Maps Credit Union announces its annual scholarships totaling $58,000 awarded to 25 Marion and Polk County high school students to support their post-secondary education. The scholarships, awarded this month, are to local students from across the Mid-Willamette Valley region including Salem-Keizer, Silverton, Woodburn, Mt. Angel, Turner, and Monmouth.
Maps is committed to supporting education and life-long learning after starting out as a teacher’s credit union almost 90 years ago. Maps is proud to award scholarships each year to exceptional local high school seniors who are selected based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, demonstrated leadership and community involvement, financial need, and application responses.
“This year we received over 175 applications and narrowing it down to 25 winners was challenging. Each of this year’s recipients is truly inspiring. Their academic excellence, school involvement, and dedication to their families and communities really stands out,” says Kim Hanson, Executive Director of Maps Community Foundation, who directs the annual scholarship program. “We’re honored to support these exceptional local students as they continue their educational journeys.”
-Hanna Krahmer of Cascade High School and Willamette Career Academy will attend Linn-Benton Community College to major in Agriculture Business Management and Diesel Technology.
-Emma Swartzfager of Central High School will attend Western Washington University to pursue a degree in Psychology with a minor in Dance.
-Lai Saephanh of McKay High School will attend Chemeketa Community College to major in Nursing.
-Bryn Ulven of Silverton High School will attend Oregon State University and major in Human Development and Family Sciences.
-Areli Torres of Woodburn High School will attend George Fox University to major in Nursing.
-Lucas Kimsey of West Salem High School will pursue a degree in Business Management at the University of Oregon.
Six of the winners participated in their school’s business program and worked with Maps’ high school branches at McKay and West Salem. The winners include: Stephanie Valdovinos Rodriguez, Ginger Jokon, and Candy Gracia of McKay and Logan Skipper, Lucas Kimsey, and Andrew O’Dell of West Salem.
These are just a few of the many exceptional graduating seniors who are receiving scholarships from Maps Credit Union for the 2024-2025 school year. In this diverse group of students, many students are the first in their families to seek a college education, all are active in their communities, and all have a desire to give back.
Scholarships range in size from $1,000 to $3,500. Several scholarships are designated for students of color, students who are the first generation in their family to attend college, and career and technical education students. Two of the largest scholarships, the Phil Frey Memorial Scholarship ($3,500) and the Gordon Sawser Memorial Scholarship ($3,500), are given in honor of former Maps board members.
For a full list of winners, please visit www.bit.ly/MCF-Scholarship-Winners-2024.
About Maps Credit Union’s Community Foundation
Maps Community Foundation is the philanthropic branch of Maps Credit Union, a member-owned financial cooperative with 75,000 members and 10 full-service branches serving the Mid-Willamette Valley region. With a mission of enriching the lives of members and communities, the Foundation focuses on improving the quality of life in the communities served by Maps. Community investments are directed in three impact areas: Education, Economic Empowerment, and Vibrant Communities. The Foundation is funded through a penny per swipe program and additional Maps contributions. In 2023, the Foundation distributed more than $400,000 locally. To learn more, visit www.mapscu.com under “Community Foundation.”
Dianira Piceno
Maps Community Foundation
https://www.mapscu.com/
dianirapiceno@gmail.com