FiSCA Awards $68,000 in Scholarships to 34 Outstanding College-Bound Students

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For the twelfth consecutive year, the Financial Service Centers of America (FiSCA) has awarded scholarships to college bound seniors from communities across the United States serviced by its members. This year 34 exemplary students each received a cash grant of $2,000 to use toward their college expenses. In total, $68,000 in scholarships was awarded.

The competition for the scholarships is intense, with more than 2,250 high school seniors applying for the 34 awards. All applications are ranked by first regional and then national review committees. The criteria for the scholarships include:

• Commitment to community service
• Perseverance in the face of significant obstacles
• Display of leadership skills in school
• Academic achievement
• An original essay written specifically for the competition

"This is an important time to support students in their pursuit of higher education," said Sanford Herman, Chairman, FiSCA Scholarship Program. "Especially in these difficult economic times, individual FiSCA members as well as MoneyGram International and Western Union, our national cosponsors, understand the importance of helping students achieve their academic dreams. They are committed to the FiSCA Scholarship Program and to the communities they serve. Our industry leaders understand that investing in America's future is in everyone's best interests."

With this year's awards FiSCA has awarded $660,000 in college grants to 290 deserving students across the country since the program's inception in 1999. The scholarship program is funded by the voluntary contributions of FiSCA members and affiliate members, as well as national cosponsors MoneyGram International and Western Union.  

"FiSCA's members are committed to serving as positive role models, and this scholarship program is a primary means of giving back to those communities where we live and work," said Herman. "Giving these students a chance to continue their education is an honor for us."

The winners of the 2011 FiSCA Scholarship Program include:

About FiSCA

FiSCA, founded in 1987, is the national trade association for more than 6,500 individual financial service centers across the United States. FiSCA members provide a wide variety of financial services and products to their communities, including check cashing, money orders, money transfers, and electronic bill payment services, automatic teller machine access, government benefit and payroll payments, small dollar short-term loans, electronic tax preparation, prepaid debit cards, deposit acceptance services, public transportation fare and token sales, motor vehicle license plate and title distribution, postage stamp sales and numerous other services. For more information, please visit www.fisca.org.

SOURCE Financial Service Centers of America