Orange Student Receives Scholarship From Connex Credit Union

Press release from Connex Credit Union:

June 25, 2020

After reviewing nearly 100 applications, Connex Credit Union has selected three local students as the 2020 winners of its annual scholarship program. Offered as part of its ConnexCares philanthropic initiative, the credit union awards $6,000 each year to help offset the high cost of tuition, books and living expenses.

To qualify, students were required to meet a strict set of educational standards and submit an essay answering the following question: “If a Personal Financial Basics class was required for students, what topics do you think would be most important for students to learn about and why?”

Derek Faulkner of Guilford was awarded the $2,000 John R. Edwards Community Involvement Scholarship. Derek is majoring in Environmental Systems & Sustainability Studies at Southern Connecticut State University. He also currently serves as vice president of the university’s Geography, Environmental and Marine Science Club and is involved with a variety of organizations centered around environmental and community concerns including CitySeed, SCSU’s Office of Sustainability and Sunrise Movement CT.

Gianna DiLorenzo of Ansonia was awarded the $2,000 Arthur B. Haesche Memorial Scholarship. Named in honor of one Connex Credit Union’s founding members, this scholarship is given annually to a student majoring in business or finance. Gianna is currently a star student at Coastal Carolina University majoring in accounting with a 4.0 GPA. She has always been active in the community, serving as a volunteer with the Ansonia Youth Cheerleading Association and as a mentor and field day volunteer for the local elementary schools.

Lauryn Giuliano of Orange was the recipient of the Nicolas G. Hackett Memorial Scholarship, an award named in honor of a longtime volunteer at Connex Credit Union. Lauryn is currently majoring in Psychology at Southern Connecticut State University, where she maintains a 4.0 GPA while serving as a presidential student ambassador and mathematics peer mentor. In high school, Lauryn also completed more than 415 hours of volunteer service working with organizations such as the West Haven Animal Shelter and Lockett’s Meadow Rescue Farm.

This press release was produced by Connex Credit Union. The views expressed here are the author's own.