ST. PAUL, Minn.– The Affinity Plus Foundation has awarded 10 annual Campus Scholarships to students at six Minnesota state universities and – new in 2017 – to students at four state community and technical colleges.
The foundation introduced the Campus Scholarship program in 2016, previously called the University Scholarship program, to increase support to Affinity Plus members in the campus communities the credit union serves across Minnesota.
Those universities include Bemidji State University; Minnesota State University – Mankato; Minnesota State University – Moorhead; St. Cloud State University; University of Minnesota – Twin Cities; and Winona State University.
In 2017, the foundation expanded the program to include Affinity Plus members enrolled part or full time and in good academic standing at any accredited community or technical college in Minnesota.
“Thousands of students attend Minnesota community and technical colleges each year, and the education they receive continues to bring value to the communities we serve,” said Cary Tonne. Foundation board chair. “Growing the scholarship program just made good sense.”
Affinity Plus has branches on or near several college and university campuses, and credit-union staff often partner with instructors and student-services offices to provide financial education to students. Both the credit union and foundation also engage with community and technical colleges across the state with financial education and other outreach.
"Banking with Affinity plus Credit Union was a good decision that I made two years ago when I first came to United States of America as a new student,” said Theophine, the St. Cloud State University recipient. “I have created multiple accounts in order to have a more organized way of spending money and also save money.”