Area high school students participating in the First National Bank of Pandora's Junior Board of Directors program recenty made a trip exploring both corporate and state government locations.

The junior board is made up of 25 juniors from Bluffton, Findlay, Liberty-Benton, Ottawa-Glandorf, and Pandora-Gilboa High Schools. The students meet monthly at the bank’s headquarters in Pandora where they learn about forming a corporation, business accounting, business operations, marketing and business forecasting.

Traveling to Whirlpool Corporation in Findlay, the students heard from employees about the company and its operations, took a guided tour of the floor, and learned about how employees solve problems to save time and money in for the business.

The group then traveled to Columbus, where they visited the Ohio Statehouse. They had a Q & A meeting with State Representative Jon Cross and State Senator Rob McColley. A guided tour of the Statehouse was provided by historian Chris Matheny and the students were also able to sit in on a Senate session. An unplanned highlight of the trip was meeting Governor Mike DeWine. A surprise group picture and short greeting with DeWine was completed right before he gave his State of the State address.