From left to right: Max Villaronga (TFCU CEO & President), Lillian Crouch (Chairwoman), Annessa Hernandez, Christopher Matthew Allen, Valerie Yanahi Cardona, June Urbina, Paulina Cruz, Damian Santiago Soto, Marisa Yanez, Andre Matthew Frigyes, and Ruben Avila (representing his niece Yasmine Olide).

Teachers Federal Credit Union continues tradition, awards $10k in scholarships

Staff Report August 26, 2019

El Paso’s Teachers Federal Credit Union (TFCU) continued their ten-year tradition and awarded ten talented students with $1,000 scholarships to continue their college education.

“TFCU’s roots have always been tied to education. In 1936, we began as a credit union made by educators, for educators. Our strong commitment to the community and education has remained a priority,” said Alex Yu, TFCU VP of Marketing. “For more than ten years, TFCU has offered student scholarships because access to education is crucial to help our city grow. ”

Applicants shared their GPA, extracurricular activities, and financial needs. For their writing sample, applicants were tasked to write a 500-word narrative on “People helping people” the philosophical foundation of credit unions, and how to apply it in our community.

Student responses varied from creating programs to raise the number of pet adoptions, to suicide prevention presentations.

The TFCU annual scholarship application is available starting in April and recipients are selected in August.

The scholarship was open to all TFCU account holders.

The 2019 TFCU Scholarship Recipients are:

Andre Matthew Frigyes

Second-year UTEP School of Pharmacy student.

Annessa Hernandez

Junior at Schreiner University majoring in Music Education.

Christopher Matthew Allen

Graduate of the Silva Health Magnet School, studying Biology at UTEP.

Damian Santiago Soto

Texas Tech Landscape Architecture major with a 4.0 GPA.