Essay Contest Scholarship Awarded to Carl Sandburg High School Student
Release date: 5/26/2026
Orland Park, IL (May 26, 2026) – Marquette Bank, a locally owned neighborhood bank, is pleased to announce that Neel Patel has been named the second-place winner for group 1 in the Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) Foundation for Community Banking’s 2026 Annual Scholarship Program.
The program is now in its 40th year and offers $21,000 to 24 high school seniors via an essay‑writing contest. This year, 77 CBAI member banks representing 222 students statewide participated in the contest.
Neel Patel from Carl Sandburg High School was sponsored by Marquette Bank and has been awarded a one-time $500 scholarship by the CBAI Foundation for Community Banking to be used for higher education beginning next fall.
Here is an excerpt from the essay:
“What made this journey possible wasn’t just the account, but the relationship I formed with my community bank. I always felt like I had a personal relationship with my bankers. Whenever I had questions, I could call and ask. That accessibility and connection gave me confidence and helped me get started in my financial journey.” Neel continues, “They cultivated my ambition. They were kind enough to guide a confused middle schooler through a complex field, while taking the time to build a lasting relationship.”
Neel had over 450 hours of community service, is active in school clubs and a student athlete playing tennis.
A full list of Scholarship Recipients can be found online on the CBAI website: https://www.cbaionline.com/found/FoundationScholarshipWinners2026.pdf
About CBAI: Founded in 1974, CBAI is a professional trade association headquartered in Springfield, representing approximately 240 Illinois community-oriented banks and thrifts.
About the CBAI Foundation for Community Banking: The Foundation was established by CBAI to professionally serve and support member financial institutions through every available channel, and to promote the community banking philosophy.
About Marquette Bank:
Marquette Bank is one of Chicagoland's largest independent neighborhood banks, serving the region since 1945. The bank offers consumer and business banking, home financing, commercial lending, trust services, student loans, investment, insurance, and wealth management services.
A subsidiary of Marquette National Corporation (OTCQX: MNAT), the bank holds $2 billion in assets with a $1 billion local lending portfolio. Marquette Bank has earned twelve consecutive "Outstanding" Community Reinvestment Act ratings from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, plus recognition including two Excellence and Innovation Awards (Community Bankers Association of Illinois), the Community Commitment Award for Volunteerism (American Bankers Association Foundation), and the Torch Award for Ethics (Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois).
Locations: Chicago, Bolingbrook, Bridgeview, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, Lemont, New Lenox, Oak Lawn, Oak Forest, Orland Park, Summit, and Tinley Park, Illinois.
Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS #462926.
Visit: emarquettebank.com
Call: 1-888-254-9500