LIVONIA, MIch.– Zeal Credit Union has announced the recipients of the credit union’s scholarship program. Scholarships totaling $14,000 were awarded to seven 2016 graduating high school seniors in metro Detroit. Now in its 22nd year, the scholarship program honors longtime credit union volunteers and recognizes outstanding students who are Zeal Credit Union members. Nearly $220,000 has been awarded since the program began.
Scholarship recipients and their parents were honored at Zeal Credit Union’s 61st annual membership meeting in March.
In applying for the scholarships, students were asked to write how they live with character, feel with empathy and act with passion in their school and community.
“Their responses were remarkable and encouraging for our future,” said Lisa Fawcett, vice president of marketing for Zeal Credit Union. “We congratulate everyone who applied and want to thank all of the parents, families and educators who support these students throughout the year.”
Zeal Credit Union’s 2016 scholarship recipients include:
- Hannah Schwartz, Divine Child High School, Dearborn – $4,000 Al Williams Scholarship
- Matthew Calhoun, Roosevelt High School, Wyandotte – $4,000 Harlan Richardson Scholarship
- Samantha Sievers, L’Anse Creuse North High School, Fenton – $3,000 Dutch Farr Scholarship
- Ashley Cavagnetto, Walled Lake Northern High School, Commerce – $1,000 Mark Stroebel Scholarship
- Isabelle Rosales, Walled Lake Central High School, Walled Lake - $1,000 Margaret Kremer-Hehman Scholarship
- Allison Lennig, Plymouth High School, Canton - $500 William Allen Scholarship
- Anna Brown, Inter-City Baptist High School, Allen Park – $500 James Cullimore Scholarship
At right, above, Anthony Carnarvon, president and CEO of Zeal Credit Union, congratulates 2016 scholarships recipients, from l. to r., Hannah Schwartz, Samantha Sievers, Ashley Cavagnetto, Isabelle Rosales, Allison Lennig and Anna Brown. Not pictured is scholarship recipient Matthew Calhoun.
Separately, Zeal Credit Union has partnered with the Livonia and Westland public libraries for financial presentations and activities for all ages during this year’s Money Smart Week, from April 23 - 30.
The first event, “Money Smart Storytime,” will be held for children, ages three to six years, at Livonia Public Library’s Civic Center branch. In addition to hearing a money-related story, each child will receive a free bank to decorate and take home.
Tiffany Sweet, the credit union’s youth and community coordinator, will be on hand to talk with parents about saving for their child’s future and how to educate children about saving and spending.
The first event, “A Day at the Park,” will be held on Saturday, April 23, for children in 2nd through 5th grades. Held in the library’s Youth Activity Room, Sweet will help children explore the value of money and begin to think about saving for a visit to the ballpark.
On April 27, Zeal Credit Union will host a program specially designed for adults. Catherine Wall of GreenPath Debt Solutions will present “Steps to Financial Freedom” from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Meeting Room B of the Westland library. With many Americans struggling to dig themselves out of debt, Wall will describe ways to make a budget, minimize your debt and plan for financial freedom in the future.