Creating brighter financial futures for Downriver residents is at the core of Community Focus Federal Credit Union’s mission.

“We have developed initiatives that focus specifically on supporting education efforts in our community,” said Marketing Manager Magdalena Kadlitz. “One of these programs is our Community Focus Federal Credit Union Scholarship, offered to graduating high school students from the Downriver area.”

“We are very fortunate that we can offer scholarships to our local high school students,” added Vice President of Operations Andrew Gregoire.

This year, Community Focus Federal Credit Union is offering six $1,000 scholarships to 2024 graduating high school students.

“We welcome applicants from all high schools located Downriver including Allen Park, Brownstown Township, Ecorse, Flat Rock, Gibraltar, Grosse Ile, Huron Township, Lincoln Park, Melvindale, River Rouge, Riverview, Rockwood, Southgate, Taylor, Trenton, Woodhaven, and Wyandotte,” Gregoire said. “Applicants do not have to be members of Community Focus Federal Credit Union. Our scholarship application is open to students who choose to pursue their post-high school education by either studying at a university, community college or a vocational school. We believe that this way our program supports equity, diversity and inclusion for all. We are simply giving back to the community that our credit union is a part of.”

In 2023, Community Focus Federal Credit Union was able to grant $1,000 scholarships to six brilliant students who truly embodied the spirit of the credit union's philosophy of people helping people, along with outstanding academic achievement and leadership qualities.

• Kyla Campbell – Woodhaven High School (Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University – Music)
• Brooklyn Guyzik – Roosevelt High School (Central Michigan University – Early Childhood Education)
• Nickolas Manolias – Carlson High School (University of Michigan – Biochemistry)
• Siya Patel – Carlson High School (University of Michigan – Business)
• Morgan Penn – Taylor High School (University of Michigan – Aerospace Engineering)
• Jacob Smiegel – Roosevelt High School (Wayne State University – Life Sciences)

“We realize that the senior year in high school is stressful and our goal is to alleviate some of that burden by offering a scholarship process that’s uncomplicated and quick,” Kadlitz said. “In developing the program we consulted with a number of counseling departments at the high schools located Downriver and decided to streamline the application by taking out requirements that previously could have hindered students from applying such as, for example, GPA or community service. This year’s scholarship application asks students to address the following question: Tell us about a time where you had a belief or an idea that was challenged and how that has influenced your development.”

Entries can be submitted in the form of an essay or a short video by March 15, 2024. Community Focus FCU scholarship application is available online at www.communityfocusfcu.org/scholarship