Press
Bethpage and Partners Establish the Bethpage Federal Credit Union Thomas Dew Gill Memorial Scholarship
Baldwin Resident, Christina Robinson, Named 2013 Recipient
BETHPAGE, NY (August 27, 2013) — Bethpage Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce Baldwin resident Christina Robinson as the recipient of the newly established Bethpage Federal Credit Union Thomas Dew Gill Memorial Scholarship. Robinson who graduated from Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale in 2009, and received a B.A. from Georgetown University in 2013, will receive a full, three-year tuition scholarship at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University beginning this fall. The Bethpage Federal Credit Union Thomas Dew Gill Memorial Scholarship is a collaboration with the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association, Hofstra Law and Farrell Fritz, P.C. to provide a Long Island student who enhances diversity at Hofstra Law with every opportunity to be successful during school and in turn be a successful contributor to the area’s legal community when they graduate.
As part of the scholarship, Farrell Fritz, P.C. will provide Robinson a 2014 summer internship at its Uniondale headquarters at the completion of her first year of law school. A Farrell Fritz firm associate will also mentor Robinson while she is in school.
“We are so thrilled to provide this scholarship to Christina. She is a dynamic young woman who had great success in college, cares deeply about social justice for those in need, and is passionate about Long Island,” said Linda Armyn, Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Bethpage. “We appreciate everyone’s assistance in this project from establishing the criteria, contributing to the benefits of the scholarship and selecting the candidate, it has been a true partnership. “
“Thank you to Bethpage, the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association and Farrell Fritz for creating this wonderful opportunity for Christina, and establishing this new scholarship for our school. In addition to the financial benefits, this partnership is a unique experiential learning opportunity for Christina to gain the skills needed to be successful in her future career,” said Eric Lane, Dean of the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.
“By providing the funds for this scholarship, Bethpage is giving Christina the opportunity to study law when she otherwise may not have had the financial means to do so. Hopefully, this program will result in greater diversity in Long Island’s legal system as well as in the student population at Hofstra Law,” said Richard Montes, the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association. “We were pleased to be a part of the process and will also assist Christina along the way. “
“We’re honored to offer Christina an internship position as well as a full-time mentor who can offer her practical, hands-on advice and guide her through her academic life at Hofstra Law,” said Thomas Kileen, Partner of Farrell Fritz, P.C. “This combination of academic and professional experience will provide Christina a robust experience, and we’re confident Long Island will call Robinson one of its top lawyers in years to come.”
The Bethpage Federal Credit Union Thomas Gill Memorial Scholarship is being established in memory of Thomas Dew Gill, a dedicated member of Bethpage’s Board of Directors. “Thomas was a former attorney for Grumman Corporation here on Long Island and would be proud of this collaborative effort to foster strong legal talent on Long Island,” added Mrs. Anne Gill. “ My daughter and I were thrilled to meet Christina and know Tom would have applauded her selection.”
Robinson was selected by a Selection Committee on the basis of: demonstrated academic achievement, financial need, enhancement of diversity of the student population and commitment to serving Long Island.
Bethpage Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative, existing solely to serve its members and has experienced rapid growth in recent years to become a strong alternative to banks. Bethpage was approved for the largest federal community charter in the U.S. in 2003 and now is New York State’s largest credit union and Long Island’s primary community financial institution with over 212,000 members, 26 branches and 60 shared service center locations throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. As a financial cooperative, Bethpage offers the best-in-market rates, low fees and world-class service, and a full menu of personal and commercial financial services.
Bethpage maintains branch locations in Bay Shore, Bay Shore King Kullen, Bethpage, Central Islip, Commack King Kullen, Elmont, Farmingdale, Freeport, Glen Cove, Hempstead, Huntington, Levittown King Kullen, Lynbrook, Massapequa, Melville, Mineola, North Babylon, Patchogue, Port Jefferson, Riverhead, Seaford, Smithtown, Roosevelt, West Babylon and Westbury with over 425 surcharge-free ATMs in King Kullen, 7-Eleven, CVS Pharmacy and Costco locations throughout Long Island. For more information, call 1-800-628-7070 or visit https://www.bethpagefcu.com/.