2019 scholarship recipients. Courtesy/ZiaCU
ZIA CU News:
Zia Credit Union, with branches in Los Alamos and Española, has announced that its Education Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications from graduating high school and homeschooled seniors.
Applications must be postmarked by Friday, March 13, 2020. Details and the application form can be found at ziacu.org/about-us/zia-education-foundation.html
To qualify for consideration, a student must be a member of Zia Credit Union with their own account prior to the application deadline. Requirements of the application packet include an official high school transcript, two letters of recommendation, a photo release form, and a walled-sized photo. The student must also write an essay addressing their high school achievements in one of the following areas: Leadership, Special Achievement or Academic. Last year, Zia awarded over $22,000 in scholarships to Northern New Mexico high school seniors.
“Zia Credit Union is passionate about empowering generations of Northern New Mexico Families, and this includes offering scholarships to help our members who are heading off to a college, university or vocational school,” said Jennifer Aylmer, chair of the scholarship committee. “If you’re a graduating high school student considering higher education, let us help give you a leg up on all the expenses.”
Dwayne Herrera, CEO of Zia Credit Union, emphasized the organization’s commitment to community involvement and supporting education.
“Zia has been an active participant in the communities it serves for 65 years, by donating time and resources to local organizations,” he said. “Our annual Chip In 4 Kids golf tournament supports the Zia Education Foundation, which helps provide for scholarships.”
Zia Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative providing financial services to approximately 11,000 members who live, work or worship in Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe or Taos counties. It has solutions for youth of all ages, starting with the Kirby Kangaroo savings accounts designed for children 12 and under, to checking accounts for teens that offer rewards like cash back or refunds on iTunes®, Amazon®, or Google Play™ purchases.
“As students grow, Zia Credit Union can grow with them to meet their needs,” Herrera said. “Not only do we have branches in Northern New Mexico, but our members have access to over 5,000 shared branches and 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide. We want students to be able to conveniently bank with us when they go off to college.”
Zia Credit Union’s Education Foundation was originally conceived in 1999 with the goal of raising funds to make Educational Scholarships available to its young members. Since that time, the Education Foundation has presented over $350,750 in Merit Scholarships in the categories of Academics, Leadership, and Special Achievement. To learn more about Zia Credit Union, including its Education Foundation, visit ziacu.org
