First Credit Union Awards Educator Grant and Four Scholarships to Arizona Students

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on April 21, 2025

First Credit Union President and CEO Jay Curtis addresses scholarship recipients and their families during a special reception held at the credit union’s corporate office on April 17.

First Credit Union announced the latest recipients of its College Scholarship Program and Youth Financial Education Grant, awarding four scholarships to graduating high school seniors and one grant to a Phoenix-area educator. The awards are part of the credit union’s ongoing commitment to financial education and community development.

The $1,929 scholarships – symbolically tied to the year First Credit Union was founded – were awarded to students from four different Phoenix-area high schools. Each recipient is a graduating senior and member of the credit union who is planning to pursue higher education at an Arizona college or university.

This year’s student recipients include:

• A graduate from West Point High School, attending Northern Arizona University to study General Education.

• A Desert Vista High School student, pursuing a degree in Finance and Mathematics at Arizona State University.

• A McClintock High School student planning to attend Chandler-Gilbert Community College before transferring to the University of North Dakota to study Aviation Management.

• A student from Arizona College Prep High School enrolling at ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business to study Corporate Accounting.

In addition to student scholarships, First Credit Union awarded a $1,000 Youth Financial Education Grant to Tiffany Denninger, a 4th and 5th grade teacher at Isaac Online Prep Academy in Phoenix. Denninger’s grant proposal emphasized the importance of introducing financial literacy at the elementary school level. Her program aims to equip young students with foundational money management skills that will support their academic and personal success.

“These programs are such a key piece of what sets apart a credit union from other financial institutions,” said Jay Curtis, President and CEO of First Credit Union. “Announcing these grants during Financial Literacy Awareness Month gives them special meaning, showing that it’s never too early to begin learning about saving and budgeting.”

Over the past 18 years, First Credit Union has awarded more than $61,700 in scholarships and education grants, benefiting 72 students and 6 educators across the state.

Posted in Arizona, Community Impact, Regional Member News.