LAFCU Awarding $10,000 in College Scholarships

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU is now accepting entries for its unique 2022 Write to Educate Essay Contest. The contest awards $10,000 in college scholarships and donates $2,000 to charities in the names of the winners.

Four high school seniors will each receive a $2,500 scholarship to an accredited Michigan college or university. Each will also select a charity to receive a LAFCU donation of $500.

The entry deadline is March 31, 2022.

Winners will be selected based on their one-page essay that examines their experiences during the coronavirus pandemic. Other factors, such as academic grades and financial need, are not considered.

“The essay is an opportunity for students to reflect on their high school successes and their future plans despite the extraordinary challenges caused by the pandemic,” said Kelli Ellsworth Etchison, LAFCU chief marketing officer and chief diversity officer. “And because there are no other factors in determining the winners, everyone starts on a level playing field.”

Winners will each select one of these charities to receive a $500 LAFCU donation:

• Capital Area Humane Society

• Capital Area United Way

• Greater Lansing Food Bank

Ellsworth Etchison explained, “The charity donation supports the credit union philosophy of ‘People Helping People’ and demonstrates the power of giving back — an important concept for the state’s next generation of leaders.”

Winning essays will be published in the Lansing State Journal, community sponsor of the contest.

Entrants must be a Michigan high school student and do not need to be a LAFCU member. The Lansing-based credit union is chartered to serve people and businesses throughout Michigan.

Information is at www.lafcu.com/writetoeducate where entries can also be uploaded.

2021 winners

In 2021, LAFCU made a $2,000 donation to the charity selected by all four winners: CASA for Kids. The winners and their respective colleges are:

• Tatiana Mason, Lansing, Central Michigan University.

• Abbey Peters, Olivet, Olivet College.  

• Teagan Sanders, St. Johns, Michigan State University.

• Jessica Wang, Okemos, University of Michigan.                                      

CASA for Kids provides trained volunteers to advocate for children who are under court jurisdiction due to abuse and neglect in Barry, Eaton and Ingham counties.

About LAFCU

Chartered in 1936, LAFCU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative open for membership to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Michigan and to businesses and other entities located in Michigan. The credit union serves more than 69,000 members and holds nearly $938 million in assets. It was named a Best Credit Union to Work For in 2020. LAFCU offers a comprehensive range of financial products and services as well as an expanding complement of financial technology solutions. Members enjoy benefits such as low fees, low interest rates on loans, high yields on savings, discounts, knowledgeable employees and nationwide access to fee-free ATMs. A recipient of the national Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award for credit unions, LAFCU enriches the communities it serves by