ATM challenge nets UD employee $1,500

YoUDee congratulates Diane Wright on withdrawing $1,500 during the ATM challenge.

11:59 a.m., May 23, 2005--Diane Wright, a project coordinator and instructor in management information systems (MIS) in UD’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, withdrew a grand total of $1,500 from an ATM in just under three minutes during the WSFS Bank ATM challenge Friday, May 20, at the Trabant University Center WSFS branch.

“Winning was a huge surprise,” Wright said. She completed five speedy $250 transactions in two minutes and 55 seconds. “I entered the [WSFS ATM withdrawal] challenge at the Benefits Fair on May 10 and then forgot all about it until I was told I’d won earlier this week.”

Wright was cheered on by Blue Hen mascot YoUDee; Jennifer McCollum, vice president and relationship manager at WSFS Bank; and colleagues Debbie Dragone and Rita Kingery Cook, both fellow MIS instructors in the Lerner College of Business and Economics. She said she plans to spend part of the money on a celebratory lunch and another chunk on a donation to UD’s men’s crew team.

Although not a regular ATM user, Wright said she prepared for the challenge by making a few $10 withdrawals earlier in the day with her son, a UD freshman who is ATM savvy.

“He would be here to cheer me on,” she said, “but he’s in a Spanish final right now.”

McCollum, who stood at Wright’s side with a stopwatch while she withdrew the money with a special card for the challenge, said the bank encourages both UD employees and students to use ATM machines because they are convenient. But, she added, the chief purpose of the annual ATM challenge is to encourage a little “consumer fun.”

"ATMs are always a good choice for accessing as-needed cash, because they are safe and convenient, and our machines have the capability to scan checks and count and sort...cash and print out detailed receipts," McCollum said. "But, WSFS offers full-service banking capabilities, as well."

The employee ATM challenge was sponsored by WSFS Bank, which also sponsored a student ATM challenge on Senior Day, Friday, May 13.

A complete list of winners of 2005 Benefits Fair prizes, along with the prize sponsors, click here.

Article by Becca Hutchinson
Photo by Duane Perry

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