The FedChoice Charitable Foundation Announces Winners of 2024 Educational Scholarship Program

By ANDREY GIDASPOV?
FedChoice Charitable Foundation

LANHAM, Md. (July 18, 2024)—The FedChoice Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of our 2024 Educational Scholarship Program.

The program aims to support college-bound and trade school-bound high school students from our community in their academic endeavors. This year’s scholarship winners are:

• Hasan Alwan, Parkdale High School

• Natalie Portillo, Parkdale High School

• Gabriel Roque, Bowie High School

• Alina Smith, Parkdale High School

Each winner will receive $1,000 toward their education.

Hasan plans to use his scholarship funds to pay for parking fees and college materials at University of Maryland College Park. Natalie is headed to Montgomery College to major in health sciences. Gabriel will be attending Prince George’s Community College, while Alina will be attending Bowie State University.

As part of their winning applications, each wrote an essay on the following topic: “Discover Your E3: How Credit Unions help Embrace, Educate and Elevate local communities.”

The applicants provided their unique perspectives on how Credit Unions:

• Embrace our communities by providing financial services tailored to their needs,

• Educate members about financial literacy and empowerment, and

• Elevate our communities by fostering economic growth and stability.

“Many credit unions embrace their communities. They become a staple within the community and become a part of the culture. You can see this in any neighborhood, the credit union has a lot of that respective communities’ culture and ambiance,” said Gabriel.

Hasan reflected that “credit unions actively put their commitment to educating and empowering members with robust financial literacy and money management skills into practice.
 
Many provide free workshops, one-on-one counseling, online resources, and more to help individuals enhance their knowledge about budgeting, saving, borrowing, and investing for the future.”

Natalie shared that “the long-term effects of financial education on the youth are transformative. Youth who receive financial literacy education are more likely to achieve higher levels of education and pursue rewarding careers because of their preparedness in real life situations or problems.”

Brett Noll, President/CEO of FedChoice Federal Credit Union and FedChoice Charitable Foundation Board President, said, “We were very impressed with our scholarship winners’ understanding of the importance of financial literacy and the positive impact of credit unions. We wish each of them tremendous success in college and life!”

The FedChoice Charitable Foundation was founded in 2017 and provides financial well-being programs which positively impact local underserved communities while being a resource, advocate, and champion for the Federal Community.

TOP OF PAGE

Local Student Represents Maryland at American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation

By PRESS OFFICER
American Legion Auxiliary National Headquarters

WASHINGTON (July 18, 2024)—Olaoluwa “Roxy” Adeleke-Wales, Cheverly, is one of 100 high school seniors selected to attend American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Girls Nation July 20–27 in Washington, D.C. The weeklong program, founded in 1947, has provided exceptional civic education to thousands of students, teaching them about how the federal government works.

Adeleke-Wales is one of two participants who will represent Maryland as a “senator” at ALA Girls Nation. Two delegates from each ALA Girls State program are chosen to represent their state after participating in an ALA state-level program held across the country. At ALA Girls Nation, senators will participate in mock Senate sessions complete with caucuses and debating bills that range from personal to political interests.

Other activities on the agenda include a visit to Arlington National Cemetery where they will place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a visit to Capitol Hill to meet with real-life U.S. senators from their state, and a tour of D.C. monuments.

Adeleke-Wales, a rising senior at Bowie High School, was active in many ways during her week at ALA Maryland Girls State. She also participates in many activities in her school and community, including Model United Nations, Debate, Ladies With Class, International Club, and Tri-M Music Honor Society. She is also an Angela Alsobrooks Fellow and involved in Prince George’s Regional Association of Student Governments.

ALA Girls Nation is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our nation’s future leaders to learn about the inner workings of the federal government before they are of voting age. Students leave the program with increased confidence and leadership skills for college and in their future career paths. Some participants of the program go on to have careers in public service at the local, state, and national levels. No matter what their future holds, all leave with a better understanding of civic responsibilities. After attending ALA Girls Nation, the participants return home ready to be engaged citizens at all levels of government.

You can learn more about ALA Girls Nation online and on Facebook and Instagram.

The American Legion Auxiliary, founded in 1919, is a community of volunteers serving veterans, military, and their families. ALA members assist veterans in hospitals, advocate for veteran issues, support therapeutic creative arts festivals, distribute poppies for remembrance, and much more. In addition to serving the military community, the American Legion Auxiliary hosts ALA Girls Nation and the ALA Girls State programs that teach future leaders about government and civic responsibility. Learn more at www.ALAforVeterans.org and @ALAforVeterans on Instagram and Facebook.

TOP OF PAGE

Judah Temple A.M.E. Zion Church Community Resource Expo 2024

By PRESS OFFICER
Judah Temple AME Zion Church

Judah Temple A.M.E. Zion Church is hosting a “Community Resource Expo 2024” on Saturday, August 3, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The theme for the Expo is “Connecting the Community and Resource Providers Together.” The church is located at 14500 Mt. Oak Road, Mitchellville, MD 20721.

We have collaborated with the Prince George’s County Office of Community Relations to provide resource providers from the Department of Health, Police Department, Fire Department, Parks and Recreation, and the 311 On-the-Go mobile van. Resource providers from the Prince George’s Community Financial Empowerment Center, Prince George’s Public Schools, University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center (Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center), Senior Helpers, and the Prince George’s Senior Provider Network will also be available to discuss the services their organizations can provide to the community.

Voter Registration staff will be available to assist first-time voters in completing a Voter Registration Application so they will be eligible to vote in the Presidential General Election on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

Come out and join us to get valuable information and resources, meet other members of the community, and enjoy music from the Praise 104.1 van!! A fire engine will be on-site for the children to enjoy, backpacks will be given to children who are present at the Expo (while supplies last), and light refreshments will be served.

For more information, please email: congregationalcare@judahtemple.net.

TOP OF PAGE

Marietta House Museum Presents “Discovering Together: Our Bowie Ancestry and Common Roots”

By STACEY HAWKINS
Marietta House Museum

Join the Bowie Ancestry Network for a lively discussion on Wednesday, August 7, noon–1:30 p.m. at Marietta House Museum for “Discovering Together: Our Bowie Ancestry and Common Roots”. This will be a free hybrid program.

Karen Pearson, Collette (Spriggs) Harris, Ed Spriggs, Jordan Moore Jackson, and Denise Barton, and other Prince George’s County family descendants have joined research forces!

The Bowie Ancestry Network’s quest is to investigate family connections within the African American community with surnames including Spriggs, Stewart, Barton, Diggs, Weldon, Johnson, Duckett, Clark, Queen, and Norris. Their research takes them to White Marsh and Sacred Heart Church and communities throughout Prince George’s County. The Bowie Ancestry Network is relying on archives, newspapers, maps, birth, death, and marriage certificates, land deeds, remembrances, and oral re-tellings that are slowly revealing what might have been their families’ realities.

You are encouraged to share information you may have.

Recommended for ages 12 & up. Registration is required for the TEAMS link online. In-person registration is recommended but not required. Walk-ins are welcome and visitors are welcome to bring a bag lunch. Register at this direct link: https://tinyurl.com/46kye6cd

For more information, please call 301-464-5291 or email

mariettahouse@pgparks.com Marietta House Museum is located at 5626 Bell Station Road, Glenn Dale, MD. 20769 and is a property of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

TOP OF PAGE