Georgia United CU Awards $30,000 in Scholarships to High School Seniors

DULUTH, GA (April 15, 2021) – Georgia United Foundation is pleased to name six Georgia high school seniors as recipients of their 2021 High School Scholarship Competition. A total of $30,000 in scholarships were awarded to the deserving students who plan to attend college or a technical school during the 2021-2022 school year. This marks the 27th year of the scholarship program, named for Georgia United Credit Union’s founder, Vernon E. Carne and notable board members Geraldine Tilson, Dorothy Dusenberry Pirkle, Polly Hinde, Monsignor Stephen Churchwell and T. Randall Dennis.

The Foundation’s unique scholarship program encourages college bound students to showcase their creativity through a one-minute video submission explaining how they will use their education to help the community. Additional consideration is given to academic achievement, financial need, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities.

“We are delighted to recognize these outstanding students for their hard work and achievements,” shared President and CEO Debbie Smith. “The Georgia United Foundation makes it possible for us to continue our long-standing tradition of offering scholarships to high school seniors who are pursuing higher education. We wish this year’s scholars the best of luck and know they will make a difference in their communities.”

Congratulations to the 2021 Georgia United Foundation Scholarship recipients:

•            $10,000 Vernon E. Carne Scholarship – Mathew Sigunga, Duluth High School

•            $5,000 Geraldine Tilson Scholarship – Asha Hunt, Winder-Barrow High School

•            $5,000 Polly Hinde Scholarship – John Krieger, Westminster Christian Academy

•            $5,000 Dorothy Dusenberry Pirkle Scholarship – Olivia Keeter, Tucker High School

•            $2,500 Monsignor Stephen Churchwell Scholarship – Richard Gladney, Arabia Mountain High School

•            $2,500 T. Randall Dennis Scholarship – Lauren Dudley, Arabia Mountain High School

$10,000 Vernon E. Carne Scholarship

Mathew Sigunga is a senior and scholar-athlete at Duluth High School, who is on the varsity basketball team, track and field, and is a member of the National Honor Society and Gwinnett Student Leadership Team. This fall, Sigunga plans to study computer engineering at Georgia Tech to achieve his career goal of creating computers that use alternative forms of energy to make technology accessible to students in underprivileged communities. 

$5,000 Geraldine Tilson Scholarship

Asha Hunt is the senior class treasurer at Winder-Barrow High School and a member of the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society and Music Honor Society. In addition to her student council responsibilities, Hunt cheers for her school’s basketball team and is the color guard captain. Hunt will attend Georgia State to become a pediatrician and aspires to host health fairs that will offer free well-checks and resources for uninsured children in low-income families.

$5,000 Polly Hinde Scholarship

John Krieger attends Westminster Christian Academy and is passionate about music. After being diagnosed with leukemia in 2013, Krieger was introduced to the organization, Songs for Kids, a nonprofit that offers children with special needs and medical disabilities opportunities to create music in a studio. It was here Krieger realized his career goal of becoming a music audio engineer. After earning his degree from Belmont University, he looks forward to providing children with similar hands-on music experience through the same charity.

$5,000 Dorothy Dusenberry Pirkle Scholarship

Olivia Keeter is a senior and student council treasurer at Tucker High School. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club and is captain of the soccer team. Keeter will study environmental engineering at Mississippi State with the goal of improving water quality while protecting waterways and communities for future generations.

$2,500 Monsignor Stephen Churchwell Scholarship

Richard Gladney is a student athlete at Arabia Mountain High School who is the varsity cross-country captain and participates in track & field, chess club, Tech Student Association, Eagle Scouts and is a National Black Jr Engineer member. Gladney has been accepted into the dual degree program between Morehouse College and Georgia Tech for biomedical engineering and aspires to create medical devices to help the elderly and disabled populations in his community.  

$2,500 T. Randall Dennis Scholarship

Lauren Dudley is a senior at Arabia Mountain High School and a member of the National Honor Society, president of the debate team and student government treasurer. Dudley will attend Mercer University in the fall to pursue a degree in finance and plans to teach financial literacy to help low-income families learn how to save and invest in their future economic successes.

Visit gucufoundation.org/scholarships to view the winning video submissions and to learn more about this year’s recipients and program details.  

Georgia United Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life for children and families in the communities they serve through impactful programs funded and delivered through volunteerism by way of corporate contributions, team members and community efforts.  The Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is the philanthropic arm of Georgia United Credit Union. For details on volunteering, participating or donating, visit gucufoundation.org.

Georgia United Credit Union is an award-winning financial leader and partner in education. Headquartered in Duluth, Georgia United is ranked as one of the state’s largest credit unions with $1.7 billion in assets, 168,000 members and 19 branch locations. As a full-service financial institution, they offer competitive products and services for every stage of life and support a variety of programs to advance financial literacy. Visit gucu.org to learn more and follow the credit union on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

*Photo of Mathew Sigunga, recipient of Georgia United’s $10,000 scholarship.