AWARDS

SynergyOne Federal Credit Union, Manassas, Va., was recognized at the Prince William County-Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce Honor Roll Breakfast as the business partnership winner of the year for its work with Brentsville District High School and the Reality Store project in May 2006. Ms. Sally Martin, business partnership coordinator at BDHS and the Tiger Branch supervisor, and Miriam Rigal, director of communications and financial education at Synergy One, were recognized for their work in bringing this simulation game to the students of BDHS. The Reality Store was a collaborative effort amongst five partners: Synergy One FCU, BDHS, George Mason University, the Prince William County-Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Cooperative Extension. They have joined efforts once again to bring the Reality Store to 200 Prince William County Public School students this year. Later that evening, the Virginia Credit Union League awarded Ms. Martin the Education Partner of the Year award for her work with Synergy One's in-school, student run Tiger Branch at BDHS.

The Credit Union Executive Society (CUES) recently bestowed a prominent industry honor upon Apple Federal Credit Union, Fairfax, Va. The integrity of Apple's Web site–www.applefcu.org–was recognized with a merit Golden Mirror Award for achievement in Web site Marketing. Each year, the CUES Golden Mirror Awards celebrates outstanding achievement in marketing and business development for credit unions of every asset size throughout North America. Out of the more than 800 creative, result-producing entries submitted for 25 separate marketing awards, the redesign, launch and subsequent spike in user growth for www.applefcu.org was singled out with merit honors by the CUES organization. Ultimately, Apple's hope for the new www.applefcu.org was to present a more fitting representation of the credit union's advancement, prosperity and growth as a financial institution, and to extend the scope of the website as a trusted member resource. Apple's Golden Mirror Awards recognition comes fast on the heels of another industry acknowledgement for Web design and achievement. Apple FCU received a Diamond Awards merit honor from CUNA for the look, feel and dynamic usability of www.applefcu.org.