San Diego CA— Wheelhouse Credit Union (Wheelhouse) is helping the next generation of environmental trail blazers by awarding five scholarships of $1,000 each to college-bound students through its annual Sustainability College Scholarship Program. In this year’s program, Wheelhouse recognized five graduating high school seniors in San Diego County who demonstrated leadership, public service, and a desire to make a sustainable difference in their schools and communities.
The 2020 Wheelhouse Sustainability Scholarship recipients are:
| Scholarship Recipient | School | City |
| Sophia Ippolito | Scripps Ranch High School | San Diego |
| Alexander “Alby” Penney | Patrick Henry High School | San Diego |
| Hailey Qasawadish | Valhalla High School | El Cajon |
| Alena Ramirez | Mater Dei Catholic High School | Chula Vista |
| Nicole Rich | Mission Hills High School | San Marcos |
“We couldn’t be more inspired by the passion, commitment and energy each of these students bring to their sustainability mission,” said Wheelhouse President/CEO Lisa Paul-Hill. “We are honored to support these local trail blazers and help them continue their great work. We know each of them, and all the amazing program applicants, share our goal of helping sustain our environment and resources to benefit many generations to come.”
San Diego County college-bound seniors with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 were eligible to participate. Award criteria included academic achievement, school/community involvement, recommendation letters, and an essay about how the students have incorporated sustainable practices into their lives.
The Credit Union’s annual College Scholarship Program was created in 2005 to support high school seniors in San Diego County, awarding five college scholarships of $1,000 each. Since the creation of the program, Wheelhouse has awarded $78,000 in scholarships.
Founded in 1934, Wheelhouse is one of the oldest credit unions in San Diego. A central aspect of its community commitment is supporting San Diego’s move to 100% clean energy by 2035. The Credit Union’s award-winning Solar and Energy Efficiency Loans have made Wheelhouse the #1 solar loan provider in San Diego.
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®.