Ocean Financial Federal Credit Union awards annual scholarship winners
Four college-bound students share $8,000
OCEANSIDE, NY (August 19, 2020) — Ocean Financial Federal Credit Union (OFFCU) has awarded its annual “Patrick McNeill Memorial Scholarship” to four members who are graduating high school seniors headed to college, to help further their education. Each student will receive $2,000 to go toward school-related expenses.
Each of the four winning students were judged based on their academic achievement and their community involvement, aligning with the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People” and OFFCU’s Catholic values. They also wrote essays discussing what Catholic values inspired them throughout their lives and what it means to be a trusted partner in their community.
The four winning students are:
- Celeste Pozderec, 17, of Babylon, graduated from St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School in West Islip, NY and plans to attend Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. Her essay highlighted the importance of kindness and being a trusted partner in the community. “To be kind to all people means to respect all life and to help those in need,” she wrote in her application essay. “Every person is deserving of [kindness], no matter what they have done or how they have acted towards you.”
- Kylie McNeill, 17 of Garden City, graduated from Garden City High School in Garden City, NY and plans to attend Fordham University in The Bronx, NY. “I have found that my values of being conscientious, dedicated, focused and willing to put in the extra effort have been key contributors to my strong academic results.”
- Maureen McNierney, 18, of Malverne, graduated from Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale, NY and plans to attend The University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA. “As a senior in high school, I’ve had the privilege of serving as a Community Marianist Leader,” said McNierney. “It was an honor to be selected to serve as a spiritual, academic and a social guide to the freshman class as they acclimated to their new environment.”
- Megan Brady-Fuchsman, 18, of Melville, graduated from St. Anthony’s High School in South Huntington, NY and plans to attend Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. “Growing up in the public school system, I learned alongside Spanish-speaking classmates, but by the time I was in middle school, very few of them were in advanced classes with me,” wrote Fuchsman in her application essay. “I worked closely with the school district to implement a program to tutor and mentor Spanish-speaking students who have now grown academically in the three years of the program’s existence.”
Celeste Pozderec
Kylie McNeill
Megan Brady-Fuchsman
About Ocean Financial Federal Credit Union
Ocean Financial Federal Credit Union was formed in 1969 by a group of Father Joseph O’Connell Knights of Columbus members looking to provide financial services to Brother Knights and their families. Over the years, the credit union has evolved in name and in the field of membership, while maintaining ties to their Catholic roots. Today, Ocean Financial has grown to over $359 million in assets, serving members of the Knights of Columbus in New York State, the Diocese of Rockville Centre, and any Catholic interested in the credit union. Inspired by their Catholic values, Ocean Financial provides exceptional products and services to the Catholic community. The credit union takes pride in having Catholic values you can bank on. Ocean Financial promotes these values throughout the entire organization, down to the logo. To learn more, visit https://www.oceanfinancial.org
