MADISON, Wis.–UW Credit Union has started a new Chancellor’s Scholarship Endowment Fund with a gift of $125,000 to bridge financial gaps for outstanding students pursuing educational goals at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The contribution to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor’s Scholarship Program through this fund assists students who might not have the financial means to continue their education.
“We’re honored to create another way to help students further their education at the University of Wisconsin,” says Paul Kundert, president and CEO of UW Credit Union. “Our new endowment fund continues our decade-long tradition of awarding scholarships annually to deserving students, helping them reach their potential through the world-class instruction and academic excellence that University of Wisconsin System schools offer. It’s exciting to see their achievements and know that we were instrumental in helping them attain their academic goals.”
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor’s Scholarship Program assists academically talented ethnic minority scholars and individuals from underrepresented groups. Students receive a financial award with the scholarship and are also guided with advising, leadership development and mentorship.
After establishing a fund for scholarships in 2008, UW Credit Union said it began its contributions to the Great People Scholarship Program, providing students access to educational opportunities that lead to a lifetime of personal enrichment. Recipients who receive financial assistance from the fund would otherwise be unable to attend college due to financial obstacles.
“Generous contributions to programs like the Great People Scholarship are made possible with an endowment fund balance of more than $1.5 million,” the credit union said. “This makes UW Credit Union the largest fund holder in the program, ready to provide merit and need-based scholarships to students who face economic challenges.”
In total, UW Credit Union has contributed more than $1 million to University of Wisconsin Foundation scholarships since 2008, presenting 225 scholarships to students valued at over $410,000 since 2010.