COLUMBUS, IN (May 6, 2026) |
The Centra Foundation has awarded 29 high school graduates with the Loretta M. Burd Scholarship. This program awards one graduating high school senior per Centra Credit Union location with a $2,500 scholarship each year. The full list of winners is available at https://www.centra.org/centra-foundation/scholarships/.
Centra Foundation also awards $2,500 adult scholarships to adult or non-traditional students who have returned to school to pursue a degree or certification. The Centra Foundation would like to recognize Shirley Shea for her support to the Loretta M. Burd Adult Scholarship Program. This year’s adult scholarship recipients are Sophia Ramirez, Hyrum Croft, Roman Ramirez Herrera, Tory Hatton, Barbara Handt and Yasmin Vargas.
New this year, the program awarded two additional scholarships to individuals who are pursuing a technical trade or certification program. Those recipients are Cierra Newcomb (Columbus) and Joseph Gray (Seymour).
Named in honor of Loretta M. Burd, who retired from Centra Credit Union after 47 years of service, the Loretta M. Burd Scholarship Program is designed to help local students pursuing a college or technical school education.
All applications are reviewed on academic achievements, school and community involvement, work history and a short essay about financial literacy. The scholarship places value on well-rounded students who display a strong work ethic and involvement in their local community.
The Loretta M. Burd Scholarship Program is one of many programs the Centra Foundation and Centra Credit Union have to give back to their Members and the Communities they serve. In 2025, Centra and the Centra Foundation gave back more than $460,000 to the Communities they serve.