5 San Diego County Students Receive Wheelhouse 'Badge Of Honor' Scholarships

SAN DIEGO, CA — Five San Diego County students have received $1,000 scholarships from Wheelhouse Credit Union recognizing their families' first responder service.

The five recipients of the credit union's 2026 Badge of Honor Scholarships recently graduated from local high schools and plan to attend college this fall.

The scholarship program, now in its seventh year, is open to students whose parents, grandparents or legal guardians serve in law enforcement, fire protection, health care or emergency medical services in San Diego County.

This year's recipients are Nadia Gibbs of Oceanside, Lila Hand of Carlsbad, Sydney Harris of Poway, Kyra Imperial of Chula Vista and Avery Wahl of San Diego.

Gibbs, a graduate of El Camino High School, is set to attend San Diego State University. Hand, a Carlsbad High School graduate, will attend MiraCosta College.

Harris, who graduated from Poway High School, will attend Creighton University. Imperial, a Chula Vista High School graduate, is set to attend San Diego State University, while Wahl, who graduated from Cathedral Catholic High School, will attend the University of Mississippi.

Their family members include an occupational therapist, Escondido police officer, Rady Children's Hospital physical therapist, operating room nurse and San Diego police personnel.

"Every year, we're reminded of the sacrifices first responder families make, often quietly and behind the scenes," said Wheelhouse President and CEO Lisa Paul-Hill. "This year's recipients have grown up watching a parent or grandparent answer the call, and it shows in who they've become — driven, grounded and ready to make their own mark."

Students were selected based on academic achievement, recommendations, an essay about the influence of their family's first responder and their commitment to making a positive impact at school and in their communities.

The Badge of Honor program complements Wheelhouse's Sustainability College Scholarship Program, which was established in 2005 to support graduating high school seniors. Wheelhouse said it has awarded $147,000 in scholarships to San Diego County students through the two programs.