Neighbors Way Scholarship Awards $50,000 to 15 Local Students

BATON ROUGE, LA (May 28, 2020) — The Neighbors Capital Area Foundation has granted $50,000 to 15 graduating students in the Greater Baton Rouge Area. This is the third year of the Neighbors Way Scholarships, and the program has awarded a total of $95,000 thus far.

• Mia-Miracle Craig – Baton Rouge HS $20,000 (4-year scholarship)
• Alissa Clemmons – Central HS $5,000
• Jailynn Johnson – Baker HS $3,500
• Bryce Hudson – Scotlandville HS $2,500
• Emma Grace Spencer –Dunham $2000
• Tyler Clemmons – Port Allen HS $2000
• Parker Giering – Live Oak HS $2000
• Song Dam – Broadmoor HS $2000 
• Me-Gann Adolfo – Lee Magnet HS $2000 
• .Avery Olinde – Walker HS $1500 
• Mounina Abderrahmane – McKinley HS $1500 
• Amaria Green – Southern University Lab $1500
• Kassie Salling – Parkview Baptist $1500
• Mya Alford – Woodlawn HS $1500 
• Madison Miller – Denham Springs HS $1500

“While their final semester certainly didn’t go the way they had planned we are excited to assist in their continued education,” Neighbors President and CEO Steve Webb said. “It’s given us great pleasure to watch this program grow over the years providing more opportunities for these outstanding students.”

The scholarships were announced through a virtual awards ceremony Friday.

Schools participating in the Neighbors Mascot Checking Program were invited to nominate one graduating senior to receive the scholarship, formally named the Neighbors Way Tuition Assistance Award. The Mascot Checking Program created customized checking accounts that provide money for the respective school for each debit card swipe. In 2018, this program raised $61,183 for participating schools.

Schools nominated students based on their character and commitment to living the “Neighbors Way.” Nominated students exemplified the credit union’s core values including: Integrity, Respect, Trust, Stability, Community Involvement, Honesty, Empathy, Ethical Behavior and Fairness.

Funds for the program are raised through three major avenues. The first is Neighbors’ employee payroll donation program. The second avenue is from the foundation’s annual fundraiser, Clays for a Cause. The third source comes from Neighbors FCU’s Free Cash Back Checking account, which provides five cents to the foundation for every qualified debit card purchase. The remainder of the funds were generated from miscellaneous fundraisers and direct contributions from NFCU.

Neighbors Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative operating as an association dedicated to "people helping people.” A handful of educators started Baton Rouge Teachers in 1954 with a shoebox, a couple hundred dollars and the goal of making financial services available to school system employees in our area.