GLCU Foundation for Financial Empowerment Awards Eight $2,500 Scholarships

NewsMay 30, 2025

CHICAGO, Ill. (May 30, 2025) –The GLCU Foundation for Financial Empowerment, in partnership with Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU), is pleased to announce the eight exceptional recipients of its annual Member Scholarship program. Two of this year’s recipients are GLCU employees. 

Each student will receive a $2,500 scholarship to further their education at an accredited technical school, trade school, or a four-year college or university. The program exemplifies the credit union's commitment to supporting its members' educational development and financial wellness. By supporting their academic goals, GLCU and the GLCU Foundation are investing in the promising futures of its members and communities. 

"We’re excited to support these inspiring students as they embark on the next chapter of their educational and professional journeys," said Matthew Rizzie, Executive Director of the GLCU Foundation for Financial Empowerment. "We’re incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication, and commitment to their communities. We look forward to seeing the impact they’ll have moving forward." 

A reception was held at GLCU’s Bryn Mawr office on May 27 to celebrate the scholarship recipients. Matthew Rizzie, as well as GLCU’s President and CEO, Steve Bugg, and Patrick Basler, Chair for the Foundation and GLCU’s Chief Experience Officer, met the recipients and presented them with their certificates. 

The requirements to apply for the scholarship included being a GLCU member; planning to attend or currently attending an accredited post-secondary institution or technical vocational or trade school; and having a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA on a 4.00 scale. Consideration was also given to the applicants’ involvement in their schools and communities. 

Meet the 2025 GLCU Scholarship Recipients 

The 2025 recipients are Crystabel Appah, Carlos D. Chavez, Nathan Eng, Morgan Ghys, Claire Leonard, Addison Novotny, Adriana Rocha, and Brianna Rockingham-Humphrey. These deserving students were selected based on their outstanding academic achievements, community involvement, and dedication to their future studies. 

  • Crystabel Appah will be studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience and Spanish at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. 
  • Carlos D. Chavez will be studying Accounting at the College of Lake County. 
  • Nathan Eng will be studying Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 
  • Morgan Ghys will be studying Human Development and Family Studies at Iowa State University. 
  • Claire Leonard will be studying Agricultural Communications and Leadership at the University of Missouri. 
  • Addison Novotny will be studying Chemistry/Pharmaceutical Science at the University of Illinois Chicago. 
  • Adriana Rocha will be studying Business Administration at the College of Lake County. 
  • Brianna Rockingham-Humphrey will be studying Psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago. 

About GLCU and the GLCU Foundation for Financial Empowerment 

Founded in 1938 and headquartered in Northern Illinois, Great Lakes Credit Union is banking for a greater good. As a not-for-profit financial cooperative with more than $1.6 billion in assets, GLCU is proud to serve 115,000 members in Chicagoland and surrounding areas, and to give back to its members and communities through education, volunteerism, and partnerships, in collaboration with the GLCU Foundation for Financial Empowerment. Learn more about GLCU’s accounts, educational initiatives, and community development programs at www.glcu.org. 

The GLCU Foundation for Financial Empowerment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, committed to enhancing the financial wellbeing of its members, employees, and the community at large. It strives to enact positive change through financial literacy programs, donations, grants, sponsorships, and volunteer initiatives. To learn more about the Foundation, visit www.glcu.org/foundation. 

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