As a leading not-for-profit credit union, GTE Financial continues to support education and young adults in the Tampa Bay area through its annual student scholarship program. A select committee of Tampa Bay's top professionals recently convened to select the recipients awarding 26 dedicated students with $3,000 scholarships, a total of $78,000 in award proceeds. The credit union will announce winners at the 12th annual scholarship awards banquet on August 1 at the TPepin's Hospitality Centre from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

"We at GTE are proud to recognize the hard work and dedication of these incredible students who understand the value of community and giving back," said Brian Best, President andChief Executive Officer. "We are fortunate to have a significant group of Tampa's community leaders who truly care about this program and are wholeheartedly dedicated to supporting our future leaders."

This year the program received over 750 applications from student members. With a total of 4,179 volunteer hours, students volunteered their time at various Tampa Bay non-profits, including the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Metropolitan Ministries, Goodwill, the Children's Cancer Center, and more. Recipients have an average of 160 volunteer hours serving in nearly every imaginable capacity, including at hospitals, summer camps, food banks, church ministries, animal shelters, and local cleanup efforts.

"I am incredibly thankful to GTE for selecting me as part of a group of hard-working and dedicated students who are on the path of changing the community around us," comments Kayla Tran, student scholarship recipient and pre-med student at the University of Florida. "This award will help me continue my educational journey and assist me in reaching my goal of entering the psychiatry field and contributing to a future where accessible healthcare truly encompasses the emotional, physical, and social economic needs of every person."

The judging committee comprises 19 diverse business and community leaders in industries ranging from health to finance and education, including co-chairs David Pizzo, President of Florida Blue, and Rhea Law, President of USF. Furthermore, GTE partners with an external firm specializing in sponsored scholarship programs that help to collect, organize, and store all applications.

The credit union raised its award fund in 2023 from $2,500 to $3,000 for individual scholarships to continue elevating its support of student members and their educational journeys. This year, for the first time, students in trade schools were also eligible to apply, expanding GTE's impact within the community even further. GTE will award the scholarship to 24 students seeking undergraduate degrees and two trade school students.

The GTE Student Scholarship award assists eligible high school seniors, undergraduate and trade school students with tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment needed to pursue an undergraduate degree. Requirements include an essay stating the student's experience in helping the local community and the impact of their involvement.