Livonia, MI (March 27, 2017) – Zeal Credit Union honored nine individuals with Hard Working Spirit Awards at its 62nd annual membership meeting. They were selected from 350 nominations received in nine different categories to recognize and reward people for their hard work and accomplishments.

“As the credit union for hard working Americans, Zeal knows that hard work is not often recognized,” said Lisa Fawcett, vice president of marketing for Zeal Credit Union. “We created the Hard Working Spirit Awards to celebrate people who go the extra mile. Whether that is a 60-hour work week, spending weekends volunteering for charities, or working around the clock as a loving parent, it’s all hard work and we recognize that.”

The 2016 Hard Working Spirit Award winners in the following categories include:

Civil Service--Carol Zarek, Livonia

            Community Superstar—LaTonya Meade, Detroit

            Medical—Stacey Page, Taylor

            Office—Marnie Bragg, Farmington

            Service Industry—Cherie Szilvagyi, Livonia

            Skilled Trade—Anthony Holbrook, Westland

            Teacher—Gabrielle Popp, Lincoln Park

            Unsung Hero—Christina Bowen, Allen Park

            Hardest Working Member: Regina Lee, Detroit

Nominations were made online by family members, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Members and non-members were also able to self-nominate. During Zeal Credit Union’s annual membership meeting in March at the Dearborn Inn, winners in eight of the categories were presented with award plaques and $100 in cash.

Regina Lee, winner of the top category of Hardest Working Member, received a prize-sized check for $1,000, an award plaque and bouquet of red roses.

Lee was nominated by her daughter Rogi Banks, who is pursuing a doctorate at Howard University in school psychology. Banks described the sacrifices her mother had made for her, her siblings and cousins that enabled them to have what she never had growing up. 

“This is only possible because I had a mother who showed me unlimited possibilities through faith, passion and perseverance,” said Banks.

“Reading through all of these heartfelt nominations brought many of our selection committee to tears,” added Fawcett. “It felt great to celebrate these unsung heroes and what they do, every day.”

Zeal Credit Union is a full-service, non-profit financial institution with more than 61,000 members, assets exceeding $555 million and 11 full-service branch offices in metro Detroit. Members also have access to more than 5,000 shared branches and nearly 30,000 ATMs nationwide. Member deposits are insured to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a U.S. government agency. For more information about Zeal Credit Union, visit the credit union website www.ZealCreditUnion.org or call 800-321-8570.