San Diego CA—Wheelhouse Credit Union (Wheelhouse) has awarded five $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. The scholarships were awarded 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.
Two 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.
“Congratulations to each of these scholarship recipients for all of their achievements during such a challenging year. Their accomplishments, along with their heartfelt tributes to their first responder family members, showed the tremendous impact their hard work and sacrifice has made on their lives,” said Wheelhouse President/CEO Lisa Paul-Hill. “The dedication and commitment of our first responder heroes has never been more appreciated and valued – by all of us and their families – and we are proud to honor their service to our communities. We wish our scholarship recipients the very best of luck in the college journey ahead of them.”
All 2021 Wheelhouse Badge of Honor Scholarship recipients include:
| Recipient | School | City | College Attending | Family First Responder |
| Isabella Gilmore | Steele Canyon High School | Spring Valley | University of California, Santa Cruz | Lifeguard |
| Alexis Guevara | Bonita Vista Senior High School | Chula Vista | Brown University | Fire Captain/Paramedic |
| Trevor Marshall | Del Lago Academy | Escondido | Eleanor Roosevelt College | Nurse Supervisor |
| Amaya Valenzuela | Steele Canyon High School | Spring Valley | San Diego State University | Law Enforcement |
| Lauren Wahl | Cathedral Catholic High School | San Diego | Texas Christian University | Law Enforcement |
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 Sustainability 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 $96,000 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 29,000 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®.