Following the philosophy of “People helping people,” credit unions make a difference for their members and the communities they serve. While focusing on member needs, credit unions work for the ongoing development of communities through policies developed and accepted by the members.

LSCU promotes community and youth involvement among member credit unions through recognition awards such as the Distinguished Service Award, Credit Union of the Year, Professional of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award, Louis Herring Award for Philosophy in Action, Desjardins Youth & Adult Financial Education Award, and Brother's Keepers. These award programs are in place to honor professionals, volunteers, and credit unions for excellence in leadership and service.

LSCU Awards

The LSCU is proud to recognize those professionals, volunteers, and credit unions that have made outstanding contributions to the development and growth of the credit union movement.

Click here to view 2012's awards brochure to learn about each LSCU award.

Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service and Louis Herring Philosophy-in-Action Member Service Awards

These two programs identify credit unions that demonstrate the credit union "People-Helping-People" philosophy. The Dora Maxwell Award program honors the work of credit unions in the community. For example, some credit unions have ongoing programs and establish a special relationship with local social service agencies or school programs. Other programs address many different needs in the community. The Louise Herring Award program recognizes the practical application of credit union philosophy through internal programs to improve members' lives. For example, programs that provide special assistance to low-income members struggling to pay heating bills or student-run in-school or campus branches are clear examples of the philosophy that sets credit unions apart from other financial institutions. To view the differences between the two awards, click here. To view some secrets of winning, click here.

State winners in the two programs advance to national competition for judging.

Dora Maxwell Award Information:

Dora Awards Information
Dora Entry Form with Checklist
2011 Dora Award Winner Summaries

Louise Herring Award Information:

Louise Awards Information
Louise Entry Form with Checklist
2011 Louise Award Winner Summaries

Desjardins Youth & Adult Financial Education Award (CUNA has yet to send out information for 2012 as of yet.)

The Desjardins Youth & Adult Financial Education Award recognizes leadership within the credit union movement on behalf of youth and adult financial literacy. It considers all activities supporting the personal finance education of young and adult members and nonmembers, including, but not limited to, face-to-face teaching, publicity, lobbying for curriculum requirements, teacher and volunteer training, and promotion and use of educational programs such as the NEFE High School Financial Planning Program® (HSFPP).

How do the Dora and Louise programs differ from the Desjardins program?

Training teachers or lobbying on behalf of state personal finance curriculum requirements are considered community service activities and would be eligible for the Dora Maxwell award. Operating an in-school branch is considered a member service activity and would be eligible for the Louise Herring award. All activities to teach personal finance to people of any age are consider financial education and would be eligible for the Desjardins award.

Questions? Contact LSCU Director, Information Services Amy Jowers, at 866.231.0545 ext. 1020.

2011 winners: