Desert Schools Federal Credit Union, Phoenix, awarded one $10,000 scholarship, one $5,000 scholarship and five $1,000 scholarships at its fifth annual community service scholarship awards ceremony. Diana Carmen, the grand prize winner, completed more than 350 hours of community service this year with the Native American Community Health Center, a local nonprofit committed to improving the lives of Native American families in the greater Phoenix area. Carmen plans to attend Arizona State University this fall to study business. Scholarship applicants were asked to complete 50 or more hours of community service in addition to achieving scholastic excellence and being a member of Desert Schools for at least six months.

SAFE Federal Credit Union, Sumter, S.C., presented scholarship certificates to 16 area high school seniors who were selected by their school district to be recipients of the credit union scholarship. The scholarships are for $1,000 and are awarded to students who will be attending post-secondary school in South Carolina beginning in the fall semester of 2009.

WEOKIE Credit Union, Oklahoma City, awarded 25 high school seniors in the metro area a total of $40,000 in scholarships. To apply, students wrote essays describing how they might be featured in a who's who directory after five years of practicing their chosen profession. The WEOKIE Credit Union Foundation received more than 350 essays.
Michigan Schools and Government Credit Union, Clinton Township, Mich., announced the winners of its Rudolph Heino and Sallylou Cloyd Scholarship awards. The six students chosen to receive the one-time scholarships demonstrated a desire to overcome obstacles, dedicate themselves to worthy causes and commit themselves to higher learning. The recipients of the scholarships were Adam Shuboy, Chippewa Valley High School; Brianna Balcerowiak, Henry Ford II High School; Chelsea Miller, Troy Athens High School; Jessica Marosan, Utica High School; Kari Wangelin, Lutheran High School North; and Megan Stevens, Avondale High School.

Sandia Area Federal Credit Union, Albuquerque, awarded $3,500 to five contest winners in its scholarship essay contest. Applicants were asked to write a 1,000-word essay describing what they considered to be an important societal or community issue and why, and a strategic plan to resolve that issue. Professors from the University of New Mexico English department judged the essays.

Gateway Metro Federal Credit Union, St. Louis, awarded four local high school seniors $1,000 Judith A. Lowe Memorial Scholarships at the credit union's annual meeting. Thomas Burgess, Taylor Hill, Kamrey McNutt and Jessica Menchak were chosen based on their high school accomplishments, volunteer activities and plan for using their financial savvy to make their future brighter. Applicants also turned in recommendation letters and an essay on the importance of financial education.