C R E D I T U N I O N N EWS
STUDENTS HONORED AT STATE HOUSE ESSAY CONTEST AWARD CEREMONY
Student Essay Contest winners were honored in the Great Hall at the State House. Present were League President Daniel F. Egan, Jr.; student finalists Simon Leite, Cassidy Melera, Avery Andros, and Jennifer Healy; State Treasurer Steve Grossman; winning essayist Michael Gross; student finalists Junika Ortiz, Briana O’Connell, and Kelsey Perrin; and Michael Hansen, president/CEO, Massachusetts Credit Union Share Insurance Corporation (MSIC).
At a State House ceremony on June 7, the Massachusetts Credit Union League and the Massachusetts Credit Union Share Insurance Corporation (MSIC) recognized eight seventhand eighth-grade students for writing winning essays in a statewide credit union-sponsored contest. The essay topic this year involved relating a story of how the student and his or her family reached out to help other people at some point during the previous year. According to Massachusetts Credit Union League President Daniel F. Egan, Jr., this topic was selected because, “it gave the students a chance to consider the good that can be done when individuals take the initiative to do a good turn for their neighbors or the community.” More than 1,200 students from across the state submitted essays to sponsoring credit unions. Essays were judged on originality, content, neatness, spelling, and grammar. The League’s Financial Literacy Committee, in addition to representatives from the League and MSIC, selected the grand prize winner and seven runners up. The winning essay was written by Michael Gross, a seventh grade student at the Boston Latin School. He was sponsored by IC Federal 6 | centerpoint | fall.2012
Credit Union which is headquartered in Fitchburg. Michael’s essay detailed how he was able to assist an elderly neighbor when he was passing by and saw her shopping bag burst. He helped her gather the groceries that had spilled all over the sidewalk and carried them to her home. When he arrived there he noticed that she could use some additional assistance with a lawn that was overgrown and a broken railing. So he recruited his family and they brought over a hot meal. After they arrived, the family set about mowing, raking, and trimming the hedges. Michael and his dad then repaired the railing. Michael and the other seven finalists, their families, and representatives from both the school and the sponsoring credit unions were invited to lunch and an awards ceremony at the Great Hall in the State House. Massachusetts Credit Union League President Daniel F. Egan, Jr. welcomed guests and offered his congratulations to the winners for a job well done and applauded their parents and teachers for instilling a love for learning in these children. State Treasurer Steven Grossman was the
keynote speaker at the luncheon. Grossman talked about the importance of getting a strong grasp on the basics – reading, writing, and math – because these will be valuable tools throughout the students’ lives. After a tour of the State House and visits with local lawmakers, the program closed with MSIC President/CEO Michael Hansen awarding plaques to all of the student finalists. The other finalists were: • Avery Andros, Forest Grove Middle School, sponsored by Worcester Credit Union • Jennifer Healy, Sky View Middle School, sponsored by Leominster Credit Union • Simone Leite, B.F. Butler Middle School, sponsored by M/A-COM Federal Credit Union • Cassidy Melera, Atlantis Charter School, sponsored by St. Anne’s Credit Union of Fall River, Mass. • Briana O’Connell, Fairview Veterans Memorial Middle School, sponsored by Pioneer Valley Federal Credit Union • Junika Ortiz, Boston Latin School, sponsored by City of Boston Credit Union • Kelsey Perrin, St. Michael School, sponsored by Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union •