NM Credit Union Education Foundation awards $153K in scholarships to NM Students

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 20, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As students from across New Mexico begin to make college and career plans, the New Mexico Credit Union Education Foundation (NMCUEF) today announced that 153 students have been selected to receive the 2016-2017 New Mexico Credit Union Education Foundation Scholarship. These 153 students were selected from a pool of more than 400 applications from across the state.

Each year, NMCUEF awards postsecondary scholarships to deserving students across the state who are seeking to improve their individual lives, the lives of their families, and their communities through a demonstrated commitment to academic success. Selected winners must be New Mexico residents and meet a number of requirements, including grade point average and full-time enrollment. In recognition of a dedication to academic achievement, NMCUEF this year awarded 153, $1,000 scholarships to student across New Mexico.

"We know that education is a powerful tool for change and improvement," NMCUEF Administrator Amy Vigil said. "Each of the NMCUEF scholarship winners has demonstrated a clear commitment to improving their own lives and communities through a purposeful dedication to academic success. This year's scholarship recipients could be New Mexico's next leaders, individuals with the commitment, drive, and education to make a positive impact in their respective communities, and New Mexico at large."

The NMCUEF is a unique scholarship program formed through special legislation that allows credit unions to use abandoned funds for educational or charitable purposes. Since it was established in 1992, the NMCUEF has presented 1,552 scholarships, for a total of $1,195,600, to students attending accredited vocational or technical schools, colleges or universities in New Mexico. Scholarship winners can use their NMCUEF scholarships to help offset the cost of their postsecondary education.

"We are excited and proud to award these scholarships to these students, to support their pursuit of education and the exploration of their individual career paths," Vigil said.

The deadline to apply for a New Mexico Credit Union Education Foundation Scholarship for study in the fall semester of 2017 will be February 26, 2017.

Visit the Credit Union Association of New Mexico's website to learn more about the recipients, see their photos, and read a few words about their hopes and aspirations, or to download applications for Fall 2017.