Bethpage Scholarship Continues CU's Commitment to EA newlyestablished scholarship from Bethpage Federal Credit Union in Commack, N.Y., will raise thebar – literally and figuratively – on the $5.5 billion Long Islandcredit union's commitment to education.

Christina Robinson, a resident of Baldwin, N.Y. and 2013graduate of Georgetown University, will receive a full, three-yeartuition scholarship to the Maurice A. Deane School of Law atHofstra University beginning this fall.

The credit union's Thomas Dew Gill Memorial Scholarship, namedfor a former Bethpage board member who himself was an attorney, isvalued at roughly $150,000 and will include two paid summerinternships at the law firm Farrell Fritz P.C. and a mentor fromthe firm's staff, the Long Island credit union said.

The scholarship, designed to honor Gill who died during hisboard tenure, supports the need for increased support of business development and diversity on Long Island, according toLinda Armyn, Bethpage's senior vice president of corporatestrategy. In addition to Bethpage and Farrell Fritz, thescholarship is supported by the Long Island Hispanic BarAssociation and Hofstra Law.

“Education is a large part of our community giving effort,” saidArmyn. “Our youth of today will be our future tomorrow and wewant to focus on that.”

Bethpage financially supports a variety of educationalinstitutions, providing significant grants to both Hofstra andStony Book University. The $50,000 grants and endowmentslargely go to support science education. The credit union alsoprovides individual student funding at the high school and collegelevels, all with an eye toward keeping college graduates living andworking on Long Island.

“This is such an expensive place to live that students tend toget their degrees and move away,” said Armyn, noting that, inaddition to education, the credit union also focus on housing andeconomic development issues. “We want to educate the workforce andkeep them on Long Island.”

The scholarship also stresses the need or addressing Longisland's growingly diverse population. Robinson was selected by acommittee based on demonstrated academic achievement, financialneed, enhancement of diversity of the student population andcommitment to serving Long Island.

“We are thrilled to provide this scholarship to Christina,” saidArmyn. “She is a dynamic young woman who had great success incollege, cares deeply about social justice for those in need, andis passionate about Long Island.”