TruWest Credit Union recently strengthened its longstanding partnership with Mesa Community College and support of students participating in its First Year Experience program with a $40,000 grant and in-kind programs for the participants and their parents.

“We are honored to support the Mesa Community College First Year Experience program, reducing barriers for students and supporting their academic success,” Alan Althouse, president and CEO of TruWest Credit Union, said in a release. “This is a special program that has an impact on both the students and their families. We look forward to supporting the First Year Experience program for years to come.”

The grant covers tuition and fees for approximately 50 students and funds student leadership opportunities through stipends for FYE ambassadors for the 2022-23 academic year. In-kind programs include financial literacy workshops for the students and their parents led by TruWest professionals.

“The workshops hosted by First Year Experience, Foundation for Student Success, and TruWest were so beneficial,” Grace Johnson, FYE student and ambassador, said. “TruWest and this program have been a great support system to not only me but every student in the program, and I could not be more thankful for this experience.”

FYE is a year-long program focused on providing services and support needed to successfully transition to college. Participants must have attended one of six high schools in the Mesa Public Schools system and may be first generation students or students in need of additional academic support in English, math and reading.

“These last few years we have seen our partnership blossom with TruWest leadership and employees investing in our students through their time, expertise, and generous donations in support of First Year student success,” Melissa Carpenter, director of MCC Foundations for Student Success, said. “TruWest understands the difference a college education can make in the lives of first-generation college students. They also believe in service to the local community.”

Since 2019 TruWest has provided $135,600 in grants to the MCC FYE program, supporting more than 235 FYE participants.

In addition to supporting the FYE program at MCC, TruWest regularly contributes food, clothing, personal hygiene and cleaning supplies to the Mesa Market, an on-campus pantry for MCC students. In 2020, the credit union refurbished the space used for the market on the MCC Southern and Dobson Campus.

TruWest Credit Union has 12 branch locations — eight in metro Phoenix and four in Austin, Texas. For more information, go to truwest.org.

Mesa Community College is one of 10 colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District. Go to mesacc.edu to learn more.