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Firstmark Foundation, Credit Union award $1,000 scholarships to 20 graduate students

San Antonio-based credit union gives graduating high school seniors financial relief for higher learning

SAN ANTONIO, TX (June 25, 2025) |

The Firstmark Foundation, alongside the credit union (Firstmark), is pleased to announce that 20 college-bound students have been awarded $1,000 each toward their higher education, as part of the annual Cunningham Scholarship Program.

“The Firstmark Foundation is proud to support graduating high school seniors and advance the credit union’s long, deep-rooted commitment to our education community,” said Marisa Pérez-Díaz, executive director of the Firstmark Foundation. “We’ve seen first-hand the positive impact these funds have made with our previous winners, and it’s an honor to invest in their futures while celebrating all their accomplishments. Thank you to our members, who continue to play a huge role in making this a yearly occurrence, and congratulations to our 2025 recipients—this is only the beginning!” 

Since 1994, Firstmark has awarded over $300,000 in scholarships to deserving high school seniors. Established to honor Frank Price Cunningham and Helen Shipman Cunningham’s long-standing and dedicated service to the credit union, Firstmark believes in carrying out their legacy by paying it forward to students who work to make a meaningful difference for years to come. The Foundation has been a driver of the program—and the giving arm of the credit union—since founded in 2021.

The list of the 2025 winners are as follows:

Abigail Lee | New Braunfels ISD | New Braunfels High School

Ava Castillo | North East ISD | Johnson High School

Breelon Allen | Marion ISD | Marion High School

Chelsea Huber | North East ISD | Reagan High School

Corban Mueller | Medina Valley ISD | Medina Valley High School

Gabriel Navarro | Northside ISD | Clark High School

Gabryela Galvan | Southside ISD | Southside High School

Helen Guajardo | Archdiocese Schools of San Antonio | Incarnate Word High School

James Maldonado | Somerset ISD | Somerset High School

Jeremy Maldonado | Northside ISD | O’Connor High School

Julian Hall | CAST Schools | CAST Tech High School

Kacey Luzius | Kerr ISD | Kerrville Tivy High School

Landon Sawyer | Comal ISD | Davenport High School

Lucio Arriaga | San Antonio ISD | Young Men’s Leadership Academy

Mia Villagran | Northside ISD | Brennan High School

Nathan Morales | IDEA Public Schools | IDEA Carver College Prep

Ryan Almanza | Northside ISD | John Marshall High School

Sabrina Lerma | Archdiocese Schools of San Antonio | Providence Catholic High School

Sunshine Flores | Fort Sam Houston ISD | Robert G. Cole High School

Tristan Villafranca | Private School | Keystone School

To learn more about the Firstmark Foundation and the ways Firstmark Credit Union supports the education community on behalf of its members, please visit the Foundation tab at firstmarkcu.org.

Firstmark Foundation

The FIRSTMARK FOUNDATION is a non-profit, public charity focused on making a tangible, positive impact in the education community through the collective giving of the membership. Firstmark Credit Union offers the Power of the Dollar® Checking that includes a $1 monthly impact fee that goes directly to the Firstmark Foundation. On behalf of the members of Firstmark, the Foundation will fund significant needs of our area schools and education community, such as constructing new facilities, improving existing amenities, enhancing learning spaces, and providing education grants and student scholarships. Founded on the philosophy of people helping people, ten teachers made the best use of their resources, established a credit union to serve educators, and over 90 years later, Firstmark continues to build upon their legacy, supporting the vital work of our schools.

Firstmark Credit Union

In 1932, ten teachers signed a charter to begin San Antonio Teachers Credit Union and served members from the original location at Fox Tech High School. Firstmark has grown the initial $475 investment to almost 95,000 members and over $1 billion in assets and continues to advance a legacy of working together with members to help build their tomorrow. Today, the Firstmark Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, exists to make a tangible, positive impact in the education community through the collective support of the membership. Firstmark has been recognized by the San Antonio Business Journal as a Best Places to Work for the last five years, an achievement made possible by employees who proudly serve one another and the members. For more information about Firstmark Credit Union, please visit firstmarkcu.org.

Contact

Marisa Pérez-Díaz
Executive Director, Firstmark Foundation
Firstmark Credit Union
marisa.perez-diaz@firstmarkcu.org
(512) 422-9019

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