Gesa Credit Union awards more than 145K in PNW scholarships, including NCW students

WENATCHEE — Richland-based Gesa Credit Union has announced their scholarship awards for the 2025–2026 academic year, giving out nearly $150,000 to 43 students from across the Pacific Northwest. Two of those students are from Central Washington, including one from Wenatchee and one from nearby Moses Lake.

Students as far flung as Cusick, Walla Walla, Spanaway and Olympia — and everywhere in between — were eligible this year for scholarships in several different groups: Continuing Education, Entering Freshman, Loan Repayment and through the High School Credit Union program, which teaches students the basics of finance with a Gesa “branch” in their school through hands-on banking experience.

The Moses Lake student, Oscar Jaime Ochoa, is already enrolled in college, and will use the $2,000 scholarship he received toward continuing education.

The local student, however, is an entering freshman, so the $2,000 that Eastmont High School’s Randy Binner was awarded is like seed money to get his college career off the ground. Randy has been active in wrestling and was a top ten academic leader in EHS’s class of 2025. He was one of ten $2,000 recipients selected by the Scholarship Committee, while two other entering freshmen from Richland each got $5,000 as President’s Choice applicants.

“Each year, I’m blown away by the quality of our students’ applications and how clearly they’ve thought through using these funds to support their next steps,” says Brandon Allison, Gesa’s Assistant Vice President of Community Impact. “Helping reduce the financial barriers to education is one of the many ways we are committed to empowering the next generation of leaders in our communities. These students are driven, focused, and ready to make a difference, and we’re proud to support their journeys.”

Applications for the upcoming academic year will open on December 1, 2025. More information can be found on the Gesa website.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media