The Credit Union Foundation of the Dakotas (CUFD) announced this week they have awarded twenty Dakota Credit Unions Financial Scholarships. This is the third consecutive year that the CUFD has provided $10,000 in scholarships to high school seniors and current college students who are credit union members.

A panel of eight judges selected the students based upon volunteer experience, school activity involvement and an essay written by the students: “How has your credit union affected both you and your family?” The students plan to use their scholarships to pursue or continue their degrees in higher education.

The $500 individual awards were presented to the following North Dakota and South Dakota students.  

The recipients for North Dakota are:

• Iris Jessen of Minot is a recent high school graduate and a member of GEM Federal Credit Union.
• Kelsey Kosiak of Wishek is a recent high school graduate and a member of First Community Credit Union.
• Ian Nash of Dilworth, Minn. is a recent high school graduate and a member of Postal Family Federal Credit Union.
• Lydia Nelson of Hillsboro is a recent high school graduate and a member of Postal Family Federal Credit Union.
• Alyssa Nishek of Ellendale is a current college student and a member of Dakota Plains Credit Union.
• Breanna Olson of Forbes is a current college student and a member of Dakota Plains Credit Union.
• Isaiah Reis of Ellendale is a recent high school graduate and a member of Dakota Plains Credit Union.
• Rayna Rice of Minot is a recent high school graduate and a member of Town & Country Credit Union.
• Tyra Steinwand of Edgeley  is a current college student and a member of Dakota Plains Credit Union.
• Kellie Welte of Larimore is a recent high school graduate and a member of First Community Credit Union.

The recipients for South Dakota are:

• Makayla DeDeyne of DeSmet is a current college student and a member of Dakotaland Federal Credit Union.
• Alexandria Dunker of Wall  is a recent high school graduate and a member of Black Hills Federal Credit Union.
• Earl Foster of Bethel, Minn. is a recent high school graduate and a member of M-O Federal Credit Union.
• Hayden Hegg of Huron is a recent high school graduate and a member of M-O Federal Credit Union.
• Landon Hegg of Huron is a recent high school graduate and a member of M-O Federal Credit Union.
• Megan Linke of Woonsocket is a recent high school graduate and a member of Dakotaland Federal Credit Union.
• Grace Nelson of Madison is a recent high school graduate and a member of East River Federal Credit Union.
• Anthony Peters of Madison is a recent high school graduate and a member of East River Federal Credit Union.
• Autumn Wilkinson of DeSmet is a recent high school graduate and a member of Dakotaland Federal Credit Union.
• Jaicee Williams of Wall is a current college student and a member of Black Hills Federal Credit Union.