CAPITOLA — Bay Federal Credit Union’s President and CEO, Carrie Birkhofer, announced the winners of its 2016 Education Scholarships in front of a crowd at the Credit Union’s Annual Meeting on March 29.
Cabrillo College’s Rosie Navarro, Aptos High School’s Madeleine Bol, and Harbor High School’s Elisa Avalos-Romero were each awarded $1,500 to be put toward their educations. They were chosen from among 39 applicants.
Each year, Bay Federal awards scholarship money to students in the community who are pursuing their post-high school education at a college, university, or career-training school. Applicants submitted information about their academic and/or professional achievements, a statement about why they should receive a scholarship, and a 5-10 page essay about an important financial lesson they have learned.
“We recognize incredible potential in these women,” Birkhofer said. “Each had an important financial lesson to share in her essay, and each has an established track record of commitment to ongoing education. We wish them the best of luck.”
The Mac McCormac Employee Scholarship, named for Bay Federal’s very first employee, is awarded each year to a staff member who is pursuing their education while working at the Credit Union. This year’s winner of the $500 award was Dawn Wingert, Enterprise Program Manager.
Who Are The Winners?
- Dawn Wingert is earning her Master’s in Psychology through Palo Alto University.
- Madeleine Bol, an Aptos High School senior, will study Environmental Science at the University of Chicago in the fall.
- Rosie Navarro, a Cabrillo College student from Freedom, plans to transfer to UCSC for a sociology degree.
- Elisa Avalos-Romero, a Harbor High School senior, plans to major in Psychology and become a social worker.
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Bay Federal is a full-service, not-for-profit financial institution that serves more than 60,000 members and 1,000 local businesses throughout Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties. Since 2002, 100% of all employees have given their own money and volunteered for numerous local schools, nonprofit organizations, and community events.