Freedom First Credit Union is proud to announce the recipients of $6,000 in scholarships to local students, including a new $1,000 scholarship in partnership with the Cabell Brand Center for Global Poverty and Resource Sustainability Studies.

Derek Lituek of William Fleming High School and Kristen Obenchain of Blacksburg High School each received a $1,000 Charles Perkins Scholarship. Both of these outstanding young people plan to attend Virginia Tech.

Freedom First awarded its $1,000 Fritz Kehn Scholarship to Lucas Tyree for the third year in a row. The Salem High School graduate recently earned a degree in agriculture at the University of Hawaii and is attending graduate school at Yale University. Tyree is the first person in his family to attend college, and once he finishes his studies he plans to teach sustainable agriculture practices to the Monacan tribe in Virginia.

The Credit Union awarded the $1,000 City of Salem/Frank Turk Scholarship to Vickie Sword, who is studying business management in Averett University’s adult/accelerated program while working full time in the City of Salem’s recreation department.

Lord Botetourt High School graduate Andrew R. Long was awarded the $1,000 2012 Torie Phillips Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by the Credit Union, in recognition of his exemplary character and academic achievement. He will attend Virginia Tech.

The Credit Union has expanded its scholarship program through a partnership with the Cabell Brand Center to support students whose goals include “working towards the common good.” The first student to earn the $1,000 FFCU Cabell Brand scholarship is Franklin County High School graduate Tray A. Arthur, who plans to attend Virginia Western Community College.

For more information about the scholarships offered by Freedom First Credit Union, visit freedomfirst.com.

– Submitted by Laura Mitchell, Freedom First Credit Union