating with BrightBridge for future financial education opportunities, please contact Communications@brightbridge.com .

Online Banking

Online Banking