Peach State FCU Awards $161,000 in Scholarships

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA (May 10, 2017) – Peach State Federal Credit Union is proud to announce the winners of over $161,000 in scholarships and educational grants.  Peach State was founded by educators more than 55 years ago and remains dedicated to supporting teachers and students. Since 2002, Peach State has awarded more than $1.1 million in scholarships and educational grants. Credit union staff and representatives from the Board of Directors gathered with the recipients to celebrate their achievements with a dessert reception.   The following is a list of scholarships that were awarded.

Twenty-two $2,000 Career Advancement Scholarships, including the newly created Wilma Widmer Career Advancement Scholarship were awarded to members to assist in their continuing education in honor of the credit union’s founders.

• Jamie Bonds | Clarke County Schools
• Elizabeth Brown | Rockbridge Elementary School
• Chiquita Calhoun | Augusta State University
• Wilma Widmer Career Advancement Scholarship: Dane Callahan| Youth Middle School
• Caitlin Cohen | South Gwinnett High School
• Merca Berry-Covert | Mill Creek High School
• Leonard Coverdale
• Joni Gill | East Central Regional Hospital
• Tonia Harbin | Bear Creek Middle School
• Emma Harris | Five Forks Middle School
• Kimberley Harris | Shiloh High School
• Ebony Jones | John M. Tutt Middle School
• Van Em Lyan Mang
• Jennifer Mincy | South Gwinnett High School
• Keren Padilla | Parkview High School
• Kristin Roberts | Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology
• Allye Smith | Grace Snell Middle School
• Bryce Smith | Trip Elementary School
• Ashley Ware
• Angela Williams | Shiloh High School
• Joshua Woodworth | Buford Elementary School
• Claire Zingleman

Legacy Student Scholarships were awarded to nine high school seniors who will be attending college to pursue a degree in education and plan to return to Georgia to teach. These $2,500 scholarships were established in honor of past and present board members and employees who have served Peach State for 20 years or more.

• Amanda Arboleda | Dacula High School
• Courtney Butler | Loganville Christian Academy
• Tyler Kenyon | Grayson High School
• Zachary Kusch | Brookwood High School
• Malcolm Jones | Meadowcreek High School
• Kayla McKenzie | Berkmar High School
• Makenna Mellott | Mill Creek High School
• Clara Sulek | Mountain View High School
• Annelen Zorn | Peachtree Ridge High School

Eleven $2,500 school system and community honoree scholarships were awarded as a tribute to the following school systems and leaders:

• Marion Barnes | Ashley Oaks, John S. Davidson Fine Arts School
• Anderson Byers | Elcia Nelson, Jackson County Comprehensive High School

• Rick Cost | Madison Richardson, Duluth High School

• Dan Cromer | Grace Gerely, Apalachee High School

• Gracewood Student Scholarship | Malachi Walden, T.W. Josey High School

• Gary Hobbs | Katheryne Story, Walnut Grove High School

• Dr. John Jackson | Ansley McClain, Oconee County High School

• Brian J. Mulherin, Sr. | Rahmel A. Gordon, A.R. Johnson Health, Science & Engineering Magnet School

• Louise Radloff | Victoria Bigbee, Collins Hill High School

• Richmond County Teachers Student Scholarship | Brittany Mills, A.R. Johnson Health, Science & Engineering Magnet School

• J. Alvin Wilbanks | Jocelyn Bryant, Grayson High School

Two $2,500 scholarships were awarded in honor of the lifetime achievements of Janet Pomeroy and Pearlie Woods to Clarke County high school graduates on the basis of financial need, academic credentials, and a demonstrated commitment to community service.

• Jasmine Jimenez | Clarke Central High School
• Tyrique Dunn | Cedar Shoals High School

Peach State is also proud to support the following educational institutions with a combined total of more than $62,000 in scholarships and educational grants in 2017:

• Athens Technical College
• Georgia Gwinnett College
• Gwinnett County Public Schools
• Gwinnett Technical College
• University of North Georgia

“These scholarships are just one way that we honor and remain connected to our education-based foundation. Our dedication to the growth of education in our community through these scholarships and grants grows each year,” remarked Peach State President/CEO, Marshall Boutwell.  “We’re proud of this important tradition.”

About Peach State Federal Credit Union

Peach State is a $355 million credit union that serves more than 49,000 members in Barrow, Clarke, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Jackson, Oconee, Richmond and Walton counties in Georgia and Aiken County in South Carolina. As a financial cooperative, Peach State’s mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of its member-owners. For more information, visit www.peachstatefcu.org.