$15,000 to be awarded to county students

WEST CHESTER » Benchmark Federal Credit Union has opened a call for entries to Chester County-area students as well as existing membership to compete for five college scholarships totaling $15,000.

Three graduating high school senior students will each receive a $4,000 scholarship. Two students currently enrolled in an accredited higher-education institution will each receive a one-time $1,500 scholarship toward their fall 2018 tuition.

“For almost a decade, we have been thrilled to present scholarship checks to students across the region as they pursue their dreams,” said David LaSala, Benchmark President and CEO. “Benchmark is committed to supporting financial success strategies throughout our Chester County community.”

All scholarship applicants must successfully answer the following: Pick an experience from your life and explain how it has influenced your financial development/well-being. Essays of up to 750 words are due by Friday, March 30, and will be judged by an independent panel of community and education leaders. Winners will be notified by April 27. The scholarship program is open to students who already are, or are eligible, to become Benchmark FCU members, and do so prior to the contest deadline. The minimal membership fee to join the credit union is $5. Rules, official cover sheet, and membership information can be found at www.benchmarkfcu.org.

As the only federal credit union to serve Chester County exclusively, Benchmark also provides a free, award-winning financial literacy curriculum in more than 59 public schools across Chester County. The interactive, online program aligns with state curriculum requirements for personal finance education. Students are exposed to real-life scenarios where they learn to pay bills, balance a budget, and manage unexpected expenses such as parking tickets, interest charges, and overdraft fees. The educational program also introduces students to auto loans, bank statements, entertainment costs, savings, and more.