Each year, Del-One awards two $2,500 scholarships to qualified local high school seniors. Students must be a current senior in good standing at a Delaware high school with plans to attend an accredited college or university in the fall of the current year. Eligible students must also demonstrate community involvement and submit a short essay or video describing what they would do if they became CEO of the credit union and their plans to target young adults for membership. A high volume of submissions was received from talented students throughout the state, each offering thoughtful, forward-thinking ideas to connect with younger generations.
This year’s scholarship recipients didn’t just think like future CEO’s, they thought like community leaders, not only providing strategies to attract other students and young adults to the credit union but also demonstrating the importance of community engagement.
Lake Forest High School senior Rylan Rust highlighted the importance of leveraging technology and hosting workshops for financial education to build trust and make banking more personal and meaningful. Maintaining an impressive GPA, Rylan is also actively involved in a wide range of extracurricular activities including volleyball and softball, was Class Historian, and volunteered for a local pharmacy and as a Huddle Leader through the Fellowship of Chrisitan Athletes.
Kinte Tolson of Ceasar Rodney High School is also a remarkable student and athlete, involved in many activities including cheerleading, photography, yearbook, student council, and the Black Student Union. He also volunteered at local elementary schools and cheer clinics, and supported school events with his creative skills. Kinte’s essay focused on the desire to “create a place where people feel understood, represented, and empowered to take control of their financial futures”.
Both students were well-deserving of the scholarships, which focuses on Del-One’s commitment to supporting education and fostering the next generation of leaders.
Pictured: Rylan Rust of Lake Forest High School and Kinte Tolson of Caesar Rodney High School
Del-One Federal Credit Union has approximately $991 million in assets with full-service branch locations throughout Delaware and serves over 104,000 members. Visit www.del-one.org for more information.