TAMPA, Fla.– GTE Financial awarded 36 local deserving high school and undergraduate students with scholarships as part of its annual initiative to invest in the education of the community’s future leaders.
Each student was reviewed and selected for their dedication, and commitment to their school and communities, and received a $2500 scholarship at an awards luncheon at TPepin’s Hospitality Center.
“We are pleased to recognize and reward students we believe will be tomorrow’s leaders,” said Brian Best, CEO, and President of GTE Financial. “These students have completed hundreds of hours of volunteer work and have made a positive impact in their communities. Through their academics and helping those in need, they are creating a footprint in the future.”
At the event, scholarship recipients such as Amber Pirson, who is fighting against international human trafficking, were recognized. The funds from the scholarship will pay for the Intensive Thai Language Program at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok which will enable her to continue working with the shelter in Chiang Rai and understand human rights issues, such as human trafficking and food insecurity.
“When I learned about the major risk factors of human trafficking in Thailand, I was angered that someone my age could fall prey to a trafficker and be stripped of their autonomy due to a lack of resources (systemic poverty and debt) or knowledge of their human rights. As a result, I asked to join a trip to Thailand and organize the lessons related to trafficking prevention,” Amber Pirson, a USF student and GTE Financial scholarship recipient.
Separately, GTE Financial said it has achieved Gold Level recognition in the American Heart Association’s Workplace Health Achievement Indexfor taking significant steps to build a culture of health in the workplace.
In the past year, GTE Financial added wellness time off to its already robust employee benefits package, which pays staff for up to four hours to conduct any wellness activity they may need. The credit union has also developed an internal program called GTE LiveWell. The program was designed to engage employees, bringing them one step closer to their wellness goals.
“It is an honor for us to be recognized for developing a healthier place to work for our employees,” said Jasiel Legon, SVP, chief talent officer for GTE Financial. “We are very proud to offer programs that are engaging and designed for their overall wellness advancements.”