Press

Summit Credit Union awards local student $2,500 scholarship in Project Teen Money

Annual challenge encourages Madison students to inspire peers with financial education videos

MADISON, WI (May 19, 2020) — Summit Credit Union has announced the winner of its Project Teen Money 2020 program, an annual interactive video challenge encouraging students to discover healthy money management habits. Ike Lavitschke, a junior at Madison East High School, earned the highest point total and took home a $2,500 continuing education scholarship from Summit.

“Each year, we’re impressed by the passion and creativity of the participants as they teach money management tips to their peers,” said Kim Sponem, CEO & President of Summit Credit Union. “It was inspiring to see the ways they encouraged their classmates to give, spend and save wisely as they navigate high school and beyond.”

The program featured eight students, two each from Madison’s East, West, La Follette and Memorial High Schools, educating their peers about successful money management. Through a series of video creations, participants taught their classmates helpful tips such as distinguishing between wants and needs, creating a savings plan and setting aside money for charitable causes.

Starting in January, participants published three 30- to 90-second videos on Summit’s website while their families, classmates and community members voted for their favorites. Submissions were awarded points on the basis of timeliness, accuracy, originality and creativity.

Ike hopes to explore a number of his passions in his future higher education experience, including information technology, videography and astronomy. “I would love to attend UW-Madison or another school that has a variety of options for study,” said Ike. “This scholarship makes a big difference as I plan for my future, and I am extremely grateful to Summit for the chance to participate.”

In addition to the $2,500 first place scholarship, Summit awarded each of the seven remaining Project Teen Money participants a $500 continuing education scholarship. To learn more about Summit’s annual Project Teen Money program, visit https://www.summitcreditunion.com/project-teen-money/about.


About Summit Credit Union (WI)

Established in 1935, Summit Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative. Summit holds $6.8 billion in assets and has more than 252,000 members and 967 employees across 57 locations throughout Wisconsin. Since 2002, Kim Sponem has been CEO & President of Summit Credit Union, formerly known as CUNA Credit Union/Great Wisconsin Credit Union. Recognized for its excellence in employee engagement, in 2021, 2022 and 2023 Summit was named both a Top Workplace in the USA by Top Workplaces USA and a Top Workplace in the Madison area by the Wisconsin State Journal. In 2023 it has added a Top Workplace award in Milwaukee by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. For more information, visit www.summitcreditunion.com or call 608-243-5000 or 800-236-5560. For additional media information, visit https://www.summitcreditunion.com/about-summit/press-room or follow Summit on Facebook and Instagram.

Contacts

Jason Waller
Cell: 608-698-5948
Work: (608) 243-5000, ext. 6862
publicrelations@summitcreditunion.com

More News