Patriot Federal Credit Union’s Richard E. Baumunk Memorial Scholarship for 2021 has been awarded to Caroline Poole, from Greencastle, Pennsylvania, attending Waynesburg University in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. Poole will study Education and has a goal of securing a teaching position in a second grade classroom where she wants to make an impact on children by getting them excited about learning.
Poole was selected from amongst 12 applicants. Graduating seniors in the areas served by Patriot Federal Credit Union, who meet specific requirements, are eligible to apply for the scholarship. The student must be planning to attend an institution of higher learning immediately after graduation. The winner receives a $2,500 scholarship awarded over 2 years, with the second year’s distribution contingent upon a first year GPA of 2.5 or higher.
“We’re proud of our commitment to our young members to help them create a better financial future,” said Brad Warner, President/CEO of Patriot Federal Credit Union. He further added, “Providing support to send a young adult on their way to college is a wonderful way to share the spirit of our past board member, Mr. Baumunk, who strongly believed in education as a roadmap to financial freedom.”
To qualify for the scholarship, Caroline met the minimum requirements including being a member of Patriot, a 2019 high school graduate with a GPA of 2.5 or higher, having been accepted as a full-time student at an institution of higher learning and carrying 12 credit hours or more.
Each applicant submitted a 300 – 500 word typed essay entitled, “My Credit Union is Important to Me Because…”.Judges for the scholarship included the son and daughter of Mr. Baumunk, David Baumunk and Marcia Johnston as well as John Kilduff, Corporate Affairs Officer at Patriot.