Lake County Gazette

Margot Schusky, a senior at Collinsville High School, has been chosen to serve on the Student Board of Directors at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis for the 2025–2026 academic year.

The Student Board of Directors program is known for its selectivity and provides students from the St. Louis area with an opportunity to learn about the Federal Reserve’s role in the U.S. economy. Participants engage in financial literacy education, career development activities, and interact directly with professionals at the Federal Reserve.

As part of her responsibilities, Schusky will collaborate with other student board members to develop and present a financial education project at her school. She will also participate in mentorship and workshops led by Federal Reserve staff.

Students who complete the program may be eligible to apply for summer internships at the St. Louis Fed, which can serve as a pathway to careers in economics, finance, public service, and related fields.

Schusky was nominated by Vicki Fuhrhop, a Collinsville High School teacher specializing in personal finance and a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Educator Advisory Board. Fuhrhop said, “From the moment I met Margot, I knew she had the drive and curiosity to thrive in a program like this, her leadership in our personal finance class and her passion for financial literacy make her an ideal representative,” adding, “Margot has the ambition and drive to make the world a better place for everyone. The energy she brings to every discussion and a genuine curiosity that inspires those around her make her a perfect fit for the student board.”

Schusky is one of several Collinsville High School students who have participated in this program over previous years.

Collinsville High School is part of Collinsville Community Unit School District 10, which includes schools serving Madison and St. Clair counties such as Caseyville Elementary School and Collinsville Middle School (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district employs 418 teachers earning an average salary of $60,392; 81 percent are women while 19 percent are men (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district’s student body is made up of 56 percent White students, 14.1 percent Black students, 24.1 percent Hispanic students, and 0.5 percent Asian students (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In 2020, spending per student was $16,872 for a total expenditure of $104 million (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).

For more information about the Student Board of Directors program at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis or its impact on participants’ educational paths, visit their official website.