Desert Financial awards ten scholarships to assist Arizona’s youth
Nearly $45,000 in financial assistance and prizes presented to 2018 community service scholarship recipients; incentives offered for scholarship renewal in 2019
PHOENIX, AZ (July 2, 2018) — Desert Financial recently announced the deserving recipients of its 14th annual Community Service Scholarship. This year, ten high school seniors were presented with scholarships for their stellar academic achievement and commitment to community service totaling $37,500.
In order to be considered for one of the Desert Financial Community Service Scholarships, the recipients were required to demonstrate a strong record of volunteer efforts in their communities, while concurrently maintaining exceptional grades in high school. For more than a decade Desert Financial has rewarded seven local students with scholarships, however, this year there were ten standout scholars who received grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.
Another first for the credit union in 2018 included a $250 donation made in the winners’ names to an Arizona non-profit that inspires each young adult, along with a brand new iPad to assist them in their college studies. The final surprise of the awards ceremony was the announcement of a scholarship renewal of $2,500 for the ten students to help subsidize tuition during their sophomore years of college. The only stipulation for the additional grant is that they each engage in at least 20 hours of volunteer service and continue to receive a 3.0 GPA or higher at an Arizona college or university during their freshman year.
The 20-hour requirement should be seemingly effortless for this group considering they each accumulated between 50 and 300 volunteer hours this year alone. The students helped their communities in a variety of ways, including preparing meals and food boxes, assisting hospital patients, helping in grade school classrooms, providing first aid support, working with refugees, promoting mental health awareness, providing I.T. assistance, tutoring and mentoring, as well as organizing fundraisers and much more.
“Presenting outstanding young adults with scholarships every year has become one of my favorite annual events because it gives me the opportunity to honor and assist students who’ve helped others through their community outreach efforts,” said Jeff Meshey, Desert Financial CEO. “Supporting education is part of Desert Financial’s larger emphasis on community giving and these high school seniors are deserving of both our financial assistance and utmost praise.”
This year’s $10,000 scholarship was awarded to Chandler Preparatory Academy senior, Sudin Regmi, who generously volunteered 300 hours to his community and plans to attend Arizona State University to become a financial planner. The first of two $5,000 scholarships presented this year was given to Drake Penne, from Western School of Science and Technology. Drake plans to attend NAU Honors College to study Applied Computer Science. The second recipient of $5,000 was presented to Jasmine Effendi from Paradise Valley High School. The benevolent senior plans to attend college to become a medical doctor specializing in cardiology. The seven remaining scholarship recipients each received $2,500 and include: Amy Dietrich from Central High School, Sydney Bradley from Metro Tech High School, Collin Halamka from EduPrize High School, Keegan Acton from Campo Verde High School, Adina Guntermann from Sunnyslope High School, Alonso Treviso from Maryvale High School and Abigail Howk from Gilbert High School.
Students who are interested in applying for the 2019 Desert Schools Community Service Scholarship should begin their volunteer efforts immediately to help acquire the mandatory community service hours required for consideration. Furthermore, applicants must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher to be qualified to submit for the scholarship program. Applications for the scholarships will resume in October of 2018.
About Desert Financial Credit Union
Celebrating 85 years in Arizona, Desert Financial is the state's most trusted local credit union with over $8 billion in assets, 400,000+ members and 48 branches. Membership eligibility is open across Arizona with contactless solutions making it easy to click, call or come in. As a not-for-profit cooperative, Desert Financial takes pride in sharing success. In 2023, members received $16 million in dividends via the Member Giveback Bonus, and the credit union became the official retail banking partner of Arizona State University®. Federally insured by NCUA. Learn more at desertfinancial.com.
