Student Leaders Take Flight with Stearns Bank-Sponsored Leadership Experience

St. Cloud, Minn. (December 18, 2023) – Promising Eden Valley-Watkins High School students and a small group of administrators from the Central Minnesota school, experienced a thrilling, educational flight as part of an innovative one-of-a-kind leadership opportunity designed to inspire and develop young leaders.

The flight was sponsored and fully funded by Stearns Bank N.A. and was spearheaded and piloted by the bank’s company pilot, Joe DeRose.  DeRose, an active and inspiring community volunteer, developed this unique leadership opportunity based on his passion for mentoring and motivating youth and his commitment to passing on leadership lessons and insights to young emerging leaders.

This experience, DeRose says, was intended to encourage the students, who were recognized by teachers and peers as having leadership qualities, to grow and develop their leadership potential.

"We feel privileged to be able to sponsor this extraordinary flight for these exceptional students and coaches," says Heather Plumski, Chief Financial & Strategy Officer at Stearns Bank. "Joe's dedication to sharing his time, expertise, and skills as a pilot is truly inspiring!”

The flight took off from St. Cloud (MN) and landed first in St. Paul (MN) where the lesson focused on the value of setting goals.

“We talked through strategies for achieving 'impossible' goals – goals so high that you don't currently see how they could ever be accomplished,” says DeRose, adding that with a change in mindset and a series of smaller steps, 'impossible' goals can be achieved.

From St. Paul, the group flew to Duluth (MN), where, on the shore of Lake Superior the students were inspired to have an excellence mindset in all that they do to reach their full potential.

“We discussed how leaders have the responsibility to see those around them rise, and that when things don't go well, leaders take the blame. When things are going well, leaders give the credit [to others],” explains DeRose. “This helped the students realize that no one becomes a leader by simply being good at something. Leadership is only realized when your goal is the success of the team, versus individual glory.”
As they made their way back to St. Cloud for the final leg of the flight, the students were reminded of their innate ability to share encouragement with those around them. Being student-athletes, deeply involved in school activities, their peers and younger students constantly observe and learn from them.

“Starting a habit of encouraging those who come after them will allow them to leave a legacy far beyond what they accomplish while in school,” DeRose says. 

About Stearns Bank N.A.

Minnesota-based Stearns Bank National Association is a $2.8 billion, independently owned financial institution with locations in Minnesota, Florida, and Arizona, and over 35,000 small business customers nationwide. Stearns Bank is consistently recognized as one of the Best Banks to Work For, most recently ranked by American Banker as the 5^th best bank to work for among banks in the nation, while earning top rankings based on its strong capital and earnings as one of the nation’s highest-performing banks. The Independent Banker’s 2023 “Best of the Best” ranks Stearns Bank as the 4^th best-performing bank in the U.S. among banks having more than $1 billion in assets based on banks’ 3-year average Return on Assets. Stearns Bank’s financial strength and success is achieved by Stearns Bank becoming one of the most prominent community impact lenders in the nation through effective public-private partnerships and innovative local initiatives with community organizations, CDFIs, and Minority Deposit Institutions across the country. Stearns Bank specializes in nationwide affordable housing, workforce and multifamily housing, commercial construction lending, build-to-suit and CRE-repositioning lending, family office and lender financing, USDA and SBA lending, and small business and equipment financing to foster economic development and entrepreneurial growth at a local level in communities across the country. As a national leader and go-to bank for nonprofits, Stearns Bank created a customized suite of Nonprofit Banking Solutions specially designed and tailored to empower nonprofit organizations across the country. Driven by a passion to help others achieve their greatest ambitions, Stearns Bank’s mission is to Get the Job Done! For more information, visit StearnsBank.com.