PEFCU honors citizenship award winners

WEST LAFAYETTE, Inc. -– Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) executives and senior managers honored 2008-09 PEFCU Citizenship Scholarship in Honor of Ronda E. Feathers recipient Amalia R. Barber, and 2008-09 PEFCU Citizenship Award recipients Travis J. Burghardt and Katie N. Reid, during a luncheon on Thursday, October 30. Barber, Burghardt and Reid are students in the Undergraduate Studies Program (USP) at Purdue University.

with PEFCU President and CEO Bob Falk following the luncheon in honor of their academic achievements and community involvement.”]The Citizenship Scholarship in Honor of Ronda E. Feathers is presented to sophomores and the Citizenship Award is presented to freshmen. These annual $1,000 scholarship awards recognize the outstanding academic achievement and strong community involvement of USP students. Special emphasis is placed on good citizenship and how active the student has been in his/her school and hometown community. Applicants submit an essay of 250 or fewer words about good citizenship.

Barber attended high school in Clinton, Ill., where she served on the leadership team for her school’s community service club as well as National Honor Society vice president. She also served on the Membership Board of her local United Way Foundation and was actively involved in her high school band. Barber currently plays baritone for the “All American” Purdue Marching Band and participates in the University Honors Program.

In his hometown of Monticello, Ind., Burghardt volunteered at the White County food pantry and the Monticello Public Library. He also participated in the 2007 Relay for Life, played varsity tennis, and was co-president of the Twin Lakes High School mock trial team. Burghardt graduated 17th in class.

Reid’s success as a student in the Academy of Finance at Carroll High School in Fort Wayne, Ind., led her to an internship with the Fort Wayne YMCA at Camp Potawotami. She served her community by organizing a local food drive and by volunteering at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo and with the Kiwanis at the Johnny Apple Seed Festival.

Founded on the Purdue University campus in 1969, Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) boasts assets exceeding $500 million and serves more than 56,000 members nationwide.

Ribbon cut at Harrison’s PEFCU@School branch

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. –– Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) and William Henry Harrison High School held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Greater Lafayette’s second in-school financial institution at 7:00 a.m., on Tuesday, September 23.

PEFCU opened the area’s first in-school financial institution in January 2005 at Lafayette Jefferson High School.

“We are pleased to have this partnership with PEFCU,” said Dr. Doug Lesley, Harrison High School principal. “We believe it creates numerous educational opportunities for students and also provides beneficial financial services to Tippecanoe School Corporation employees.”

The 208-square-foot branch named Harrison’s PEFCU @ School will be operated by two high-school-student tellers and a PEFCU supervisor. Supervisor Sara Gretencord will oversee and evaluate the work of Melissa Blosser and Shane Hamilton, who were trained and worked at the PEFCU Financial Mall during the summer. Student tellers are expected to meet the same qualifications as other PEFCU employees. They must also be enrolled in the twelfth-grade Interdisciplinary Cooperative Education (ICE) course at Harrison High School. Students are selected as tellers after submitting an application and being interviewed. They receive compensation as well as ICE course credits for their work.

In addition to the hands-on learning experience for student tellers, other students will gain money management skills by opening checking and savings accounts, making transactions at the branch, and learning from the financial literacy curriculum provided by PEFCU and Harrison staff through ICE and other career- and business-related courses. The branch will be open Monday through Friday during lunch periods from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to serve students, faculty and staff.

“PEFCU has provided Harrison High School with financial education for two years and this in-school branch solidifies our commitment to the financial health of Greater Lafayette’s youth,” said Carolyn Barrett, PEFCU financial literacy coordinator. “By teaching and helping teenagers develop healthy financial habits now, we are preparing them for a bright future.”

About Harrison High School

William Henry Harrison High School is part of Tippecanoe School Corporation and has been in existence since 1971. It has approximately 1,685 students in grades 9 through 12. Harrison’s Interdisciplinary Cooperative Education (ICE) combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training related to students’ career objectives.

About PEFCU

Founded on the Purdue University campus in 1969, Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) has assets exceeding $500 million and serves more than 56,000 members nationwide.

PEFCU opens branch at Harrison High School

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. –- Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) and William Henry Harrison High School will open Greater Lafayette’s second in-school financial institution on September 23. PEFCU opened the area’s first in-school financial institution in January 2005 at Lafayette Jefferson High School.

“We are pleased to have this partnership with PEFCU,” said Doug Lesley, Harrison High School principal. “We believe it creates numerous educational opportunities for students and also provides beneficial financial services to Tippecanoe School Corporation employees.”

