Thanks to donations from the credit union industry, fourfinalists from CUES' Next Top Credit Union Exec competition nowhave access to more than $4,000 each toward tuition and airfare toattend the trade group's CEO Institute I in Philadelphia in earlyApril. Co-produced by CUES and Currency Marketing, the contest wasdesigned to recognize young credit union professionals for the workthey are doing to advance their credit union.

Out of six finalists, the title was awarded to Tina Hall ofVerity Credit Union, who offered half her educational prize packageto runner-up Ronaldo Hardy of La Capitol FCU so that they bothcould attend the CEO Institute. Hall then challenged the creditunion industry to help the other four finalists attend as well.

Vendors and attendees of CUES CEO/Executive Team Network inDallas, where Hall issued her call to action on Nov. 10, havedonated about $3,000, and CUES has announced it will match alldonations and contribute $2,500 for each of the remainingfinalists. That makes a total of about $16,000 raised to date.

"I estimate that we only need another $15,000 to make this work.That is 300 people giving $50," Hall said in a post on the Next Top Credit Union Exec blog. "Let's have sixwinners. Let's model cooperation among cooperatives."