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ESL Presents Work Scholarships to Three MCC Students

Program aims to create pathway to careers, strengthen student opportunities, and reduce financial education costs.

Rochester, NY — ESL Federal Credit Union and Monroe Community College are pleased to announce their seventh class of ESL/MCC Scholars, an earn-and-learn program to prepare students for a career in banking and finance. Students were recently welcomed to the ESL team at a scholars’ luncheon at ESL headquarters in downtown Rochester. The three students selected for this program are:

  • Leonardo Nunez
  • Nasmere Johnson
  • Sujan Dhakal

Students are offered a part-time, paid position at one of 24 local ESL branches and a $1,000 scholarship for each semester they participate. Students will have the opportunity to meet with and work in other departments at the company to further their professional experience.

Benefits to ESL/MCC Scholars also include professional skill development opportunities, mentoring, and exposure to a variety of career paths within the banking and finance industry. Through this collaboration, MCC students also have the option to obtain academic credit for their work experience.

“The ESL/MCC Scholars Program provides an extraordinary opportunity to participating students in both their educational and professional journey,” said Maureen Wolfe, executive vice president/director, human resources and community impact, ESL Federal Credit Union. “As we welcome the sixth class of scholars, we celebrate their accomplishments thus far and the partnership with MCC that allows us to live our Purpose to help our community thrive and prosper.”

“The ESL/MCC Scholars Program continues to be not only a remarkable opportunity for our students, but a wonderful example of a successful earn to learn program in our region,” said Gretchen Wood, Vice President, Institutional Advancement, Monroe Community College and Executive Director, MCC Foundation. “MCC is grateful for ESL’s commitment to investing in our students, our region’s workforce of tomorrow.”

The long-term goal of the program is to retain the students upon graduation from MCC through either full-time employment at ESL, or as they work part-time while pursuing their bachelor’s degrees at a local college or university (with assistance from ESL’s tuition reimbursement program). The program also supports an ESL initiative to recognize and value diversity and inclusion within the workforce.

About ESL Federal Credit Union

With more than 100 years of locally owned history, ESL Federal Credit Union serves as a full-service financial institution to more than 411,000 members and 16,000 businesses. Founded in 1920, the company provides personal banking, business banking, mortgage services, and wealth management services through its locally based 24-branch network; telephone, mobile and online banking; and live chat center.

The Rochester-based financial institution employs approximately 900 people in the Greater Rochester area and holds more than $9 billion in assets. Since 1996, ESL has paid out 28 consecutive Owners’ Dividends to its members totaling more than $265 million. Since the creation of its Community Impact initiative in 2018, ESL has reinvested more than $100 million in grants throughout the community. The company has appeared on Great Place to Work® lists since 2010. ESL Federal Credit Union is headquartered at 225 Chestnut Street, in Rochester, and can be found online at www.esl.org.

For more information, contact:

Rich Pulvino, APR
VP/Director, Marketing
rpulvino@esl.org
585.336.1009