CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich - FreeStar Financial Credit Union awarded four outstanding high school seniors with $1,000 scholarships for Community Action and Military Honor.
The Community Action Scholarship recognizes students who are active volunteers in the community and exemplify the credit union’s principle of “people helping people.” Desmond Cribbs from Clintondale High School and Carina Willcock from Utica High School will receive $1,000 each as the Community Action Scholarship winners.
Cribbs volunteered at the Glen Peters Elementary School by helping disabled students, assisted at Clintondale High School’s blood drives, participated in the Relay for Life 24-hour cancer fundraiser, made caps for children at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, and assisted at several high school events. He plans to attend Western Michigan University for computer science or engineering.
Willcock volunteered for the Flint Water Drive, Project Linus by making blankets for hospitalized children, Gleaners Food Bank, Open Hands Pantry, tutoring and many more. Willcock plans to attend Eastern Michigan University to major in biology with an emphasis in wildlife and ecology.
The Military Honor Scholarship is awarded to members of FreeStar Financial Credit Union whose parent (one or both) are active military, reserve or veterans. Jerod Buchta from Troy High School and Carolynn Ross from L’Anse Creuse High School-North will receive $1,000 each as this year’s Military Honor Scholarship winners.
Buchta, whose father is in the Air Force at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, plans to major in biology and Spanish at Oakland University with plans to become an endocrinologist one day. His education choice was influenced by his personal situation of growing up with Type 1 diabetes. He plans to teach other diabetics how to manage and control the disease while bringing awareness to it.
Ross, whose father served in the U.S. Navy and Air Force for 33 years, will also attend Oakland University to study medicine. She plans to enlist in the Marine Corps to serve as a combat trauma surgeon so that she ‘can benefit men and women who are serving in the military.’
“We are proud to recognize Desmond, Carina, Jerod and Carolynn who have taken the time to assist the community and non-profit, charitable organizations,” said Drema Isaac, president/CEO. “These students have developed a pattern of helping in their community while maintaining academic excellence, and we are proud to recognize them.”