Member News

HARRISBURG, PA (JULY 11, 2023) – Belco Community Credit Union, headquartered in Harrisburg, PA, is proud to announce and congratulate the winners of its 2023 Elton “Miller” Peterman Scholarship for high school seniors and those continuing their college education. A total of $5,000 has been awarded to five central Pennsylvania students: three graduating high school seniors and two members who are continuing their college education.

“Financial literacy is one of the most important topics that our young people can learn and investing in our youngest Belco members at an early age is how we can make learning about finances fun, engaging, and habit-forming,” says Amey Sgrignoli, president & CEO of Belco Community Credit Union. “This scholarship program rewards excellence in all aspects of education, including one of life’s most important skills: understanding and taking control of our finances.”

Belco’s Scholarship Competition is open to all Belco members. The entry process was a simple essay question: “Financial wellness—how do you personally plan to achieve and maintain financial wellness?”

Belco had a record number of applicants with 133 total students, 67 who are pursuing continuing education, and 66 current high school students.

“This year’s Belco Scholarship submissions showed a tremendous recognition of the importance of financial wellness. The applicants shared how they paid attention to the advisement of their parents, teachers, and caregivers, saw what was happening in the news and marketplace, and engaged with their communities in areas they were passionate about,” says Dr. Tracey Jones, president of Tremendous Leadership. “Reading their essays gave me a great sense of encouragement. Their awareness of the problem of college debt, goals on how to avoid it, building up their credit scores so they can make life purchases at a great rate, and saving long-term for their retirements bode exceptionally well for this next generation of wage earners, future entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders.”

The 2023 scholarship winners are:

Ashley Murphy, Senior, York County School of Technology, York College

Lily Shriner, Senior, Delone Catholic, Virginia Tech

Sage Winters, Senior, Central Dauphin High School, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Nadia Walter, Forensic Science, Liberty University

Xavier Samuel, Law, Wesleyan University

“All the scholarship applicants were special in one way or another. Most were academically and athletically talented and were involved in school, faith, and community activities. Some had certain hurdles and challenges to overcome. Students selected for scholarships also put a lot of effort into crafting essays demonstrating their understanding of financial wellness. Exemplary essays presented detailed personal strategies for financial growth and stability,” says Susan Anthony, communications director of Susquehanna Township School District. “I liked learning that many students modeled their parents’ financial competencies as well as appreciated the credit union's financial literacy assistance.”

                         
To be eligible, applicants must be a Belco member, a graduating high school senior or a current college or technical school student and have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA. Scholarship recipients were chosen by an independent panel of judges including Dr. Tracey Jones, president, Tremendous Leadership; Susan Anthony, communications director, Susquehanna Township School District, and former editor of The Patriot News; Bonnie Cameron, executive administrative assistant, Vizo Financial (Corporate Credit Union); Lucinda Heller, retired Belco employee; and Elaine Knehr, retired Belco employee.

The scholarship program is named after Belco’s founding father and visionary Elton “Miller” Peterman. Peterman and several other employees of the former Bell Telephone Company pooled their funds to establish Harrisburg Belco Federal Credit Union in 1939.

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