News Release The Credit Union Association of

4200 Wolcott Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michael Barrio April 24, 2017 202.656.5812 [email protected]

New Mexico Credit Union Education Foundation Scholarship Awarded for 2017/2018

Scholarship Opportunities Extended to Students Statewide

Last week, the New Mexico Credit Union Education Foundation (NMCUEF) announced that 175 students have been selected to receive the 2017-2018 New Mexico Credit Union Education Foundation Scholarship. The 175 students were selected from a pool of more than 500 applications from across the state.

Each year, NMCUEF awards postsecondary scholarships to deserving students across the state 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 175, $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 2018 will be February 26, 2018.

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 2018.

This year’s NMCUEF Scholarship winners are: ALBUQUERQUE: Jessica Veleta – Southwest Valley Academy Ryan T. Williamson – UNM CUBA: Nola Bartlet – Albuquerque High School Taylor E. Williamson - UNM Michael V. Baty – ENMU Leticia Salaz – Cuba High School Jessica Belmares- Ortega – UNM ARTESIA: Stephanie Sanchez – Cuba High School Hector Alexis Carriool Cabada – UNM Adela Castaneda – Elsa J. Martinez - UNM DEMING: Diego Elio Chavez – UNM Ryan Downs – UNM BELEN: Gladys Ramirez - NMSU Karina Galarza – Albuquerque High School Sabrina D. Garcia – UNM Casey Hoyt – UNM – Valencia DEXTER: Jiovanni Gomez – Atrisco Heritage Academy Stephanie Perales – UNM – Valencia High School Gabriella Saiz – Belen High School Kaylee Caudill Ibel Daniela Grimaldo – Atrisco Heritage Alexis Silva - UNM Zachary T. Lopez Academy High School Kayla McDonald Chris Hirani – UNM BOSQUE FARMS: Jill James – CNM EL PRADO: Daniella Jamison – UNM Hannah Fitzgerald – Hope Christian School Caitlan Johnson – Santa Fe Community Natalie Holden - UNM College CABALLO: Celest Knight – UNM EL RITO: Randy Ko – UNM Robert Aragon – NMSU Arjun Kumar Tandon – NM Tech Kylie M. Gallegos - NMSU Ashley Martinez – NM Highlands University CAPITAN: Brandon Terrazas – Northern NM College Benjamin G. Martinez – UNM Ivett Martinez – South Valley Academy Lizbeth Quiroz – Capitan High School ESPANOLA: Yazmen McCaskill – NMSU Lizbeth Medina – South Valley Academy CARLSBAD: Lesly Bencomo – Northern NM College Cesar Miranda – UNM Arianna Fierro – Northern NM College Eduardo A. Montanez – Valley High School Jennica Granger - NMSU Michael J. Gonzales – NM Tech Carmen Pena-Hernandez – Atrisco Heritage Abigail Hervol - UNM Anicia Koller – NMSU Academy High School Colton Montano – Carlsbad High School Amanda Salazar – Northern NM College Alyssa Peters – UNM William A. Powell – UNM CHIMAYO: FAIRVIEW: Karina Quintana – UNM Jayson Bustos – McCurdy Charter School Rebecca Y. Quintana – UNM Alexis Trujillo – Espanola Valley High School Lucas Gallegos - UNM Darian Reid – UNM Sophia Rico – CLEVELAND: FARMINGTON: Sol Roybal – Atrisco Heritage High School Warren Roybal – Mora High School Rachel Ruckman – UNM Isaiah Urioste – Farmington High School Anthony Salazar – NM Tech CLOUDCROFT: Maria Angelica Salazar – Albuquerque High FLORA VISTA: School Dalton Wright – NM Tech Kallie Samora – UNM Cristin Songer – Aztec High School Raquel Sanchez – UNM CLOVIS: Stacy Sandoval – NM Tech GALLUP: Bernadette Santistevan – UNM Sebastian E. Eisenbraun – UNM Courtney Schmidt – Volcano Vista High Paden P. Hagler – ENMU Kathleen Silva Leon – NMSU School Marcos P. Torres – UNM CORRALES: Ivan Toya – Southwest Indian Polytechnic Alexis Trujillo – CNM Jacob Chavez - UNM

