WATERFORD, Conn. – Charter Oak FCU awarded $94,000 in scholarships to 47 high school and college students in New London and Windham counties for their significant academic and community achievements.
“Our scholarship committee was truly impressed with the many achievements of these scholarship recipients – in their school studies as well as their community activities – during an academic year that was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Brian A. Orenstein, Charter Oak’s president and Chief Executive Officer. “Once again, the selection process was very competitive, with more than 190 applications received by Charter Oak for this year’s scholarship program,” he said.
Since 2015 when Charter Oak first expanded its annual scholarship program, the credit union has awarded $648,000 in scholarships to a total of 324 students in eastern Connecticut.
Students who are members of Charter Oak compete for the annual scholarships by submitting an essay describing how they would help their local community in addition to submitting their academic, athletic, and community accomplishments.
As part of Charter Oak’s strong commitment to serve the communities in its field of membership in eastern Connecticut, the credit union has pledged to award one $2,000 college scholarship to a college-bound senior at each high school within New London and Windham counties with an attendance of at least 100 students. Additional scholarships, when available, are also given to students already enrolled in college.