More than 60 Inland Empire students are among the recipients of SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union’s 2025 scholarships.
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, which serves school employees and their families, has awarded $210,500 in college scholarships to 248 students as part of its Member Education Award scholarship program for 2025, according to a news release.
Most of the 2025 winners live in California, with a few students representing other U.S. states. This year’s scholarship recipients include 158 high school seniors, 50 college freshmen and 40 college sophomores.
The program, launched in 2000, awards scholarships each year to eligible graduating high school seniors and to college freshmen and sophomores, to help cover the cost of books, tuition and other educational expenses. Scholarships are awarded based on students’ grade-point average, difficulty of courses completed, letters of recommendation, community involvement, school involvement and leadership positions, according to the news release.
All applicants must be SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union members with their own member number, must have completed no more than 60 college credits and must be registered at an accredited college or university for the upcoming fall term. Awardees can reapply each year if they continue to meet the applicant criteria.
“For more than 25 years, the Member Education Award scholarship program has honored well-rounded students who demonstrate success in the classroom while also contributing in a positive way to their communities,” Josh Smith, vice president for school and community relations for SchoolsFirst, said in the news release.
Scholarship recipients are:
• Riverside: Valeria Aguilar, Sara Copple, Viena Estrada, Amber Gallardo, Madison Garthe, Alexandria Grossi, Catalina McCarron, Richard Padilla, Viviana Perez, Ayleen Puente.
• Corona: Giselle Aguilar, Gianna Garza, Rylee Lingwall, Rebecca Nakamura, Jaclyn Paul, Elyse Proctor, Toby Proctor, Mason Torres, Alil Washington.
• Eastvale: Christopher Dianela.
• Jurupa Valley: Jesus Ochoa, Yennhi Truong.
• Moreno Valley: Albert Herrera.
• Hemet: Xavier Bennett Aquino.
• Lake Elsinore: Kevin Garcia, Eva Kemle.
• Menifee: Justin Allen, Mia Domiccio, Jarrett Johansen, Kendra Johansen, Alankrita Kumar.
• Murrieta: Landon Archuleta, Hailey Negro, Jaide Yim.
• Temecula: Ryan Duncan, Owen Parsley.
• Cathedral City: Lorelei Beyronneau.
• Desert Hot Springs: Sophia Marquez.
• Palm Desert: Shafaa Munjal.
• La Verne: Marina Cole-Gutierrez, Nadia Cole-Gutierrez.
• Chino: Alessandro Gibbs, Angelo Gibbs, Cecil Howell, Ruben Lecaro.
• Chino Hills: Evie Lizarraga.
• Pomona: Jonathan Gonzalez.
• Rancho Cucamonga: Aiden Gutierrez, Adelaide Mills.
• Upland: Hannah Flores, Jade Garcia, Kaelyn Swanger.
• Fontana: Santiago Iniguez, Valeria Iniguez, Arnulfo Orozco Jr.
• Highland: Olivia Elgan.
• Redlands: Sierra Mason.
• Yucaipa: Cristina Dickason, Lillie Loomis.
• Lancaster: Atianna Franklin, Alejandro Galindo, Trinity Wood.
• Victorville: Amani Alcazar.
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union was founded in 1934, when 126 school employees pooled $1,200 and established a member-owned cooperative to help improve each other’s lives. It now has nearly $34 billion in assets, according to the news release.
For information, go to schoolsfirstfcu.org.
