The Town of Montgomery honored a dozen young people last week in a ceremony to conclude the Summer Youth Employment Program.

This was the second year operating the program under the Dennis and Carmen Maher Youth Employment Foundation, a charitable fund created by Town Supervisor Brian Maher and named after his parents. The 60-hour program includes two workshops and internships at local businesses.

Derrik Wynkoop, president of Walden Savings Bank, was the keynote speaker at Thursday’s ceremony.

“I’m happy to say we’ve been a participant for many years and also regularly conduct a budgeting and finance workshop during the course of the summer program,” Wynkoop said.

He said the keynote address focused on staying networked, remaining connected with employer and taking advantage of great opportunities in the Town of Montgomery, including agri-tourism, finance, government jobs, warehouse jobs and more. Each student received a $150 mini grant to start them on their financial journey.

Students who completed the program and their summer employer were: Autumn Singleton, Montgomery Book Exchange; Riley Lewis, Hudson Valley Cancer Resource Center; Adeline Galante, Flanagan Chiropractic; Sofia Demaris, Town Hall Finance Department; Jackson Leenstra, Town Hall Court; Monicka Jackson-Taylor, ShopRite; Robert Canavan, Addison Edwards, Jenna O’Connor, Skyla DeMaro, Felicity Smith, and Anthony Tancredi, Town Hall Supervisors Office.