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LAFCU Awards $20K in Scholarships via Annual Essay Contest

LAFCU announced the winners of its 2025 Write to Educate Essay Contest: Aubree Moore (Woodhaven High School), Kennedy Mullens (Alma High School), Kelcie Pung (Fowler High School) and Nolan Sanders (St. Johns High School).

The credit union is awarding $5,000 in college scholarships to each of the four winners, totaling $20,000. Additionally, LAFCU is donating $2,000 total to four charities selected by the winners.

Now in its 17th year, the annual contest reflects LAFCU’s long-standing commitment to supporting Michigan youth in their pursuit of higher education. Including this year, LAFCU has donated more than $140,000 to help students attend college and support causes that matter to them through the Write to Educate program.

“This contest gives students a platform to be heard — to share ideas that can shape the future of education and their communities,” said Alyssa Troub, digital marketing and community engagement specialist, LAFCU. “It’s about investing in students’ futures and the causes they care about. By supporting their educational journeys and donating to charities they select, LAFCU is helping build stronger individuals and stronger communities across Michigan.”

This year’s essay prompt asked students to respond to: “If you could create a new course to teach in high schools, what would it be and why would it be beneficial to students?” Entrants were encouraged to think creatively about education and share ideas that reflect their personal experiences and visions for the future of high school curricula.

The winners and selected charities are:

• Aubree Moore, Woodhaven High School (Brownstown Township)
  • Charity: Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries
     
• Kennedy Mullens, Alma High School (Alma)
  • Charity: Friends & Families of Cystic Fibrosis
     
• Kelcie Pung, Fowler High School (Fowler)
  • Charity: No More Sidelines of Central Michigan
     
• Nolan Sanders, St. Johns High School (St. Johns)
  • Charity: The Book Industry Charitable Foundation

"I'm proud to see that the issue I addressed in my essay, social and emotional wellbeing among U.S. youth, is being recognized,” said Kennedy Mullens. “More so, I'm happy that my being a recipient will also be a way for me to support a foundation that has assisted my cousin and her family through her cystic fibrosis battle, Friends & Families of Cystic Fibrosis. It's nice to be able to give back."

The winning essays are published in the Lansing State Journal, a community sponsor of the contest. They are also available at lafcu.com/writetoeducate.

The annual LAFCU Write to Educate Essay Contest is open to all Michigan high school students. A LAFCU membership is not required. Winners must attend a Michigan college or university to receive the scholarship. The next Write to Educate Essay Contest will open winter 2026.

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