The nation’s first credit union, St. Mary’s Bank recently announced winners of its scholarship awards for the 2023-2024 academic year. Fourteen applicants received scholarships of $1,000. Ten scholarships were awarded to members and four were awarded to a child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of a St. Mary’s Bank employee.

Honored in June at a reception at the St. Mary’s Bank headquarters, scholarship recipients included:

•    Nolan Arnold, Clemson University
•    Riley Barka, Wentworth Institute of Technology
•    Lauren Cardow, University of New Hampshire
•    Evan Croteau, Quinnipiac University
•    Kyra Defosses, College of William and Mary
•    Alexandria Dutton, Lakes Region Community College
•    Eilish Gunther, University of Massachusetts Amherst
•    Brianna Jelley, Antioch University
•    Ethan Krueger, Southern New Hampshire University
•    Hailey Michaud, Keene State College
•    Kimberly O'Rourke, Auburn University
•    Casey Renshaw, University of New Hampshire
•    Mario Slaybe, Saint Anselm College
•    Jonathan Stodolski, Curry College

“We are thrilled we can recognize the tremendous effort put forth by these young people as they pursue their dreams,” said Ken Senus, St. Mary’s Bank CEO. “We wish them the very best as they take this important step in their lives.”

St. Mary’s Bank received more than 100 applications, each of which were reviewed by a Community Outreach Committee that evaluated them based on school and community involvement, work experience, and responses to essay questions. 

About St. Mary’s Bank Scholarship Program
Applicants must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree-granting community college or public or private college or university for the upcoming school year and may apply every year attending school. Applicants must be a member of St. Mary’s Bank in good standing for at least six months prior to the scholarship submission deadline to be eligible for consideration. The credit union also has an additional scholarship program it offers to employees and to their family members. In 2022, ten scholarships were awarded in the general program, and five were awarded in the employee program. Details and application deadlines are announced on the credit union’s website every spring.


Pictured left to right Nolan Arnold, Ethan Krueger, Evan Croteau,
Jonathan Stodolski, Mario Slaybe, Ken Senus, President and CEO,
Casey Renshaw, Hailey Michaud, Lauren Cardow, Riley Barka, and
Alexandria Dutton.