Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union (AAACU) recently gave away $25,000 to 25 Northeast Michigan students through their scholarship program.

AAACU was founded in 1953 to be a financial institution of the people, by the people, and for the people. Since then, they have grown to 10 branches in Alpena, Ossineke, Posen, Lincoln, Rogers City, Atlanta, Oscoda, Tawas City, and Cheboygan.

The credit union’s mission is to be their members’ most trusted and valued financial partner for life. The scholarship program is a part of that mission. Each year, AAACU aims to provide at least 10 $1,000 scholarships to students residing in Alpena, Alcona, Cheboygan, Emmet, Iosco, Montmorency,

and/or Presque Isle counties. This year, 38 students applied, and the AAACU Scholarship Committee selected the maximum of 25 students to receive the scholarships for the second year in a row. The students selected come from schools across Northeast Michigan and have a wide range of future plans, from four-year universities to trade schools and more.

The students selected to receive this year’s scholarships are: Alcona Community Schools: Baylee Goddard, Carter

Upper, and Peter Brege; Alpena High School: Aili Lee, Amanda Wentz, Ava Kolar, Avery Samp, Cassandra VanHorn, Cassia Marchinski, Connor Cameron, Jase Kollen, Nathan Parris, and Olivia Ryan; Cheboygan High School: Addison Baiel, and James Charboneau; Oscoda Area High School: Hannah Moore, and Josi Kellstrom; Posen Consolidated Schools: Andrew Budnick, and Aubrey Kowalski; Rogers City High School: Elizabeth Spens, Isabel Haselhuhn, Makhenna Smolinski, and Savannah Tulgestka; Tawas Area High School: Ellary Warner and McKenzie Nunn.

AAACU’s Scholarship Program is made possible by our Community Reinvestment Fund. These funds are comprised of dollars donated back into our communities thanks to credit union members who choose to receive their monthly statements electronically. The credit union pledged to donate $9 annually for each enrolled account, and in 2025, AAACU will donate up to $297,600 back into the communities they serve.