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The Chattahoochee Federal Credit Union awarded the annual “People Helping People” college scholarship to Chambers Academy senior Kelsea Harmon.

The CFCU awarded Harmon a check for $1,000 at the credit union’s annual meeting. 

“This was established in 2016 to honor the commitment and dedication of Oscar Crawley, to the credit union and to the overall event in the community,” said Tyrone Newton, CFCU board member.

Crawly was a board member for 17 years and president of the board for seven of those years. 

“The scholarship name, People Helping People, reflects exactly what Oscar represented,” Newton continued. “This year’s recipient is richly deserving of the award.”

The CFCU presented Harmon with a large check for $1,000 to go toward the senior’s college expenses. Harmon had to apply and write an essay for the scholarship application, on what “servant leadership” meant to her.

Newton read an excerpt from Harmon’s essay, saying, “This means leading with empathy and a commitment to serve and others rather than seeking personal growth and, or power.”

Harmon is heavily involved as a member of her school’s volleyball team, including volunteering to help the junior varsity team. She also plays for Chambers Academy’s softball and soccer teams. 

The scholarship is meant to celebrate community service, which Harmon practices inside and outside Chambers Academy. She is a regular volunteer at Bradshaw Library and has helped with the annual log a load for the Children’s Hospital of Alabama, Chambers Academy Early Learning Program and local church events. Harmon is also a junior ambassador of the Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce.  The senior hopes to use the money next year as she attends Huntington College, where she plans to study cell biology and pre-med. Harmon works at a pharmacy currently and received her Pharmacy Technician License in 2022. She plans on going to pharmacy school. 

At the meeting, the CFCU discussed the community programs the bank has worked on in the past year. Outreach efforts have been aimed at discouraging the payday loan locations that pockmark I-85. They also launched Money IQ on the bank’s website to answer personal finance questions for customers. The bank announced a plan to roll out mobile deposit and Apple Pay features on their mobile app at the meeting as well.