LOCAL STUDENTS EARN SCHOLARSHIPS FROM BENCHMARK FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

WEST CHESTER, PA – July 16, 2015 – Benchmark Federal Credit Union has awarded scholarships to five area high school and college students who participated in its Scholarship Essay Contest. From 34 entries received this year (17 in each category), the following winners were chosen:

Graduating High School Seniors: (all from Perkiomen Valley High School in Collegeville, PA):
Hannah O’Brien, will attend University of Tampa
Shannon Beattie, will attend Lehigh University
Nicholas Capriotti, will attend AMDA (American Musical & Dramatic Academy)

Graduating high school seniors were asked to submit an essay on the topic: The Importance of Maintaining Good Credit: How Will the Way I Handle My Credit Today Affect My Future? Each winner will receive a $4,000 scholarship ($1,000 during the fall semester of his or her first four years of higher education).

Existing College Students:
Rachel Hampton, Philadelphia, PA, attending Dartmouth College
Meagan Meyers, Ijamsville, MD, attending Goucher College

Existing college students were asked to submit an essay on the topic: If you could be present for an event in American history, which event & why? Each winner will receive a $1,500 scholarship.

“Going to college is a significant expense,” says David LaSala, President and CEO of Benchmark, “and we’re here to help our members with financial solutions. We began offering scholarships in 2007 to recognize outstanding students in our field of membership, while also encouraging financial literacy.”

About Benchmark Federal Credit Union
Since 1940, Benchmark Federal Credit Union has provided its members with complete financial services including free checking accounts, vacation and holiday club accounts, loans, certificates, money market accounts and individual retirement accounts at three conveniently located branches in West Chester, Great Valley, and Collegeville. Benchmark also offers home banking, online bill payer, account-to-account transfers (A2A), remote deposit anywhere (RDA), mobile banking (FREE apps for iPhone & Android), direct deposit, and instant issue debit/ATM cards. As of April 10, 2015, we expanded our field of membership and now anyone who lives, worships, works, or attends school in Chester County, PA is eligible to join Benchmark FCU. For more information, call (610) 429-1600 or visit www.benchmarkfcu.org.

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Photo #1: Hannah O’Brien (left) of Collegeville, PA, winner of a $4,000 scholarship from Benchmark Federal Credit Union, receives a piggy bank from Rebecca Worthington, Benchmark’s Marketing Director.

Photo #2: Shannon Beattie (2nd from right) and her family celebrate her graduation from Perkiomen Valley High School in Collegeville, PA and her $4,000 scholarship from Benchmark Federal Credit Union.

Photo #3: Nicholas Capriotti (left) and Hannah O’Brien, both graduates of Perkiomen Valley High School in Collegeville, PA, will each receive a $4,000 scholarship from Benchmark Federal Credit Union.

Photo #4: Benchmark Federal Credit Union $1,500 scholarship winner Rachel Hampton (Philadelphia, PA) on camelback in the Moroccan desert in North Africa.

Photo #5: Benchmark Federal Credit Union has awarded a $1,500 scholarship to Meaghan Meyers of Ijamsville, MD (pictured at the Eiffel Tower).

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Media Contacts:
Ellen Langas, NouSoma Communications
Office: 610-658-5889 • Cell: 610-256-2946 • ellen@nousoma.com

Kristen Stewart, NouSoma Communications
Office: 610-658-5889 • Cell: 215-508-3004 • Kristen@nousoma.com