Shred Day 2023
HRECU's latest free Shred Day Event held at the branch on April 7th was a huge success collecting 5,100 pounds of paper to shred and a total of 1,058 pounds of food for the Foodbank. In addition, $824 in monetary donations were collected. The food and monetary donations collected are equivalent to about 3,354 healthy meals that can now be provided to the community.
We would like to thank our members, volunteers and the community for their generosity!
Congratulations 2023 Scholarship Winners!
The following were awarded 2023 scholarships from HRECU:
$1,000 Career Development Scholarship
Sydney Wynberry will graduate from Middlesex High School. She plans to attend Christopher Newport University where she will major in business management and minor in leadership through the President's Leadership Program.
$1,000 Laura Twyford Memorial Scholarship
Meghan Lewis will graduate from Bethel High School. She plans to attend Hampton University in the Fall. Meghan will pursue a career in Speech Pathology.
$1,000 Naomi J. Chadwick Memorial Scholarship
Kathleen Dee will graduate Kecoughtan High School. She plans to attend Old Dominion University in the Fall. Kathleen wants to pursue a career as a school psychologist or teacher.
$1,500 Educational Advancement Scholarship
Lauren Manners is currently employed at Paul Burbank Elementary School in Hampton as a Special Education Instructional Assistant. She is currently enrolled at Regent University where she is pursuing a Bachelor's of Education. Lauren would like to teach kindergarten through third grade.
Congratulations and best of luck to our winners!
Congratulations Teacher Grant Winners
Two Hampton City School teachers were awarded Financial Literacy Grants for 2022-2023 classroom projects. Julie Buckman, Hampton High School and Marcia Lewis, George P. Phenix each received $250 to assist with classroom projects teaching financial literacy. Ms. Buckman will use her grant to help facilitate a Reality Store experience. Ms. Lewis will use her grant to purchase supplies needed to teach first graders how to count and wisely spend money.
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Stuff the Bus to Help Fight Hunger
Hampton Roads Educators Credit Union participated in the second annual Hampton City Schools Transportation Department Stuff the Bus event on November 17th to benefit the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. HRECU collected food items at the branch and donated the items during the event held at the Patriot Operations Center in Hampton.
Rivermont School Awarded Second HRECU Heroes Award
HRECU CEO Karen Orie presented Principal Dr. Paula Spady and Rivermont School in Hampton with a plaque of appreciation for supporting financial literacy, saving and membership in the credit union. Rita Charity was also honored as an outstanding supporter of the credit union. Rita is the liaison between the school and HRECU and encourages staff and students to become financially independent. Thanks to Dr. Spady, Ms. Charity and Rivermont School staff and students, this partnership has been a huge success!
First HRECU Heroes Award Goes To Surry County School Bus Driver
HRECU presented the very first HREU Heroes Award to Surry County school bus driver Sondra Artis. Sondra was presented with a plaque of appreciation for saving all of the children riding her bus when it suddenly caught fire. On March 24th, Sondra felt something was wrong with her bus while she was driving the students. A short time later, the bus was on fire, but the children were safe thanks to Sondra's quick thinking. Sondra managed to get students off the bus a short time before it was completely engulfed with fire.
Shred Day 2022
HRECU hosted another successful Shred Day on Friday, April 8th. Thanks to the generosity of everyone who participated, we collected 1,163 pounds of food plus $1,148.75 in monetary donations for the VA Peninsula Foodbank! In addition, 3,900 lbs. of paper was shredded, saving approximately 17 trees.
Congratulations 2022 Scholarship Winners!
The following were awarded 2022 scholarships from HRECU:
$1,000 Career Development Scholarship
Cooper Martin will graduate Poquoson High School. Cooper will attend Virginia Commonweath University studying dentistry. He plans to follow in his father’s footsteps as a dentist.
Ethan Phelps will graduate from Windsor High School. He will pursue a degree in Anthropology and Archeology.
$1,000 Laura Twyford Memorial Scholarship
Samaiya Dixon will graduate from Lafayette High School. Samaiya plans to attend James Madison University in the Fall. She would like to become a high school teacher in Algebra 2, Trigonometry or Geometry.
$1,000 Naomi J. Chadwick Memorial Scholarship
Olivia DiNonno will graduate Poquoson High School. UVA, University of Florida, Princeton and Yale are a few of her school choices. She plans to pursue a degree in biology or biomedical medicines.
$1,500 Post Graduate Scholarship
Sherry Murphy, Dean of Students at Phoebus High School is pursuing her Doctorate of Education at Regent University. She has been working towards her doctorate since the summer of 2017 while raising a child and being a fully committed educator. We hope this scholarship will help fulfill her dream of being called Dr. Murphy.
