CU in the community
Soo Co-op Credit Union Awards College Scholarships
Soo Co-op Credit Union (SCCU) recently awarded four college scholarships to help student member-owners meet higher education goals through the Nick Gerrish Scholarship Program.
SCCU began establishing the Nick Gerrish Scholarship over 30 years ago as a benefit to member-owners attaining a post-secondary education. For the 2020 awards, scholarship applicants were asked to write a brief essay describing future career goals and how scholarship funds would help meet those objectives. "We are honored to offer scholarships to a set of individuals whose achievements show great potential for leadership in SCCU member-owner communities," said Lynda Ellis, President/CEO SCCU.
The three recipients of $2,500 scholarships are Sidney Wilkins, Sophie McConkey, and Katja Wilhelms. The Bay Mills Community College Scholarship is awarded each year to an SCCU member-owner that attends Bay Mills Community College. A scholarship in the amount of $1,500 was awarded to Cole Brehm.
More than $226,000 has been awarded to credit union members since 1986 through the Nick Gerrish Scholarship Program.
Photo Caption
Left to right: Sophie McConkey, Katja Wilhelms, Sidney Wilkins, and Cole Brehm. Applications for the Nick Gerrish Scholarship for the 2021/2022 school year will be available in January 2021
a matching grant to War Memorial Hospital for Life-Saving Personal protective equipment.
Soo Co-op Credit Union has been able to provide War Memorial Hospital with life-saving Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which will be utilized to protect patients and employees. This purchase was made possible with a matching grant from the Michigan Credit Union League Foundation and Soo Co-op Credit Union.
For weeks, the dedicated team at WMH has been working to increase their inventory of PPE. There have been supply and cost challenges given the pandemic. While no one can predict the exact extent to which this virus will impact our community, they have been preparing for the days ahead. With support from community partners like Soo Coop Credit Union, the hospital will be better equipped to stay ahead of the demand. “With the help of the Michigan Credit Union League Foundation, Soo Coop Credit Union was able to increase the supply of Facemasks, Disinfectant Solution, Face Shields, Goggles, Gowns, and Gloves”, said Mary Lynch, Marketing Director Soo Co-op Credit Union.
“Credit unions are mission-driven to support the financial health of families and communities we serve and we are stepping up even more during this unprecedented time.” SCCU President/CEO Lynda Ellis said “Soo Co-op Credit Union is pleased to assist with this outreach activity by providing PPE to our local health system. The support of our Eastern Upper Peninsula community is critical to bringing and keeping the best possible medical care right here, close to home.”
“WMH would like to thank SCCU for their generous donation which we used to help purchase Personal Protective Equipment for our front-line staff who will be treating potentially COVID-19 positive patients. With this donation, we are able to provide a safer working environment for our employees and help prevent a further spread of the virus. Our entire team is very appreciative of this support from SCCU, said David Jahn, CEO War Memorial Hospital.”
