Time spent developing smart strategies to fund a college education is already paying off for five Chester County area students who will be heading off to college this fall with thousands of dollars in their pockets thanks to Benchmark Federal Credit Union’s $15,000 essay contest.

“Financing higher education is a major undertaking, and we hope to lessen the financial burden for these deserving students and their families,” President and CEO David LaSala said. “Providing scholarships is a key part of Benchmark’s philanthropic initiative to support financial awareness and success strategies throughout Chester County.”

Judged by an independent panel of community and education leaders, the winning 750-word essays provided $4,000 — $1,000 a year — to recent high school graduates Averi Desjardins from Exeter Senior High School, who is attending West Virginia University; Lauren Rose Meyers from Oakdale High School, who is attending the University of Maryland; and Jacob Csuy from Unionville High School, who is attending Drexel University.

In the college division, Tierany Peterson of West Chester University and John Savoy of the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business each won $1,500 to continue toward their university degrees.

With brand new branches in West Chester and Phoenixville, Benchmark is serving more Chester County residents with a modern layout, money pods, a tech bar, extended evening and weekend hours, as well as comfortable seating and a coffee bar.

Read more Benchmark Federal Credit Union news on VISTA Today here.