December 10, 2025 - For Immediate Release
Albuquerque, N.M. – Nusenda Credit Union has announced its 2025 Financial Education Innovation Award winners. These awards demonstrate the credit union’s longtime commitment to strengthening communities and investing in solutions that improve financial outcomes for the next generation.
“We are excited to recognize these innovative educators, organizations, and for the first time students who share our commitment to financial well-being,” said Michelle Dearholt, President and CEO of Nusenda Credit Union. “The creativity and passion from these winners are inspiring and play a vital role in building brighter financial futures. Whether it’s a classroom lesson, a community program, or a student demonstrating financial responsibility, these awardees are setting powerful examples of financial success with those around them.”
This year, Nusenda awarded a total of $47,000 across three categories:
- Student Awards: 12 students each received $1,000 scholarships
- Organization Awards: Three organizations were each awarded $10,000 grants
- Educator Award: One classroom teacher received a $5,000 grant
2025 Organization Award Winners
Umoja ABQ - Umoja ABQ supports refugee women and diverse communities by offering driving classes, English as a Second Language, women’s health courses, and financial literacy programs. These initiatives help participants overcome barriers to self‑sufficiency while building skills in budgeting, saving, and consumer rights.
Film Las Cruces - Film Las Cruces provides a twelve‑week internship program that gives aspiring filmmakers hands‑on experience across production departments, marketing, and event organization. Interns learn financial literacy through budgeting for productions, understanding nonprofit structures, and leveraging New Mexico’s film incentives.
Girls Inc. of Santa Fe - Girls Inc. of Santa Fe enhances financial confidence and competence among girls through its Economic Literacy program. Using age‑appropriate, hands‑on curricula, participants learn to save, invest, budget, and take informed financial risks while exploring issues of economic justice such as equal pay.
2025 Educator Award Winner: Jessica Baldanado, Los Lunas High School.
Jessica leads a student service club that operates three free community stores: a food pantry, thrift store, and a hygiene closet. Through these initiatives, students gain hands-on experience with budgeting, inventory, and resource management while addressing food insecurity and basic needs among classmates. The program equips students with practical financial literacy and employability skills, preparing them to make informed decisions and also support their community.
2025 Student Award Winners
Twelve second‑year post‑secondary students each received $1,000 scholarships for demonstrating a strong personal commitment to financial well‑being and serving as role models in their homes and communities.
Student recipients include:
- Central New Mexico Community College (Albuquerque, NM): Itzel Vicente Ortega, Marieny Sarabia Trejo, Vanessa Bojorquez
- Eastern New Mexico University (Portales, NM): Braden Mounyo
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (Socorro, NM): Alexander Luke
- New Mexico State University (Las Cruces, NM): Gordon Lee, Roman McAdams
- University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM): Desirae Gucito, Isabel Otero, Jayce McCloud, Tanner Dils
- University of the Southwest (Hobbs, NM): Haylee Hernandez
Each student exemplified how individual dedication to financial responsibility can ripple outward, inspiring families and communities to build brighter financial futures.
Congratulations to this year’s recipients! For more information and to find out when next year’s applications are open, visit our Nusenda Foundation webpage.
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About Nusenda Credit Union
Nusenda Credit Union is New Mexico’s largest locally owned and operated credit union with over 280,000 members and more than 900 employees. It has more than 30 branches throughout New Mexico and West Texas, serving the communities of Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, Taos, Valencia County, Socorro, Deming, Las Cruces, and El Paso. There are hundreds of ways to join the credit union. Connect with Nusenda Credit Union at www.nusenda.org; Facebook @NusendaCU; Twitter @NusendaCU; and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nusenda-credit-union.
Insured by NCUA | Equal Opportunity Lender
Media Contact: Eric Harrison, (505) 610-0419 or [email protected]