Maps Credit Union selected 10 Marion and Polk county students to receive a total of $9,500 in scholarships.
- Marla Waters was awarded $1,500 from two scholarship funds: $1,000 from the Maps Scholarship Program, which is open to any graduating senior at a school in Marion or Polk County, and $500 under the Earl Littrell scholarship, which is given to graduating seniors and current college students who intend to study accounting, economics, business or a related field in college. It honors Maps’ long-time board member and faculty member of Willamette University’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management, the late Earl K. Littrell. Waters, who will be attending the Honors College at the University of Oregon this fall, plans to study biology and political science with the ultimate goal of practicing environmental law. She transferred to Silverton High School for her senior year after attending West Salem and participating in Maps’ Titan Branch. One of crowning achievements of her high school career was acceptance into the Earthwatch Student Challenge Awards Program, which allows high school students to study marine biology with real scientists in the field.
- Junjie Chen of West Salem High School was also awarded $1,000 from the Maps Scholarship Program and $500 from the Earl Littrell Scholarship. His ultimate career goal is to become an international business lawyer. A fixture on the honor roll, Chen was active in the in-school branch of Maps Credit Union as well as various athletic activities and service clubs. Chen will be the first member of his family to attend college.
- Julie Van received a $1,000 Business Partner Scholarship. The Maps Business Partner Scholarship is open to graduating seniors from North Salem, West Salem and McKay high schools who have been active members of the business and management classes for one or more years. These students staff the in-school branches and provide financial literacy education to their peers and to younger students. Van, who is graduating from McKay, plans to study science with a pre-dentistry focus at Oregon State University. During her high school career, Van was an active member of Future Business Leaders of America and a volunteer with local charities. She will be the first member of her family to attend college.
- Brianna Venegas Santana of North Salem High School was awarded a $1,000 scholarship under the Business Partner Scholarship Program. Santana will study biology at Oregon State. She has been a volunteer with Family Building Blocks, Hope Station, her church and other local organizations. Santana will be the first member of her family to attend college.
- Emily DeLess was awarded a $500 Earl Littrell Scholarship. DeLess is completing her first year at Chemeketa Community College, where she is studying marketing and economics. She also works part time at Exit Real World in downtown Salem.
- Laura Garibay received $1,000 in the Earl Litrell Scholarship Program. Garibay, who has also been part of the Maps education branch at North Salem High School, will be studying business at Western Oregon University this fall. She has been part of various FBLA projects that placed in the state-level competition, including one for the March of Dimes Foundation.
- Brenda Sanchez-Coria of North Salem High School also received a $500 Earl Littrell Scholarship. She will study business at Oregon State University. Sanchez-Coria was active in various activites that served the youth of the community, including the March of Dimes Foundation and North Salem High School Health Services Academy. Sanchez-Coria will be the first member of her family to attend college.
- Diana Cervantes Martinez of North Marion High School also received a $500 Earl Littrell Scholarship. She will study business at the University of Oregon this fall. She was a member of the National Honor Society captain of her school’s soccer team and various school clubs. A long-time piano player, Martinez was honored by the Oregon Music Teachers Association and the National Federation of Music Clubs. Martinez will be the first member of her family to attend college.
- Kailia Walter, who was part of the education branch at West Salem High School, was awarded a $1,000 Dan Penn Scholarship. Walter plans to study business and mechanical engineering. She has been active in school clubs and student government as well as the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. She recently signed on with Pro Finish Motor Sports and will be racing in the Spec Miata class at Portland International Raceway. The Dan Penn Scholarship was created in 2009 to honor long-time CEO Dan Penn when he retired. It is open to students from Marion and Polk Counties who plan to study business or a related field.
- Analy Sanchez Morales, who plans to study business at the University of Oregon, received a $1,000 Dan Penn Scholarship. Morales began her work career early, with positions babysitting and as a hostess at Red Lobster. She was also active in FBLA and was a regular member of the honor roll while at North Salem High School. Morales will be the first in her family to attend college.
The scholarship program is administered by the Maps Community Foundation and is one of many ways Maps Credit Union supports its community giving principles of lifelong learning and asset building as well as its tradition of education. The credit union funds a $3,500 scholarship at Western Oregon University; this scholarship is administered by the university. Maps also funds three $1,000 scholarships at Chemeketa Community College, which the college administers. One scholarship is earmarked for nursing students, and the other two are open to any graduating senior who plans to pursue full-time study at the college.
In addition, the credit union provides real-life educational and savings opportunities for young members working toward personal and financial goals while building and maintaining good credit. Maps offers savings, checking and credit services tailored to meet the needs of members ages 0-17. Maps student branches serve as school-to-work labs for high school business courses at North Salem, West Salem and McKay high schools.
Maps Credit Union has come a long way since a group of 17 volunteers joined together in 1935, running the credit union out of kitchens and living rooms in homes throughout Marion County. Today, Maps serves more than 40,000 members in Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Linn, Benton, Clackamas, Washington, and Multnomah counties. The credit union has nine branches located in east, west, south and central Salem; Keizer; the Willamette University campus; Monmouth; Woodburn; and Silverton.
News Release from: Maps Credit Union mapscu.com