Press
United Federal Credit Union awards $4,500 in scholarships
ST. JOSEPH, MI (May 12, 2015) — United Federal Credit Union (UFCU) awarded $4,500 in college scholarships to eight students through its corporate and state programs. UFCU scholarships are granted to outstanding graduating high school seniors based on academic achievement, community involvement, extracurricular activities and an original essay discussing the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People.”
Winners include:
$1,000 Corporate Winner – Johanna Gibson – Holland High School, Holland, Michigan
Johanna will graduate with a 4.0 grade point average and will attend Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She has volunteered as a tutor, Sunday school teacher and student leader on church mission trips. She also serves as a role model through Holland High School’s PAL Program. Johanna’s extracurricular activities include dance, choir, theatre, forensics team, National Honor Society and church youth group.
Johanna says her goal is “to be a beacon of positivity and selflessness to anyone who I meet. This is a goal I will continue to strive toward for the rest of my life.”
$500 Arkansas Regional Winner – Ian Bellisario – Hackett High School, Fort Smith, Arkansas
Ian graduates from high school with a 4.0 grade point average and will attend the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith. He was a member of the Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief team that travelled to Moore, Oklahoma after it was devastated by a tornado in 2013. He is involved with The First Tee of Fort Smith, and is a volunteer golf coach in the summer. Ian has helped prepare school lunches for kids as part of the Backpack Lunch Program and participated in various Boy Scout service projects. His extracurricular school activities include student council, basketball and playing chess.
Ian says one of the people he admires most is his mother, who started her own business 21 years ago. “I am grateful for her leadership skills and how she passed on her knowledge. I hope to be as successful as her and teach my children the same lessons.”
$500 Berrien (North) Regional Winner – Andrew Schmidt – St. Joseph High School, St. Joseph, Michigan
Andrew graduates with a 4.0 grade point average and will attend Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. His extracurricular activities include golf team, Science Olympiad, Latin Club, The First Tee of Benton Harbor and drumline. He has volunteered with Rotary Interact Club, Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph Catholic Church and as a tutor helping students with classwork and ACT/SAT preparation.
Andrew says, “I feel tremendous joy in any moment when I know that I am making someone’s life a little bit easier, a little bit healthier, and a little bit happier.”
$500 Berrien (South) Regional Winner – Megan Riley – New Buffalo High School, New Buffalo, Michigan
Megan graduates with a 3.8 grade point average and will attend Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. Her volunteer work includes tutoring, cleaning up the beach, and assisting with the Berrien County Youth Fair. Her extracurricular activities include Future Educators of America, 4-H and showing horses.
Megan says her tutoring experience taught her that “people helping people” should be everyone’s philosophy. “Only when we dedicate ourselves to making a positive difference in the lives of others will we be truly happy,” she concludes.
$500 Holland Regional Winner – Luke Brandsen – Holland Christian High School, Holland, Michigan
Luke graduates with a 3.9 grade point average and will attend Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He volunteers with his church and has gone on four mission trips. Luke is also a blood donor. His school activities include theatre, choir, jazz orchestra, symphonic orchestra and student council.
“I don’t think that truly doing one’s best to help others can be solely quantified in physical actions. It should be a lifestyle—a selfless existence, striving for the betterment of the group as a whole.”
$500 Nevada Regional Winner – Angela Vranken – Edward C. Reed High School, Sparks, Nevada
Angela graduates with a 4.0 grade point average and will attend the University of Nevada, Reno. An animal lover, she volunteers with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Reno-Tahoe Equestrian Centre and at a veterinary hospital. She is also a teacher’s helper and assisted with the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Duck Race. Angela plays on the golf and softball teams, is active in theatre and choir, and rides horses.
Angela says, “I want to help people and their pets. I want to pay it forward and know that I am doing something amazing for the world.”
$500 North Carolina Regional Winner – Nicholas C. Gentry – A.C. Reynolds High School, Asheville, North Carolina
Nicholas graduates with a 3.9 grade point average. He will attend North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Nicholas performs volunteer work through his church. He attended North Carolina Governor’s School, a residential summer program for intellectually gifted high school students, and Summer Ventures in Math and Science, a research program where high school students and college faculty advance their knowledge of science and mathematics. His extracurricular activities include swim team, band and working as a lifeguard.
Nicholas says, “United Federal Credit Union’s philosophy of ‘people helping people’ is a noble way to live. Exhibiting this philosophy is not only beneficial to those who are helped, but also to the ones who are helping.”
$500 Ohio Regional Winner – Kyle Goings – Marion Harding High School, Marion, Ohio
Kyle graduates with a 3.62 grade point average. He will attend New York University. Kyle is president of Junior Civitan and a Salvation Army bell ringer. He is a member of the marching band, indoor drumline, Comedy Club and Key Club. He is also on the track and field team.
Kyle says, “We all gain fulfilment from our own successes, however helping others achieve success brings greater joy and pleasure to the soul than one’s own success.”
Congratulations to all of the scholars!
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About UFCU
United Federal Credit Union has served its Members since 1949 by helping them to build a sound financial future. UFCU consists of more than 130,000 Member/owners worldwide, and manages assets in excess of $1.83 billion. Its corporate offices and main branch are located in St. Joseph, Mich., with additional branches in Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, and Ohio.