HOMER, GA (March 26, 2025) – Georgia United Credit Union Foundation, in partnership with Georgia United Credit Union, is excited to announce the first of five 2025 Georgia United Foundation Frank Thach EDUCATOR SCHOLARSHIP recipients… Whittney LaHayne of Banks County High School. Whittney is pursuing an Education Specialist degree in Secondary Education from the University of West Georgia. She is a Mountain Education Department Head, and her career goal is to prepare students to enter an ever-changing job market with practical skills.
Whittney shared, “I am deeply thankful and honored to be selected as a recipient of the Frank Thach Educator Scholarship through Georgia United Credit Union. Throughout both my academic pursuits and personal life, I have consistently found that persistent dedication truly does yield meaningful rewards, and this recognition serves as a profound affirmation of that principle.”
For years, the Georgia United Foundation has been dedicated to enriching lives by offering scholarships that make it easier for Georgia families to afford college. These scholarships are awarded annually to empower students to achieve their academic dreams. So far, Georgia United Scholarships have impacted approximately 400 students with over $490,000 disbursed.
Scholarship applications are accepted in January each year at www.gucufoundation.org and are open to credit union members who are high school seniors, college undergraduates, and public-school educators seeking advanced degrees.
LaHayne completed an extensive scholarship application, which included her impact statement, which resonated heavily with the judges.
“An advanced degree represents more than just professional development to me - it's about becoming the best possible educator for my business students. As a high school business teacher, I see firsthand how rapidly the commercial landscape is evolving with technology, global markets, and entrepreneurship opportunities. To effectively prepare my students for this dynamic environment, I need to deepen my expertise and stay at the forefront of business education. Through pursuing an advanced degree, I aim to gain cutting-edge knowledge in both business concepts and pedagogical methods that I can immediately implement in my classroom. For example, I want to develop more engaging project-based learning experiences that simulate real-world business scenarios and help students build practical skills in financial literacy, marketing, and entrepreneurship. The meaningful impact I hope to make is twofold: First, I want to empower my students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to succeed in their future careers or as business owners. Second, I aim to make business education more accessible and relevant to diverse learners by incorporating innovative teaching strategies and real-world applications that resonate with different learning styles and backgrounds.”
About Georgia United Foundation
Georgia United Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life for children and families in the communities it serves through impactful programs funded through corporate contributions and delivered via volunteer efforts from team members and community partners. The foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is the philanthropic arm of Georgia United Credit Union. You may contact the foundation by emailing [email protected].
About Georgia United Credit Union
Georgia United Credit Union is an award-winning financial leader and partner in education. Headquartered in Duluth, Georgia United is ranked as one of the state’s largest credit unions with $2.3 billion in assets and more than 150,000 members. As a full-service financial institution, Georgia United offers competitive products and services for every stage of life. Visit gucu.org to learn more.