HAGERMAN: NARA VISA SAN FIDEL:

Kemberly Mendoza – ENMU Jerome Earle – Logan High School Leslie Vallo – NMSU - Grants Thalia E. Pantoja – ENMU OHKAY OWINGEH: SANTA CRUZ: HOLMAN: Martha Tenorio Dominguez – Northern NM Alexa Rose Padilla – Northern NM College Genoveva Hurtado – NMSU College SANTA FE: LAS CRUCES: PENASCO: Estevan Anaya – Santa Fe Community Dante Avalos – NMSU Irene D. Panas – Northern NM College College Kyle Bensley – NMSU RAINSVILLE: Akeisha Ayanniyi – UNM Mikaela Bruhn – NMSU Sarah R. Barela-DeJesus – NM Highlands Santi Louis Bachicha – Santa Fe Community Sarah B. Grubel - NMSU University College Guadalupe Lara – Gadsden High School RANCHOS DE TAOS: Abigail L. Beagle – Santa Fe Community Haley Maio – NMSU Pauline Estrada Oaxaca – UNM –Toas College Justin David Hosea – UNM – Toas Veronica Burrola – Santa Fe High School LAS VEGAS: Zoe Hutson – UNM Isaiah Dominguez - UNM Denise M. Lopez – UNM – Toas Justin Flores – UNM Austin Herrera – NM Highlands University Bernadette Miera – UNM – Toas Linda M. Garcia – UNM Nathan L’Esperance – UNM Rocio Munoz Aragon – UNM – Toas Jacqueline Garcia Rodriguez – UNM Liam Lopez- Montoya – West Las Vegas High Cathleen Gomez School RATON: Marisa R. Graham – UNM Christina Padilla – Robertson High School Brandon MacAllister – UNM Brandi Rodarte – UNM Lauren Romero – Raton High School Edwin Ochoa – UNM Elicia Trujillo – NM Highlands University Dustin L. Stevens – Raton High School Brandy Olivas - NMSU Felicia Sandoval – NMSU LOGAN: RIO RANCHO: Micah Sulich – Santa Fe High School Edith Torres – Pojoaque Valley High School Brinton Michael Roach - ENMU Britteny Anderson – UNM Alicia Pauline Trujillo – Santa Fe High School Allison Cooke – UNM Kayla Trujillo – UNM LOS LUNAS: Emily House – UNM Emmalee Johnston – UNM Sarahi Boyso – UNM – Valencia Nickolas Macedo – Hope Christian High SANTA ROSA: Cevin Clarke – NM Tech School Sara Griego – Valencia High School German Sanchez – UNM Maria G. Crisostomo – Santa Rosa High Juan Lopez – UNM – Valencia School Natalie Mascarenas – Valencia High School ROSWELL: Steven Tenorio – CNM Victoria Troyer – UNM Emilio M. Ulibarri – Santa Rosa High School Eric Weh – UNM Marcus Bohlin – Western NM Univeristy Greg A. Wortman – UNM Steven Gray – University of the SW SPRINGER: Bryan Joseph Green – UNM LOVING: Karin Corinn Mims – UNM Anthony G. Romero Jr. – NM Highlands Annajita Rubio - ENMU University Jacqueline Pierce – Loving High School Irene Solano – Loving High School SALEM: TAOS:

MILAN: Rene Omar Rodriquez – Hatch Valley High Tracy Bell – UNM – Toas School Ashley Grant - UNM Dana Eicher – NMSU - Grants SAN CRISTOBAL: TESUQUE: MORA: Mariah Bianca Medina – UNM Feliz Watson – UNM April Gallegos – CNM Brandi Jade Vasquez – Mora High School

TIERRA AMARILLA: TORREON: VADO:

Cheyenne Law - NMSU Angela Akridge – UNM Alondra Gonzales – Alta Vista Early College HS TIJERAS: TUCUMCARI: VAUGHN: Sofia N. Hoskins – East Mountian High Ashlee Bradley – UNM School Kayla Cherry – Tucumcari High School Senaie Castillo – Vaughn High School Kyla Martinez - NMSU TULAROSA: WINSTON:

Joseph Seth Zamora - NMSU Colt Welty – NM Tech