JACKSON, Tenn. (June 18, 2019) – Leaders Credit Union, a member-owned financial cooperative based in Jackson, Tenn., is committed to investing in the communities they serve through their Champion Scholarship Program. The late Mrs. Martha Britt served for over 30 years in the Jackson-Madison County School System and was instrumental in promoting educational opportunities for local students through her involvement with the Board of Directors and scholarship committee at Leaders. These awards are given in her honor and champions like her who help their communities move forward. Each award is given to a student who portrays leadership in their school and community and who are members or related to a member of Leaders Credit Union. This year, Leaders Credit Union is proud to collectively award over $10,000 to seven deserving students.  

“Our Champion Scholarships honor both our past and our future here at Leaders Credit Union,” said Todd Swims, President and CEO of Leaders Credit Union.  “We are proud to be a small part of these students’academic journeys toward success and look forward to seeing them excel in the future.”

The Financial Wellness Video Scholarship awards $2,500 to a student who provides a video application detailing the importance of financial literacy. Noah Simpson, a graduate of Madison Academic High School, was awarded the Financial Wellness Video Scholarship for his production of a short video highlighting tips for financial fitness to his peers. Video submissions were voted on by the public on Leaders Facebook page and Noah’s video engaged over 11,000 viewers in West Tennessee. 

The Leaders Founders Scholarship honors Leaders’ founding membership group, the Jackson-Madison County School System, with one $1,500 scholarship to a student within JMCSS. The student who is receiving the Founders Scholarship is Katelyn Thornton, a graduate of Madison Academic High School.

Leaders also awards $1,500 Community Scholarships to students in Madison County, Bartlett, Obion County, Gibson County, and all other areas served by the credit union. This year, the community scholarship winners are Shelby Exline (South Gibson County High School), Wilson Harris (Union City High School), and Ansley Wofford (Sacred Heart of Jesus High School).  

Leaders Credit Union was able to award two additional $1,000 scholarships to two deserving Leaders members who are current college students. Each student is enrolled in local programs in West Tennessee. This year, the students receiving these scholarships are Brooke Woodard (University of Memphis-Lambuth) and Melissa Craigie (Jackson State Community College).

Recipients were honored and publicly recognized at Leaders’ Member Appreciation Night at the Jackson Generals ballgame on June 15, 2019.

About Leaders Credit Union

Leaders Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative headquartered in Jackson, Tenn. Leaders was established in 1957 by five Jackson educators and has grown to over 50,000 members and eight branches across West Tenn. As one of the largest and most stable credit unions in the nation, Leaders exists to serve the needs of its members and lead the way on their behalf. Leaders was awarded the 2018 Best Place to Bank and Best Mortgage Service by Jackson Sun’s Readers’ Choice Award and the 2018 Best Place to Bank by the Bartlett Express. Leaders is an Equal Housing Lender and is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration.  For more information about Leaders Credit Union, visit their website.