LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU is accepting applications for its unique 2021 Write to Educate Essay Contest beginning Feb. 1. The contest awards $10,000 in college scholarships and donates $2,000 to charities in the names of the winners.
Four high school seniors will each receive a $2,500 scholarship to an accredited Michigan college or university beginning fall 2021. Each winner selects a charity to receive a $500 donation from LAFCU. The entry deadline is March 31, 2021.
Applicants are asked to write a one-page essay that examines the long-term effects of the coronavirus pandemic on society, addressing such topics as human interaction, education, the economy, tourism, etc. Winning essays will be published in the Lansing State Journal, community sponsor of the contest.
“Every Michigan high school senior qualifies for this contest because winner selection is based solely on their one-page essay,” said Kelli Ellsworth Etchison, LAFCU chief marketing officer and chief diversity officer. “This supports the LAFCU belief that education is key to community success and that higher education should be within reach of anyone with the passion to pursue it.
“Through the essay, we’re asking applicants to examine how the pandemic will likely affect our way of life going forward. Gauging the future is an essential life skill. It’s the first step in assessing how they might fit into that future, which may influence their educational choices.”
Each winner will select one of the following charities to receive a $500 donation from LAFCU:
• CASA for Kids Inc.
• Weekend Survival Kits
• Girls on the Run Mid Michigan
Applicants must be a student at a Michigan high school and do not need to be a LAFCU member. The Lansing-based credit union is chartered to serve people and businesses throughout Michigan.
Information is at www.lafcu.com/writetoeducate where entries can also be uploaded.
About LAFCU
Chartered in 1936, LAFCU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative open for membership to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Michigan and to businesses and other entities located in Michigan. The credit union serves more than 68,000 members and holds over $848 million in assets. It was named a Best Credit Union to Work For in 2020. LAFCU offers a comprehensive range of financial products and services as well as an expanding complement of financial technology solutions. Members enjoy benefits such as low fees, low interest rates on loans, high yields on savings, discounts, knowledgeable employees and nationwide access to fee-free ATMs. A recipient of the national Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award for credit unions, LAFCU enriches the communities it serves by supporting many organizations and causes. To learn more about LAFCU, call 800.748.0228 or visit www.lafcu.com.