The 208-square-foot branch named Harrison’s PEFCU @ School will be operated by two high-school-student tellers and a PEFCU supervisor. Supervisor Sara Gretencord will oversee and evaluate the work of Melissa Blosser and Shane Hamilton, who were trained and worked at the PEFCU Financial Mall during the summer. Student tellers are expected to meet the same qualifications as other PEFCU employees. They must also be enrolled in the twelfth-grade Interdisciplinary Cooperative Education (ICE) course at Harrison High School. Students are selected as tellers after submitting an application and being interviewed. They receive compensation as well as ICE course credits for their work.

In addition to the hands-on learning experience for student tellers, other students will gain money management skills by opening checking and savings accounts, making transactions at the branch, and learning from the financial literacy curriculum provided by PEFCU and Harrison staff through ICE and other career- and business-related courses. The branch will be open Monday through Friday during lunch periods from 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. to serve students, faculty and staff.

“PEFCU has provided Harrison High School with financial education for two years and this in-school branch solidifies our commitment to the financial health of Greater Lafayette’s youth,” said Carolyn Barrett, PEFCU financial literacy coordinator. “By teaching and helping teenagers develop healthy financial habits now, we are preparing them for a bright future.”

About Harrison High School

William Henry Harrison High School is part of Tippecanoe School Corporation and has been in existence since 1971. It has approximately 1,685 students in grades 9 through 12. Harrison’s Interdisciplinary Cooperative Education (ICE) combines classroom instruction with on-the-job training related to students’ career objectives.

PEFCU to host Identity Theft seminar, Sept 9

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. –– Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) invites the Greater Lafayette community to attend a no-cost seminar called “Identity Theft. Who’s got your number?” at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, September 9, at the PEFCU Financial Mall located at 1551 Win Hentschel Blvd. in West Lafayette.

One in five consumers fall victim to some kind of identity theft each year. The results can be devastating: damage to one’s credit report, average monetary losses of $1,200 or more, and nearly 30 hours of personal time spent to resolve the issue. Attend this seminar and learn ways to fight fraud from local experts who work in PEFCU’s Risk Department.

Tips will be provided on the following:

• How to protect yourself from identity theft
• How to identify fraud scams
• What to do if you are a fraud victim

This is a no-cost seminar and is open to the public. Complimentary refreshments will be provided. Seats are limited. Reserve your spot by Friday, September 5, by calling 765.497.7455, emailing rsvp@purdueefcu.com, or registering at www.purdueefcu.com under “Events Calendar”.

Founded on the Purdue University campus in 1969, Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) boasts assets exceeding $500 million and serves more than 56,000 members nationwide.

PALS campers learn financial skills from PEFCU staff

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Good money management is an essential life skill. That’s why Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) partnered with Purdue Athletes Life Success Program (PALS) to provide financial literacy content and activities during this year’s camp.

“Whether we like it or not, economics has become the foundation of our entire culture,” said Bill Harper, PALS director. “Kids typically are not exposed to the complications of handling money or differentiating between wants and needs. This is an opportunity to introduce kids to the reality of life in an informal setting.”

On the final day of the four-week camp, the children applied the money management knowledge they had gained over the previous two days to age-based life-skills activities. The younger campers each received a $100 “paycheck,” which they had to deposit into the “credit union”. Then they used a checkbook register to balance their “checking accounts” according to choices they made individually between low-priced, mid-priced and high-priced vehicles, food and pets as well as unexpected emergencies.

The older campers took this activity to the next level using a computer-based program. Based on their individual interests and chosen level of education, the computer generated a career and salary for each camper. Then they chose to purchase insurance, homes, vehicles, meals and so on at different price levels. They also had to “visit” their financial institution in order to pay off debts like mortgages, credit cards and student loans. During the game, each camper could see his/her monthly income as well as balances on savings and debts.

“This [computer] game is fun and I’d like to play it,” said Jill Freeland, PALS counselor. “The kids have already learned so much about savings and they’ve told me how they’re going to save at home. They’re very excited about all they can do with money.”

In addition to its partnership with PALS, PEFCU works with local schools and organizations to teach money management skills to area youth throughout the year. “By teaching and helping children develop healthy financial habits now, they will be better prepared for the future,” said Carolyn Barrett, PEFCU financial literacy coordinator.

For more information about ways PEFCU helps organizations or schools meet financial literacy goals, please contact Carolyn Barrett at 765.497.7409.

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