SCHOLARSHIPS

Financial Partners Credit Union, Downey, Calif., has hosted a special luncheon to celebrate the graduation of nine Los Angeles County Regional Occupational Program (ROP) students. This is the first group of ROP students the credit union has taken on. The Los Angeles County ROP offers 70 hours of in-classroom training in a variety of business occupations. Students then learn hands-on at local businesses, with the potential to be hired on full-time once their internship is complete. Educational Employees Credit Union, Fresno, Calif., has awarded $25,000 in grant funds to 25 EECU members to put toward their college education. A selection committee reviewed over 130 grant applications and decided upon 25 students, each receiving $1,000. The Educational Grant Program was established in 2003 to assist EECU members who are pursuing a post-high school education at a community college, university/college, vocational/technical school, or advanced professional training in the United States. Michigan First Credit Union, Detroit, has recently awarded five $5,000 Scholarships to deserving high school seniors in metro Detroit. This is the 3rd year that Michigan First has continued its commitment to education in the community. The scholarship winners include Maria Burden, Erin Clouthier, Rashad Jackson, Yvita Dickerson-Houlles, and Lonnie Hurst. Winners were selected based on their essay, scholastic achievement and teacher and counselor ratings. USA Federal Credit Union, San Diego, Calif., has awarded $7,500 in scholarships to five graduating seniors who wrote outstanding essays on their future career plans. Each student received $1,500 as part of the Martin P. Cassell Memorial Scholarship Program. The winning students included Sheerah Cole, Warren Gaoiran, Benjamin Lee, Emily Lyman, and Sean Sanford. Point Mugu Federal Credit Union, Calif., has awarded a total of $15,000 in scholarships to 15 graduating high school seniors. Each student received a check for $1,000. This year's recipients include Niccole Modell, Hannah Faith, Josefina Garcia, Jeremy Schrock, Scott Bartlett, Lindsey Sanders, Alexis Rae Del Castillo, Vanessa Montes, Heidi Stohlman, Julie Guo , Kunal Patel, Sandra Magana, Jill Savla, and Amanda Phillips. The scholarships, awarded by Point Mugu FCU, were supported by nine local businesses. El Paso Employees Federal Credit Union, Texas, has awarded 14 students a total of $20,000 in scholarships. This year, for the first time, two $4,000 four-year scholarships were granted to the two highest raking seniors Elisa Diaz and Nancy Garay. Receiving $1,000 each are Lacy Ellis, Eastwood High; Steven Blackmon, El Paso High; Asad Kalantarian, Zephyr Hernandez, Joyce Gonzalez, Roberto A. Tavarez, Halina L. Sanchez, Sylvia Endlich, Diana Angeles, Sonia Marie Garcia, Marina I. Moran and Elizabeth Banuelos. Schools Financial Credit Union, Sacramento, Calif., has awarded a total of $5,000 in scholarships to college students. This year's $500 scholarship winners are as follows: Kelly Wilcox; Cassie Barton, Staci DiSantis, Marc Kurtis Nutt, Mathew Tozzi, Fantoya Hill, Tania Dickson-Humphries, Janis Porter, Carolyn Aboubechara, and David J. Falet.