Effingham, IL – Dieterich Bank has pledged $75,000 to CTEC, the Construction Trades Education Curriculum program of Effingham County high schools. The Bank will provide the program with $25,000 per year over the next three years. A check was presented to the 2019 – 2020 CTEC class at its Kickoff Breakfast on September 3, which was hosted by the Bank at its Corporate Center.

CTEC is a one-year program open to senior students in Effingham County high schools. Based off the successful CEO Program, this daily class teaches students the skills needed to succeed in the construction and building fields, including blueprint reading, vocational math, carpentry, plumbing, masonry, residential wiring and more. CTEC students visit active job sites, tour local businesses, and network with business leaders in our community for hands-on learning. Upon completion of the program, these students are workforce ready.

“We are proud to be the lead sponsor for the CTEC program,” states Chuck Deters, CEO of Dieterich Bank. “Part of Dieterich Bank’s mission is to give back to the communities we serve, and we realize the value of construction trades in our area. This program allows our youth to explore their interests and helps them decide their future paths.”

In addition to funding for CTEC students’ education, the Bank’s contribution provides several other added benefits including alternative classroom space in Dieterich Bank’s Corporate Center, student attire and safety gear, class events hosted by the Bank, and support in their upcoming fundraising events. The program's next fundraising event, Hog Wild for CTEC, will be held on Thursday, October 3 at Legacy Harley Davidson in Effingham.

“As president of CTEC, I’d like to thank Dieterich Bank for making this pledge to our program. Their pledge will ensure that our students can continue to explore the opportunities that the construction trades have to offer. Dieterich Bank’s commitment to the CTEC program and its students will have a positive effect on the Effingham County area for years to come,” says Marty Stock.

Dieterich Bank is a $700 million community bank that originated in Dieterich, Illinois, in 1909. Serving both commercial and consumer markets, it has grown to include 130 employees and eight branches in Effingham, Jasper, Fayette, Randolph and St. Clair Counties. For more information on Dieterich Bank, visit www.dieterichbank.com or call (800)699-9766.