Press
Unity One Credit Union names Bob Bennett memorial scholarship winners
FORT WORTH, TX (June 4, 2015) — Unity One Credit Union is pleased to name Lauren Wagner, graduating senior of Fossil Ridge High School, as the 2015 Bob Bennett Memorial Scholarship recipient. Lauren’s award-winning essay entry detailed the difference between credit unions and alternative financial service companies such as Bitcoin and Prosper.
Wagner says of credit unions, “As a non-profit entity, a credit union exists simply to provide services to its members, and these services extend beyond the fiduciary variety in things like school partnerships, financial literacy programs and scholarships not unlike this one. Not only do credit unions provide tangible facilities, optimal customer service and exceptionally low rates, but they also give back to the community in ways that other financial businesses either cannot or will not.”
She will receive $1,000 to aid with her college expenses at the University of Texas where she plans to double-major in Neuroscience and Linguistics, focusing on language acquistion as it affects the brain.
Wagner is a very active member of the Fossil Ridge High School student body, serving as president of the Latin Club, co-captain of the Winter Guard, vice president of the Marching Band and qualifying for the Dean’s List during her tenure.
John Moynihan, graduating senior of Colleyville Heritage High School, and Alexander Urrutia, graduating senior of Flower Mound High School, were named runners-up and will each receive a $250 book scholarship.
To be eligible for the scholarship, candidates had to be graduating high school seniors or college students attending a two-year of four-year college or vocational/technical school. They needed to have maintained at least a 2.8 grade point average (on a four-point scale) and be a member of Unity One Credit Union.
The Bob Bennett Memorial Scholarship is a tribute to the life of Robert Bennett, a tireless champion of the credit union movement. He joined Unity One CU in 1954 and served on the Board of Directors until 2002. An advocate of growth and change, Bennett served through five name changes and three mergers. He passed away in December 2002.
About Unity One Credit Union
Established in 1927, Unity One Credit Union is the oldest credit union in Texas. A member-driven and not-for-profit cooperative, Unity One CU served the employees and families of the BNSF Railway for 70 years. However, after transferring its corporate headquarters to Fort Worth in 1998, the credit union expanded its field of membership to include other non-railroad companies, organizations and individuals.
Today, anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Fort Worth, Blue Mound, Saginaw, Haslet, Keller, Colleyville, Bedford, North Richland Hills, Southlake, St. Paul, MN and Kansas City, KS may apply for membership. Unity One CU has seven branches to serve over 30,000 members nationwide. For more information about Unity One Credit Union, visit www.unityone.org. Think outside the bank.™