Jackson, MI (September 18, 2025) |
American 1 Credit Union is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Annual Teacher Grant Program, awarding a total of $7,500 to 15 local educators. Each teacher will receive a $500 grant to support classroom needs and improvements, helping enhance learning experiences for students across the communities it serves.
"At American 1, our mission is to create financial wellness within the communities we serve, including supporting educators and local schools," said Haley Hemmig, Community Partnership Manager at American 1 Credit Union. "We’re proud to have awarded these grants to help ease the financial burden many teachers face and to empower them to bring creative, engaging learning experiences into their classrooms."
Since its inception in 2004, the American 1 Educational Grant program has awarded $286K in grants and scholarships to 303 teachers and students from Jackson, Hillsdale, Lenawee, Calhoun, and Washtenaw counties. The Teacher Grant Program reflects the credit union’s dedication to community outreach and its mission of enriching the communities it serves through financial wellness, member-focused solutions, and meaningful partnerships.
“We’re always looking for meaningful ways to invest in our community,” said Kelly Grygiel, Vice President of Communications at American 1 Credit Union. “Awarding these teacher grants allows us to directly support education and empower local educators to create impactful learning experiences for their students.”
The recipients of the American 1 Teacher Grants are:
- Steve Wilson, Battle Creek Central High School, Calhoun
- Melissa Robinson, Harper Creek High School, Calhoun
- Nicole Ball, Tekonsha High School, Calhoun
- Elayna Pritchard, Gordon Elementary School, Calhoun
- Sarah Davis, Camden-Frontier Schools, Hillsdale
- Nicole Baker, Reynolds Elementary School, Hillsdale
- Roger Cook, Grass Lake Middle School, Jackson
- Bethany Blecha, Columbia Upper Elementary School, Jackson
- Meagan Burns, Hunt Elementary School, Jackson
- Judy Osterberg, Northwest High School, Jackson
- Jeff Delezenne, Clinton High School, Lenawee
- Amber Kreischer, Morenci Elementary School, Lenawee
- Stacy Rehmann, North Creek Elementary School, Washtenaw
- Melissa Yekulis, Luther C. Klager Elementary School, Washtenaw • Courtney Jeffers, Milan Middle School, Washtenaw
Additionally, the American 1 Financial Wellness Department regularly visits local schools and youth organizations to teach crucial financial skills, equipping students for long-term success and further demonstrating American 1’s dedication to education.
To learn more about American 1 Credit Union and its commitment to community engagement, visit American1CU.org.