Catholic Vantage Financial Awards $8,000 in Scholarships

Plymouth, Mich. (April 30, 2018) When 2018 graduating high school seniors applied for college scholarships at Catholic Vantage Financial (CVF), the credit union asked the students to provide more than their academic or career goals.

As a credit union that has a long history of supporting Catholic school education and values, CVF asked students to write a brief essay, along with provide a short video, about the role their faith played in their journey and how they would continue to grow their faith as an adult.

“We received many outstanding entries and were pleased to recognize students who demonstrate their faith every day,” said Emma Teller, CVF vice president of marketing and business development.

This year, CVF increased the number of college scholarships awarded to five. Receiving $1,000 each are:

Carissa Gidley, Stevenson High School, Livonia

Brandon Griffith, Novi High School, Novi

Brianna Regan, Stevenson High School, Livonia

Nicholas Rood, Catholic Central High School, Novi

Aaron Wiseman, Divine Child High School, Dearborn

Six scholarships of $500 each were also awarded to help cover tuition for students who attend Catholic schools. Receiving the two scholarships awarded to students in kindergarten through eighth grade are Francisco Fortune who attends St. Fabian in Farmington Hills, and Gianna Korsak who will be in first grade at St. Edith in Livonia.

Four scholarships were awarded to students who attend a Catholic high school. They include two students who will attend Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, incoming freshmen Mary Grace O’Dea and Juliana Santillan. Also receiving awards were Michael Argenta, who will be a junior at U of D Jesuit High School in Detroit, and Riley Johnson, an incoming sophomore at Marian High School in Bloomfield Hills.

Scholarship recipients and families were honored at CVF’s annual membership meeting in March.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to bring everyone together to experience the feeling of belonging to a credit union family with people who have the same values,” added Teller. “Like their families, teachers and parish, we are here for these students every step of the way.”

Catholic Vantage Financial is considered Michigan’s leading and most well respected Catholic Federal Credit Union. In addition to the credit union’s offices, ATMs and extensive online services, members have access to more than 5,000 shared branches and nearly 30,000 ATMs nationwide. Member deposits are insured to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a U.S. government agency. For more information and to learn how you can join, call 734-432-0212 or visit www.mycvf.org. 

Photo Caption: Catholic Vantage Financial 2018 scholarship winners were recognized at the credit union's annual membership meeting in March. Receiving a total of $8,000 and holding the check are scholarships recipients Gianna Korsak and Francisco Fortune (at front), who are joined by Aaron Wiseman (from left), Brianna Regan, Carissa Gidley, Brandon Griffith, Juliana Santillan, Mary Grace O'Dea, Board Chairman Michael Hammond, Michael Argenta and Nicholas Rood. Not pictured is Riley Johnson who was unable to attend.