Credit Union Awards $80,000 in Scholarships

TAMPA, FLA - Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union Foundation announces its higher education scholarship recipients. This year marks the largest amount of awarded scholarship money since 1992, when the Foundation began providing need and merit-based scholarships to graduating high school seniors.

Within the 15 counties served by the credit union, 1,035 high school seniors submitted applications. The scholarships, which were available beginning in January on the credit unions website, include a $10,000 renewable scholarship to a senior attending a four-year university, a $6,000�per year�scholarship for two years to a senior followed by a $10,000 renewable scholarship for two years, and two $4,000 scholarships to seniors attending a vocational or technical program. Scholarship recipients for 2013 include: $10,000 scholarship, renewable for four years: Evelyn Philistin, Lorenzo Walker Technical High School in Collier County $6,000 scholarship, renewable for two years, followed by a $10,000 scholarship, renewable for two years: Jack Burns, Fivay High School in Pasco County $4,000 scholarship for a vocational or technical program: Kara Luedke, Lorenzo Walker Technical High School in Collier County Bruce Wilson, Jr., Pasco High School in Pasco County "Each student stands on impressive merit, and were confident they can withstand the demands of further education," says Mary Tlachac, executive director of�Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union Foundation. "We believe they will be leaders in their own right and make positive contributions to the greater community one day and that is the goal." Since 1992, the�Foundation�has donated more than $9 million to various childrens charities and has awarded nearly $930,000 in scholarships. The Foundation is sponsored entirely by Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union, allowing 100 percent of funds contributed to go directly to the organizations and initiatives that assist children in the communities the credit union serves. About Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union, chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, operates 53 full-service branches and serves over 550,000 members in the following Florida counties: Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sumter. With assets of more than $5.5 billion, Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union is the largest credit union in the state of Florida and the 15th largest in the United States.�For more information visit:�suncoastfcu.org�or�facebook.com/suncoastschoolsfcu