Scholarships Support Children of San Diego County First Responders
San Diego CA— Wheelhouse Credit Union (Wheelhouse) has awarded eight $1,000 “Badge of Honor” Scholarships to college-bound students to honor the heroic efforts of San Diego County’s first responders and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The scholarships were given to rising college freshmen with a parent/grandparent/legal guardian who is an active member of law enforcement, fire protection service, healthcare or EMT in San Diego County.
Four North County students received Badge of Honor Scholarships for demonstrating leadership, public service, and a desire to make an impact on their schools and communities.
“We want to congratulate all of the recipients for their hard work and outstanding efforts as they prepared for college, finishing their high school education during the Covid-19 Pandemic. It was especially touching to read the tributes they wrote about their “first-responder” parents who clearly made an impact on their lives,” said Wheelhouse President/CEO Lisa Paul-Hill. “Not only are these first responders heroes to all of us, they are also a source of inspiration to their families. We know the incredible sacrifices these individuals and their families are making to help protect our communities, and are proud to honor them. We know each of our scholarship recipients has an exciting college career ahead, and wish them the very best of luck.”
| Recipient | School | City | Family First Responder |
| Nathan Austin | Ramona High School | Ramona | ICU Staff Nurse & MRI Technologist |
| Lainey Bowler | West Hills High School | Santee | Director of Surgical Services |
| Chiara Curnow | Fallbrook High School | Fallbrook | Flight Nurse |
| Madalyn Garnica | Bonita Vista High School | Chula Vista | Fire Dispatcher |
| Danielle McCauley | Carlsbad High School | Carlsbad | School Nurse |
| Ethan Rosado | Liberty Charter High School | Lemon Grove | Law Enforcement |
| Trevor Wahl | Cathedral Catholic High School | San Diego | Law Enforcement |
| Christina Wooden | Canyon Crest Academy | San Diego | Nurse Practitioner |
Beyond having a parent, grandparent or legal guardian as a first responder, all recipients recently graduated from San Diego County high schools with plans to attend an accredited college. Award criteria included academic achievement, letters of recommendation, an essay about the first responder in their family, and a desire to make an impact on their schools and communities.
The Badge of Honor scholarships are in addition to the Credit Union’s annual College Scholarship Program, which was created in 2005 to support high school seniors in San Diego County. Since the creation of these programs, Wheelhouse has awarded $86,000 in scholarships to local students.
About Wheelhouse Credit Union
Wheelhouse Credit Union (formerly San Diego Metropolitan Credit Union) is a federally insured, state chartered credit union founded in 1934 serving more than 21,000 community members in the greater San Diego area. Wheelhouse is “San Diego Made and Proud,” providing a full suite of consumer banking services and a comprehensive set of Energy-Efficient and Solar Loan products for the conscientious San Diegan. The Credit Union is committed to helping its Members succeed while supporting initiatives that help San Diego thrive. Please visit wheelhousecu.com for more information, or follow the Credit Union on Instagram®, Facebook® and Twitter®.