Students: $30,000 in Scholarships Available From GTE

Worried about the high cost of college, or the prospect of higher interest rates on student loans? GTE Federal Credit Union is stepping in to offer its student-members a helping hand.

The GTE FCU Foundation is adding a scholarship program to its community outreach endeavors this summer, awarding 12 scholarships and a total of $30,000 to students who qualify.

Beginning this month, the South Tampa-based company will be awarding the annual scholarships, worth $2,500 each, to high school seniors and undergraduate student-members, based on the following criteria:

• Merit of academic achievement
• Leadership promise and community involvement.
• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
• Strong demonstration of extra-curricular and community service activities.

“It’s a privilege at this time for our organization to have the resources to introduce a scholarship program and support our members and students,” said Cisco Malpartida Smith, GTE FCU’s AVP of Strategic Planning, in a media release. “$30,000 is a tremendous start, and we anticipate the program will grow substantially over coming years.”

GTE FCU will only be accepting applications online. Students interested in applying can do so now through July 6.

An independent committee of community members will be evaluating the submissions and selecting the recipients by July 31. Renee Vaughn, the first lady of The University of Tampa, will chair the panel of judges. Winners and their parents will be invited to attend an awards luncheon with GTE FCU’s Board and Executive Team on Aug. 2.

For those unable to apply by this deadline, the Foundation will begin taking applications again in January 2013. For full scholarship details or to apply, visit gtefcu.org/StudentScholarships.

For more information on the GTE Foundation, visit gtefcu.org/Foundation.