Students Studying Forensics, Physical Therapy Among Scholarship Winners

Rhea-AI Summary

U.S. Bank awarded scholarships totaling $45,500 to students in various health-related fields. The grand prize of $14,000 went to Valerie Coakley, a medical lab science student at Andrews University, who expressed relief as the funds cover her entire semester. The first prize of $10,000 was awarded to Hannah Bees, a rehab health and kinesiology student at Buena Vista University. Over 32,000 applicants participated in the scholarship program, which emphasizes financial education through required modules. This initiative aims to enhance students' financial literacy as they pursue their education.

Positive

• U.S. Bank scholarship program awarded $45,500 to students in medical and health fields.
• Over 32,000 students registered for the scholarship, leading to enhanced financial education.
• Winners reported significant relief and ability to focus more on studies due to awarded funds.

Negative

• None.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / February 9, 2023 / U.S. Bank

Buena Vista University rehab health and kinesiology student Hannah Bees (left) won the $10,000 first prize; Andrews University medical lab science student Valerie Coakley (right) won the $14,000 grand prize.

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

For Valerie Coakley, news that she was the $14,000 grand prize winner of the U.S. Bank Student Scholarship couldn't have come at a better time.

Coakley is nearly halfway through her three-semester certification program in medical lab science at Andrews University, which is designed for students who already hold a bachelor's degree. Because she already completed her undergrad studies at Michigan State, Coakley had depleted her federal student aid. The demands of the yearlong program are so intense that holding a job in addition to her studies would be impossible.

"This helps tremendously," Coakley said. "I'm 25, and not the traditional student with parents to help out - I am doing everything on my own and supporting myself through college. This scholarship is helping me to pay for an entire semester, which is amazing."

The award is part of the U.S. Bank financial education scholarship program, which has given out about $45,000 each year for the last decade. As part of the application, students must take a series of financial education lessons covering topics including student loans, credit scores and more to be eligible for the twice yearly sweepstakes. A recent study found that the program gives students more confidence and know of their finances. About 32,000 students registered for the second-half 2022 entry period of the scholarship program, completing nearly 100,200 financial education modules.

There were four other winners in the second half of 2022 sweepstakes drawing, including first prize winner Hannah Bees, who received $10,000. Bees is a sophomore studying rehab health and kinesiology at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. Bees plans to become an occupational or physical therapist when she graduates.

"This is a huge relief," said Bees, who said the $10,000 will allow her to drop one of the two jobs she's working to help pay her way through school. "I can use that time to catch up on studying."

The second prize winner, Khady Sow, at Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington, Kentucky, with an expected graduation of Spring 2024, won $4,000. For the first time, an additional category was created for students who attend school where there is a U.S. Bank campus branch location. Bertha Perez-Mendoza, who attends the University of Oregon and expects to graduate in Spring 2025 won $1,500, as did Julie Hanson at Minnesota State Mankato, who expects to graduate in Spring 2026.

Coakley found the U.S. Bank Scholarship when researching scholarship opportunities online and was immediately intrigued that it only required completing modules and not writing any essays. "I dread writing essays - science is my passion for a reason," she joked. Bees also found the U.S. Bank Scholarship online and found some of the modules to be "eye opening" as she thought through her own finances and ahead to the next stages of her life after graduation.

Obtaining her certificate in medical lab sciences will put Coakley in a much stronger position to achieve her lifelong dream of landing a job as a forensic scientist, which melds her love of science with her family's legacy of working in law enforcement.

"You're putting pieces together to make a full circle - I love the puzzle-solving and critical thinking aspect of it," she said.

More information about the next round of scholarships will be available in February at www.usbank.com/scholarship.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from U.S. Bank on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:
Spokesperson: U.S. Bank
Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/us-bank
Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: U.S. Bank

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/738800/Students-Studying-Forensics-Physical-Therapy-Among-Scholarship-Winners

FAQ

What scholarships did U.S. Bank announce in February 2023?

U.S. Bank announced scholarships totaling $45,500 for students studying health-related fields.

Who were the winners of the U.S. Bank scholarship in 2023?

Valerie Coakley won the grand prize of $14,000, while Hannah Bees won the first prize of $10,000.

How many students participated in the U.S. Bank scholarship program?

Over 32,000 students registered for the second-half 2022 entry period of the scholarship program.

What is the focus of the U.S. Bank scholarship program?

The scholarship program emphasizes financial education through required lessons on student loans and credit scores.

When will the next round of U.S. Bank scholarships be available?

More information about the next round of scholarships will be available in February.