SAN DIEGO, CA (February 5, 2014) -- San Diego County Credit Union® (SDCCU®), San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institution, is sponsoring the Ben Vereen Awards, a two-part competition for high school students who are talented in musical theater, including vocal, dance and acting performance. Held in collaboration with Broadway/San Diego, the local competition will be narrowed to two talented students, a male and female, who will compete on a national level in June in New York City. Deadline to enter the awards, named after legendary entertainer and Tony Award-winner Ben Vereen, is Feb.14.
“As a dedicated community partner, San Diego County Credit Union is proud to sponsor the Ben Vereen Awards,” said SDCCU President and CEO Teresa Halleck. “This is one of many ways our credit union supports education and our talented youth in San Diego. We look forward to seeing an outstanding representation of our hometown on the Broadway stage in New York.”
The timeline for the competition includes participating high schools that will be adjudicated between Feb. 13 and May 24. Once completed, up to ten leading male and female semi-finalists will perform at a semi-finals competition on Saturday, June 7, at the Spreckels Theatre in downtown San Diego. Up to five males and five female semifinalists will join 10 semi-finalists from the Tucson region on Saturday, June 14 at the Spreckels to vie for the title of Southwest Region champion. Those two finalists will travel to New York City for a week of intensive training prior to the national competition on June 30 on a Broadway stage. For more information, visit BenVereenAwards.com.
SDCCU is supporting the local performing arts community as a sponsor of the Broadway/San Diego 2013-2014 season. Broadway/San Diego, a Nederlander Presentation, is part of the nationally recognized Nederlander Producing Company, one of the country’s largest and most experienced operators of live theater. In its 37-year history, Broadway/San Diego has presented more than 350 shows and events to Southern California audiences.
Nederlander San Diego Vice President Joe Kobryner said, “We are pleased to add this educational component to our mission, and assisting in finding two talented high school students to live their dream of performing on a Broadway stage. We couldn’t have initiated this program without the ongoing support of title sponsor San Diego County Credit Union.”
San Diego County Credit Union is San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institution serving San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties. SDCCU has assets of $6.4 billion, more than 258,000 customers, more than 30 convenient branch locations and 30,000 surcharge-FREE ATMs. From FREE Checking with eStatements and SDCCU Mobile Deposit, to home and auto loans, Visa® credit cards, money market accounts and business banking services, including commercial real estate loans. SDCCU provides breakthrough banking products that meet the demands of today’s lifestyle and delivers banking services that save customers money. Federally insured by NCUA and is an equal housing lender. For more information, visit www.sdccu.com.