Spelling Bee sponsorship fits ‘roots in education’

Nusenda was founded to serve APS employees

For Nusenda Credit Union, sponsoring the 2019 Albuquerque Journal New Mexico Spelling Bee fits nicely within the company’s core values. “Our roots are in education,” says Robin Brulé, Nusenda’s chief community engagement officer. The credit union was founded in the 1930s to serve employees of Albuquerque Public Schools.

“Our mission is to create stronger communities where our members live and work through collaborative partnerships and we look for ways to improve and support education, health and economic outcomes,” says Brulé.

The is the second year Nusenda has been the title sponsor for the spelling bee.

Competition for spelling honors is scheduled for March 23 at Sandia Preparatory School for a variety of prizes. The winner will travel to Washington, D.C., in May for the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Nusenda Credit Union currently has more than 182,000 members and 20 branches in locations across the state.

The other spelling bee sponsors are the Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque Academy, The Education Plan and Instituto Cervantes.

Brulé says the credit union’s first experience with the spelling bee was a good one.

“We love to see enthusiasm for education,” she said. “Kids want to learn and it was really gratifying to see them working so hard to do the best they could do.”

Nusenda sees sponsorship of the spelling bee as another way for the credit union to participate with community members in the education of young people. The credit union sponsors other educational programs, including summer programs aimed to teach financial literacy.

As part of the sponsorship, Nusenda and the Albuquerque Journal cover travel expenses for the state spelling bee winner and a parent to attend the competition in Washington, D.C.