Scholarship recipient Fouzia Khan attends Elk Grove Charter School. Photo courtesy of SAFE Credit Union

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - On May 20, SAFE Credit Union announced this year's scholarship's recipients. SAFE Credit Union’s Scholarship Program granted $4,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors and community college students who met various eligibility requirements.

SAFE is pleased to congratulate Daniel Fomichev, Fouzia Khan, Aamina Phineas, Jayha Buhs-Jackson and Ronit Prasad for their continued commitment to their studies within the community.

 Scholarship recipient Ronit Prasad is a student at Whitney High School in Rocklin. Photo courtesy of SAFE Credit Union

 Aamina Phineas, a scholarship recipient, is currently studying at Los Rios Community College. Photo courtesy of SAFE Credit Union

 Fair Oaks’ Jayha Buhs-Jackson is a student at Bella Vista High School. Photo courtesy of SAFE Credit Union

 Daniel Fomichev, one of the scholarship recipients, attends American River College and is a Fair Oaks native. Photo courtesy of SAFE Credit Union

The recipients were selected based on their academic achievement, personal statement and a letter of recommendation and are SAFE Credit union members with either a checking or savings account. 

Scholarship recipients were either a graduating high school senior or a current community college student with 60 or fewer credits with a GPA of 3.0 or above and must currently attend a high school or community college in one of the 13 counties in SAFE’s service area: Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Yolo, San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Solano, Yuba, Sutter, Butte, Nevada, Alameda, and Amador.

"We are thrilled to share that we increased our scholarship awards from $2,000 to $4,000 so we can make a larger financial impact for our recipients,” said Johnna Ali, Community Relations Program Manager, SAFE Credit Union. “SAFE understands that college is a major expense and that’s why we expanded our application eligibility from high school students to now include community college students with 60 or fewer credit hours to apply.” 

The recipients were asked to share how this scholarship will support their academic goals:

“Education plays a crucial role in fostering community engagement and collaboration. As a firefighter with a solid educational foundation, I can actively engage with community members to raise awareness about fire safety, emergency preparedness, and risk mitigation strategies. By organizing workshops, training sessions, and outreach programs, I can empower individuals and communities to take proactive steps towards creating a safer environment for everyone,” said Daniel Fomichev of Fair Oaks and a student at American River College.

“I aspire to pursue a career in the medical field. I plan to attend Cosumnes River College for two years and then transfer to a university. After my four years are done and I graduate with a degree, I plan to attend medical school to become a pharmacist or physician assistant. The medical field is something I’m personally very passionate about,” said Fouzia Khan of Elk Grove and a student at Elk Grove Charter School. 

“My educational goals in entrepreneurship are intrinsically linked to my desire to positively impact my community. By harnessing the power of entrepreneurship, I aim to create innovative solutions to address societal needs, generate employment opportunities, advocate for social justice, and foster collaboration and empowerment within my community,” said Ronit Prasad of Rocklin, and a student at Whitney High School.

“By being a lawyer, I would be able to advocate for individuals affected by mental illness, or as a physician I would treat and diagnose patients in the psychiatric specialty,” said Jayha Buhs-Jackson of Fair Oaks and a student at Bella Vista High School.

“This scholarship not only represents financial assistance but also signifies a profound acknowledgment of the challenges I have faced and overcome, fueling my determination to make a positive impact in both my life and the lives of others,” said Aamina Phineas, a student at Los Rios Community College.