Two Students Receive Minnesota Family Involvement Council Scholarships at TopLine Federal Credit Union

MAPLE GROVE, MN--(Marketwired - Jun 3, 2014) - TopLine Federal Credit Union is honored to announce that members of two families each won a $1,000 and $500 scholarship respectively from the Minnesota Family Involvement Council (FIC). This year the FIC offered eighteen college scholarships totaling $10,000 to Minnesota credit union members.

Nearly 900 students applied for the scholarships from credit unions throughout the state. Applicants were selected based on school and community involvement, and an essay which explained "The average age of credit union members in Minnesota is 47 years old. In order to be sustainable, credit unions need to serve younger generations, as well. What can credit unions do to attract and engage young adult consumers?"

Josias Hansen from TopLine's Como Park branch and Sarah Klebba from TopLine's Maple Grove branch both received scholarships to continue post secondary education in the fall of 2014. Josias graduated from Luther Seminary in May 2014 and will be pursuing licensing and ordination credits at a Mennonite seminary to become a pastor in the Mennonite Church USA. Sarah finished her generals at Anoka Ramsey Community College in May 2014 and will be attending University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus for her undergraduate degree, pursuing a major in English with emphasis on Creative Writing and minor in Communications.

Tom Smith, President/CEO, said, "TopLine has been involved with the Minnesota Family Involvement Council scholarship program since 1997, and we are very pleased that two of our members were chosen as scholarship recipients this year. We are a strong supporter of educational opportunities in our communities, and participating in the scholarship program fits well within our purpose of helping members afford the costs of higher education." 

The Minnesota Family Involvement Council (FIC) is a volunteer organization made up of representatives from credit unions around the state of Minnesota to enhance the future of the credit union movement by promoting financial awareness, financial education and full-family involvement. The FIC began in 1985 and launched the scholarship program in 1997 and has received more than 12,000 scholarship applications and has awarded nearly $146,500 in scholarships.

TopLine Federal Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesota's 13^th largest, with assets of more than $350 million. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit cooperative offers a complete line of financial services, as well as auto and home insurance, from its five branch locations -- in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Paul's Como Park -- as well as by phone and online at www.TopLinecu.com. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington Counties and their immediate family members.