ALEC bright future scholarship winners
A round of applause for the winners of the 2024 ALEC Bright Future Scholarship Program.
In continuing our tradition of honoring academic excellence, ALEC is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s academic scholarships.
All of our winning students were awarded a $2,000 scholarship to help with their college expenses.
Parker Acosta
High School: Mandeville High School, Mandeville, LA
College: Mississippi State University
Major: Communications
Grade Level: Junior in College
Goal: “After earning my undergraduate degree, I intend to pursue a master’s in business administration. I plan to follow a career path in sports media and operations.”
Riley Vanness
High School: Muskego High School, Muskego, WI
College: University of Iowa
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Grade Level: Freshman in College
Goal: “My intent for post-secondary education would be to obtain a master’s degree in physician assistant studies to become a PA. My main goal is to develop my character and grow as a person, because I am not solely pursuing an education to obtain a degree, but to obtain the skills to help and assist people.”
Adityaa Rana
High School: Warren Township High School, Gurnee, IL
College: Purdue University
Major: Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
Grade Level: Freshman in College
Goal: “I aspire to intermingle with many different sectors of aerospace. I want to understand the principals and dynamics of flight fully and use that knowledge to work on and build planes that test new ideas.”
Rachel Garich
High School: Grayslake North High School, Grayslake, IL
College: Northwestern University-Illinois
Major: Economics
Grade Level: Freshman in College
Goal: “I will be pursuing a degree in economics at Northwestern University. After that, I plan on attending law school and, using the knowledge gained in my undergraduate education, becoming a lawyer representing those going through financial hardship.”
Bree Keck
High School: Crystal Lake Central High School, Crystal Lake, IL
College: Culinary Institute of America
Major: Baking & Pastries
Grade Level: Freshman in College
Goal: “While attending the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) I am looking forward to getting an internship at a very successful bakery and learning about the logistics behind opening and running a very successful bakery.”
In recognition of their accomplishments, we extend our congratulations to these exemplary scholars who proved their merits in and out of the classroom.
Each of the Bright Future Scholarship applicants were considered for academic performance, as well as demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities. Work experience and unusual personal or family circumstances were also factored in.
“In 2016, the Bright Future Scholarship Program was developed as an extension of the credit union’s long-term commitment to serve members and improve their financial health,” according to Joseph Trosclair, ALEC president and CEO.
“It’s extremely gratifying to help such deserving and inspiring students who at an early age are focused on their future and involved with their communities.”
Know a deserving student or students? Please make sure to tell them to become a member by visiting alecu.org or any ALEC Branch. Check back for details next spring regarding the 2025 ALEC Bright Future Scholarship Program!
