Winning essays reflected on how their hometowns have molded, impacted them
LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU is proud to announce the winners of the 2024 Write to Educate Essay Contest: Vivian Hansen (Pinckney High School), Thomas Hays (Napoleon High School), Antonio Rojas (East Lansing High School) and Elvis Vue (Waverly High School).
This year’s winners were selected based on their compelling one-page essays, which explored how their hometowns shaped their identities and contributed to their personal growth.
“This year’s essay topic encouraged entrants to reflect on how their hometowns were integral to their personal stories, shaping and influencing who they are today,” said Alyssa Troub, LAFCU marketing and communications specialist. “Vivian, Thomas, Antonio and Elvis did an extraordinary job capturing the significance of their hometowns and the pivotal roles these places played in their lives.”
The Michigan credit union will award $5,000 in college scholarships to each of the four winners, totaling $20,000. Additionally, LAFCU will donate $2,000 to charities selected by the winners.
“It is an incredible honor to be selected for this scholarship,” said Antonio Rojas. “This generous award will be a huge help towards my education. I am also happy that money will be donated to Cristo Rey so that they can continue to help others. I hope to one day be in a position where I can help others as LAFCU has helped me.”
The winners, their chosen colleges, and selected charities are:
- Vivian Hansen, Pinckney High School (Brighton, MI)
- College/University: Eastern Michigan University
- Charity Chosen: Bountiful Harvest Pantry
- Thomas Hays, Napoleon High School (Jackson, MI)
- College/University: Michigan State University
- Charity Chosen: Jackson Community Foundation
- Antonio Rojas, East Lansing High School (Lansing, MI)
- College/University: University of Michigan
- Charity Chosen: Cristo Rey Community Center
- Elvis Vue, Waverly High School (Lansing, MI)
- College/University: Ferris State University
- Charity Chosen: Hmong Family Association
"I feel forever grateful for being selected as a scholarship recipient,” said Vivian Hansen. This scholarship brings me one step closer to achieving my future dreams."
The winning essays were published in the Lansing State Journal, community sponsor of the contest. The essays are also available at www.lafcu.com/writetoeducate.
The annual LAFCU Write to Educate Essay Contest is open to all Michigan high school students. A LAFCU membership is not required. However, the winners must attend a Michigan university with the awarded scholarship. Next year’s Write to Educate Essay Contest will open in winter 2025.
About LAFCU
Founded in 1936, LAFCU (pronounced laugh-cue) is a not-for-profit, member-owned credit union open to all who live, work, worship or attend school in Michigan, and to Michigan businesses. LAFCU serves more than 74,000 members and holds over $1 billion in assets. With a particular focus on serving people of modest means, LAFCU is committed to enhancing its members' financial well-being and creating long-lasting positive change across generations. Awarded the prestigious Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award, LAFCU is known for its people-helping-people mission, which has led to award-winning financial literacy programs for all ages. Honored as a national ‘Best Credit Union to Work For’ and recognized globally for its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, LAFCU stands out for its commitment to creating an inclusive workplace. Learn more at www.lafcu.com.
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Photo captions
1-LAFCU_WritetoEducate_2024Winners.jpg — (L to R) Antonio Rojas (East Lansing High School), Elvis Vue (Waverly High School), Vivian Hansen (Pinckney High School), and Thomas Hays (Napoleon High School).
2-LAFCU_Write2Educate Graphic.jpg – LAFCU will award $5,000 in college scholarships to each of the four winners, totaling $20,000. Additionally, LAFCU will donate $2,000 to charities selected by the winners.
