USA Federal Announces 2007 College Scholarship Awards Totalling $12,000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

San Diego, Calif., June 22, 2007– USA Federal Credit Union today announced $12,000 in total college scholarships for 2007. The eight recipients, who each received $1,500 scholarships, live in California, Nevada, and Japan. Two of the scholarships were funded by the Prime Meridian Association of San Diego.

“This was a difficult competition because each of the applicants was truly outstanding,” said Mary Cunningham, “We know these scholarship winners are the best and brightest because they already demonstrate high scholastic achievement, athletic prowess, music, and community service. All of them are remarkable and distinguished. We are eager to see how they positively impact our nation and the world.”

The scholarships were awarded under two memorial programs at USA Federal Credit Union. The Martin P. Cassell Scholarship is named after USA Federal’s former-CEO. The Cdr. Timothy R. McMaster Scholarship is named after a long-time USA Federal Board member who died in 2006. Applicants must meet the following criteria:

The 2007 Scholarship Award winners are (alphabetically by region):

SAN DIEGO

Nicholas Chambers, Rancho Bernardo High School - $1,500. Distinguished as an AP Scholar (2006), National Society of High School Scholars, and achieving a 3.92 high school Academic GPA, Mr. Chambers also found time to earn a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Karate. He hopes to attend Stanford University and become a computer scientist for the FBI.

Chelsea Mojtahed – Junipero Serra High School (Tierrasanta) - $1,500. Chelsea demonstrates wide ranging excellence via her Girl Scout Leadership Award, Diabetes Camp Wannakura volunteering, and the Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Year (2005) while earning a 4.5 weighted high school GPA. She plans to attend Cal-Poly University San Luis Obispo.

NEVADA

Sarah Sta Ana, Liberty High School, Las Vegas, NV - $1,500. Sarah is a member of the Nevada All-State Academic Team, received a Scholar Athlete Award (Track and Basketball), and earned the highest weighted GPA of any 2007 applicant: 4.687. She plans to attend UNLV in the Fall and is weighing her career direction for a while.

OVERSEAS

Allora Bellanger, Yokota High School - $1,500. Allora exemplifies consistent leadership as National Honor Society President, Varsity Captain in three sports, and homeless feeding projects while earning a Presidential Award for Academics, a National Young Leaders Award, and a cumulative 4.04 high school GPA. She wants to attend Pepperdine University (CA) to study Kinesiology.

Thomas Harwell, Robert Edgren High School, - $1,500. Thomas led his school as President of the student government, Captain of the Tennis Team, Keystone Club President and President of the National Honor Society. He was named Misawa Airbase Youth of the Year in 2006 and 2007. Despite all his activities, Thomas earned a 4.10 GPA and plans to attend Texas A&M University. His career goal is not yet clear but he has “winner” written all over him.

Valerie Jones, Robert Edgren High School, $1.500. Valerie shows balance in athletics and academics. As Varsity Captain of her volleyball team, she also served the JROTC (Corps Commander), Student Council, and National Honor Society. Her high school GPA of 4.33 is the second highest of the winning scholarship applicants. She plans to become a Nurse Practitioner once she has finished a college degree at the University of Florida.

Jordan Spencer, Robert Edgren High School, $1,500. Robert has every ability a future leader might want: musical talent (Far East Honors Music Festival, 5 years in Advanced Band), athletics (Tennis, Soccer team), writing ability (Newspaper and Yearbook Club), academics (NHS, National Society for High School Scholars, President’s Award for Excellence, four years). When not otherwise involved, he earned a solid 3.86 GPA. His goal: To become a licensed pilot after attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

James Threatt, Yokota University, $1,500. James is a leader. He was President of each of his high school classes, successively. As an athlete, he excelled in Football and Soccer (Team Captain in 2007). He volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Mongolia, edited his school yearbook, won a Japan ASCD Scholarship, and is noted in the Honor Society of High School Scholars. With his 4.16 cumulative GPA, he plans to attend Stanford University (CA) to possibly obtain a medical degree and work with Doctors Without Borders.

     Founded in 1953 at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, USA Federal offers a full range of financial services, including business services and consumer savings, checking, mortgage and home equity loans, auto loans, debit and credit cards, share term certificates, IRAs and a 24-hour phone center.
     Online services include eStatements, QuickConnect Online and Bill Pay, as well as online loan applications and approval. Additional services include the BALANCE financial fitness program and investment and retirement planning offered by MEMBERS Financial Services.
     With more than 59,000 members and over $700 million in assets, USA Federal Credit Union operates 22 branches, including locations in San Diego and Riverside Counties, Las Vegas, Japan and Korea. Members of the non-profit financial cooperative include the military, civilians and select employee groups.
     USA Federal Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. For more information, call (800) 220-1USA or visit www.USAFedCU.org.

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Note: USA Federal maintains the above information for archival purposes, which is presumed accurate upon release, however, data may become outdated over time and affect accuracy.