LONE TREE, Colo. – Public Service Credit Union, along with its Dedicate to Graduate Foundation, awarded 30 students with college scholarships at the inaugural PSCU Scholarship Banquet, as part of its new Community Scholarship Program. Students were recognized for their outstanding academic achievement and community involvement with scholarships ranging from $1000 to $5000 each.
A total of $44,000 was awarded to students from Denver, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs.
“We wanted to do something meaningful in the communities we serve,” said Steve Ferrero, Senior Vice President of Community Involvement and Advocacy.
Three different types of scholarships were awarded at the scholarship event including the Dedicate to Graduate Scholarship, the Community Scholarship, and the Community Leadership Award. The Dedicate to Graduate winners, Julianna Oviedo (Overland High School) and Elise Ritschard (Colorado State University), each received $5,000 awards. To be eligible for the Dedicate to Graduate Scholarship either the student or their parent has to be a PSCU member.
The Community Scholarship was given to 28 students representing high schools in each of PSCU’s 28 branch communities. School representatives nominated the students based on the eligibility requirements, which included a 3.2 or higher GPA and involvement in the community. Each student received $1000 and was eligible for the Community Leadership Award. (See list of students and high schools below.)
The $5,000 Community Leadership Award was given to Aryana Martinez from Poudre High School. Aryana received both awards for a total of $6,000 to attend the University of New Mexico. Aryana was recognized for her 400 hours of volunteer service and her leadership in several school organizations.
All the scholarships were funded by the Dedicate to Graduate Foundation.
The event also included keynote speaker Sonny Lubick, the legendary former Colorado State University football coach. Sonny shared words of wisdom with the students, parents, and PSCU staff that were in attendance at the DoubleTree Hotel in Thornton.
“Sonny is an inspiration both on and off the field,” Ferrero said. “The students and parents enjoyed his stories of triumph and disappointment and how both contributed to who he is today.”
The Community Scholarship Program is part of the Credit Union’s new Community Involvement Initiative that also includes PSCU Gives, a branch donations and employee volunteer program.