Congratulations and best of luck to our winners!
2022 Teacher Grant Winners
HRECU awarded four grants of $150.00 each to assist educators teaching financial literacy to elementary, middle, and high school students. The grants will help support current or new classroom projects that focus on financial literacy. Congratulations to the following educators who were awarded the 2021-2022 Teacher Financial Literacy Grants:
- Marcia Edwards-Lewis George P. Phenix Hampton
- Rhonda Russell Hampton High School Hampton
- Marissa Spencer Achilles Elementary School Hayes
- Nancy Terrell Tarrant Middle School Hampton
Congratulations to our 2021 Scholarship Winners!
Hampton Roads Educators Credit Union awarded four scholarships to local high school seniors and school employees.
“It’s always difficult to narrow down the winners,” said HRECU Manager/CEO Karen Orie. “We know this year was challenging for everyone. We wish the class of 2021 success in everything they do!”
The following are the 2021 recipients:
$1,000 Career Development Scholarship was awarded to Alauna Samuels. Alauna will graduate from Hampton High School and plans to attend Norfolk State University as a Pre-Nursing major in the Army ROTC. She plans to use her degree to become an advocate for women’s reproductive health, in addition to serving the community in her career field.
$1,000 Naomi J. Chadwick Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Aliyah Walker, a Hampton High School senior. Aliyah plans to attend James Madison University in the fall where she will study Psychology with an emphasis on Criminology. She plans to pursue a career as a FBI Profiler.
$1,000 Laura W. Twyford Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Austyn Haywood, a senior at Smithfield High School. Austyn plans to attend James Madison University to pursue a degree in Elementary Education with a minor in English. Her goal is to teach first grade. Austyn also plans to pursue an American Sign Language Certification to work with deaf and hearing-impaired children.
$1,500 Post Graduate Studies Scholarship was awarded to Chelsea Hilliard. Chelsea is a Counselor at Jamestown High School. She is pursuing her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Old Dominion University.
HRECU Donates School Supplies to Ease Back to School Transition
When Amy Killian, Family Engagement Specilist at Tyler Elementary, asked for school supply donations, HRECU was there to help! The assortment of supplies helped the children transition back to in-person learning. Tyler is one of the Title I Schools in Hampton. HRECU is proud to be a part of the Tyler Tiger family!
2021 Teacher Grant Awarded to Nancy Terrell
Congratulations to Nancy Terrell! Nancy received the 2021 Teacher Financial Literacy Grant from HRECU. She teaches at Cesar Tarrant Middle School in Hampton and used the monies for The Game of Life Project. The project provides families with information about financial literacy as they experience key moments in their life. The next round of Teacher Grants will be in the Fall.
Del. Jeion Ward Named League's 2020 Legislator of the Year
Del. Jeion Ward (D-92nd) was honored by Virginia-based credit unions as their 2020 Legislator of the Year during a presentation ceremony on Nov. 10 hosted by HRECU.
“I’m honored to be recognized by credit unions, because I’m so grateful for my credit union," said Del. Ward. "They care about people. They care about us, the members."
Del. Ward, a middle school educator, has served the 92nd District (portions of Hampton City) since 2004. She currently chairs the House Labor and Commerce Committee, the committee that hears most legislation that affects credit unions and the financial services industry.
The Virginia Credit Union League’s Legislator of the Year Award is presented to lawmakers and elected officials demonstrating extraordinary leadership in advancing legislation and policies that help credit unions compete and ensure credit unions remain a viable financial services option for consumers.
Credit Union Day 2020
One hundred thirty-plus credit union champions participated in Credit Union Day at the General Assembly on January 16th. We tackled more than 50 meetings with lawmakers and their aides during a three-hour window. #CUStrong
Basic Hygiene Items Donated
HRECU Partners with Hampton City Schools Title I Program
The credit union collected hygiene items and monetary donations to distribute to the 14 Hampton City Schools Title I Program locations. Many of the basic hygiene items were needed, such as deodorant, soap, and toothpaste. The Hampton City Schools Title I Department is a federally funded program that operates under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Students are identified as economically disadvantaged by their free and reduced lunch status.
Pictured above: (L-R) HRECU's Sue Thrash presented Tyler Elementary School's Community Engagement Coordinator Amy Killian with an assortment of requested hygiene items.
Governor Northam Signs Executive Directive
With the help of students Domani Smith, Emory Hatchett and Chauncy Featherson, Governor Ralph Northam signed an Executive Directive creating a team to look at expanding access to early childhood education. The ceremony was held at the Downtown Hampton Child Development Center on Wednesday, July 24, 2019. He and Virginia First Lady Pamela Northam visited the Center and spoke about the importance of expanding access to early childhood education. HRECU was honored to be a part of this special day.