Appomattox Regional Governor’s School Wins 5th Sheflett Memorial STEM Challenge

RICHMOND, V.a. — Appomattox Regional Governor’s School earned first place in the fifth annual Sheflett Memorial STEM Challenge, presented by Primis Bank, with each student team member receiving a $500 scholarship for their innovative use of artificial intelligence to solve a real-world banking challenge.

Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School and Largo High School tied for second place, with each student on those teams receiving a $250 scholarship.

Named in memory of former Primis Chief Information Officer George “Cody” Sheflett Jr., the annual STEM Challenge brings together students from across Virginia to tackle complex problems facing today’s financial institutions using emerging technologies like AI and machine learning.

This Year’s Challenge

Students were tasked with developing an AI-powered system capable of automating user access provisioning based on job descriptions within an organization — a critical component of modern information security.

By leveraging machine learning and natural language processing (NLP), teams designed systems that could analyze job descriptions and automatically provision appropriate access to organizational systems. These solutions aimed to strengthen security while improving operational efficiency in access management.

Throughout the competition, Primis teammates coached student teams during collaborative sessions to brainstorm and refine their solutions. The challenge culminated in final presentations at Primis Bank’s newly renovated headquarters in Richmond, where teams were evaluated on:

Accuracy and efficiency of their access provisioning systems
Strength of their machine learning models
Ethical considerations in AI implementation
Quality of technical documentation
Clarity of presentation

Judges included John Biagas, president of Bay Electric Co. and chairman of the Primis board of directors; Amanda Gravely, senior vice president and director of in-market banking at Primis; and Dennis Zember, CEO of Primis Bank.

“What these students accomplished throughout this challenge was nothing short of inspiring,” said Dennis Zember, CEO of Primis Bank. “By applying advanced technologies like AI and machine learning to real-world security challenges, they’re not only building solutions — they’re building the future. Investing in these young, brilliant women and their passion for innovation is one of the most meaningful ways we can strengthen our communities and create long-term opportunities for success.”

In recognition of their dedication to advancing STEM education, all participating schools also received a $5,000 donation from Primis Bank, helping ensure more students have access to opportunities like this in the future.

The Sheflett Memorial STEM Challenge reflects one of Primis’ core community engagement focus areas: advancing STEM opportunities for women and minorities. Through meaningful academic partnerships and hands-on learning experiences, Primis continues to empower students with the real-world skills needed to drive innovation across industries.

Learn more about Primis’ community initiatives at primisbank.com/community.

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About Primis

Primis Bank (Member FDIC) is a high-growth, forward-thinking bank committed to building a better banking experience for consumers, businesses, and communities. With industry-leading digital tools, a relentless focus on customer care, and a culture built around doing things the right way—not the easy way—Primis continues to invest in growth, innovation, and people.