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 - Winners announced!

Congratulations to the following individuals and credit unions chosen as this year’s recipients of the LSCU Awards! The awards will be presented at the 2013 AC&E in Orlando.

Distinguished Service of the Year
(CU is keeping as a surprise for recipient until presentation.)

Professional of the Year
Jim Mitchell - Army Aviation Center FCU

Young Professional of the Year
Brooke Covington - ASE CU

Volunteer of the Year (posthumously)
Roger Turnquist - Army Aviation Center FCU

Credit Union of the Year
Up to $100m: Tallahassee-Leon FCU

$100m - $500m: Five Star CU

Over $500m: Achieva CU

Click here to view the 2013 awards brochure to learn about each LSCU award.

Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service & Louis Herring Philosophy-in-Action Member Service Awards - Winners to be announced in June

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. Entry submissions were due to the LSCU on Friday, April 5, 2013.

Entry Forms for 2013 Submissions:

Dora Maxwell Entry Form with Checklist
Louise Herring Entry Form with Checklist

State winners in the two programs advance to national competition for judging. The national judging is October. CUNA will notify the League of any winners later that month.

Desjardins Youth & Adult Financial Education Award - Winners to be announced in June

The Desjardins Youth & Adult Financial Education Awards recognize 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). Entry submissions were due to the LSCU on Friday, April 5, 2013.

To view some secrets of winning, click here.
To view list of past recipients, click here.
To view a program description of Desjardins Youth and Adult Financial Education Awards, click here.

Entry Forms for 2013 Submissions:
Click here to view a letter from the judges on how they evaluate entries.

ADULT Financial Education Entry Form with Checklist for Credit Union
ADULT Financial Education Entry Form with Checklist for Chapter or Credit Union Group
YOUTH Financial Education Entry Form with Checklist for Credit Union
YOUTH Financial Education Entry Form with Checklist for Chapter or Credit Union Group

State winners in this program advance to national competition for judging. The national judging is in October. CUNA will notify the League of any winners later that month.

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.