Maps Credit Union Awards $58,000 in Scholarships

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on July 22, 2024

Oregon-based Maps Credit Union announces its annual scholarships totaling $58,000 were awarded to 25 Marion and Polk County high school students to support their post-secondary education. The scholarships, awarded in June, are to local students from across the Mid-Willamette Valley region including Salem-Keizer, Silverton, Woodburn, Mt. Angel, Turner, and Monmouth.  

After starting out as a teacher’s credit union almost 90 years ago, Maps is committed to supporting education and life-long learning. Maps is proud to award scholarships each year to exceptional local high school seniors who are selected based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, demonstrated leadership and community involvement, financial need, and application responses.  

“This year we received over 175 applications, and narrowing it down to 25 winners was challenging. Each of this year’s recipients is truly inspiring. Their academic excellence, school involvement, and dedication to their families and communities really stands out,” said Kim Hanson, Executive Director of Maps Community Foundation, who directs the annual scholarship program. “We’re honored to support these exceptional local students as they continue their educational journeys.” 

Scholarships range in size from $1,000 to $3,500. Several scholarships are designated for students of color, students who are the first generation in their family to attend college, and career and technical education students. Two of the largest scholarships, the Phil Frey Memorial Scholarship ($3,500) and the Gordon Sawser Memorial Scholarship ($3,500) are given in honor of former Maps board members.   

In this diverse group of students, many students are the first in their families to seek a college education, all are active in their communities, and all have a desire to give back.   

Here are just a few of the many exceptional graduating seniors who received scholarships from Maps Credit Union for the 2024-2025 school year:  

• Hanna Krahmer of Cascade High School and Willamette Career Academy will attend Linn-Benton Community College to major in Agriculture Business Management and Diesel Technology.  

• Emma Swartzfager of Central High School will attend Western Washington University to pursue a degree in Psychology with a minor in Dance.  

• Lai Saephanh of McKay High School will attend Chemeketa Community College to major in Nursing.  

• Bryn Ulven of Silverton High School will attend Oregon State University and major in Human Development and Family Sciences.  

• Areli Torres of Woodburn High School will attend George Fox University to major in Nursing.  

• Lucas Kimsey of West Salem High School will pursue a degree in Business Management at the University of Oregon. 

Six of the winners participated in their school’s business program and worked with Maps’ high school branches at McKay and West Salem high schools. The winners include: Stephanie Valdovinos Rodriguez, Ginger Jokon, and Candy Gracia of McKay and Logan Skipper, Lucas Kimsey, and Andrew O’Dell of West Salem.  

For a full list of winners, click HERE.

Posted in Oregon, Regional Member News.