Students Awarded More Than $9,000
Congratulations to Sunward’s essay scholarship winners, and thank you to the 30 members who volunteered their time as judges. This is the 22nd consecutive year Sunward has awarded college scholarships. Of the 70 applications submitted, 12 winners were selected to receive awards ranging from $250 to $3,000. Students submitted essays describing how a financial misconception affected their saving and spending habits.
Here are excerpts from the winning essays:
Kristen Lundberg – First Place
“It is easy to understand the misconception that ‘little’ things, like a morning Starbucks run or that extra pair of shoes on sale, stay little. After all, what difference will a few dollars really make? However, it is important to realize just how quickly ‘little’ things add up. Now, I place more value on the money I have. I search for ways to spend time with friends for free and avoid spending money, even small amounts, on things that I don’t really need or want.”
Kristen will attend Calvin College.
Colton Sniegowski – Second Place
“I have also made it a priority when considering money to guarantee that my spending will not put me at risk of having no funds for my bills. Paying bills in advance rather than waiting close to their due date and paying off my credit card balance each month has also become a habit.”
Colton attends West Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University..
Sierra Robinson
“I have become more aware of what I spend. Would I buy this if I had no extra money? Simultaneously, I am more willing to give money away to people who look like they’re having a hard time financially. The seven dollars that I gave a homeless girl last month to feed her dogs is nothing to me now. But that girl and my six-year-old self would be in total agreement: seven dollars is a lot of money.”
Sierra will attend Western New Mexico University.
Priyanka Jain
“Saving regularly, even small amounts of money, can be significant. I am really proud to say that now, after four years, I am on solid footing towards a secure financial future thanks to my ‘slow and steady wins the race’ attitude. In the end, I proved that it is not important how much money you make, but how much money you decide to save and invest.”
Priyanka will attend the University of Notre Dame..
Joseph Allen
“When I discovered the obvious, that is, my wasted spending on intangibles, I began to pay attention to my spending habits. I wanted all of my purchases to be as thoughtful and deliberate as a big ticket purchase. I do not have a lot of money, but what I do have matters. I am now able to be a better steward of my money, saving the bulk of what I earn to use toward the pursuit of my educational goals.”
Joseph will attend the University of Missouri.
Delsie Morrison
“Although the misconception that making more money allows you to buy whatever you want has really put me in a situation where I do not have any money in savings and I have a lot of debt, I have learned a lot from the process. I have had to research how to make a budget and how to track my spending. I have also learned ideas for saving money, no matter how little it may be.”
Delsie attends Grand Canyon University.
Jacob Hatcher
“It wasn’t until this year, when I took economics, that I realized how serious credit card debt is and how hard it is to get out from under it. You can’t take your money with you to the grave and I think it is very important to spend money on things that you enjoy, but finding that balance between spending and saving and not spending when you shouldn’t is what I want and need to do.”
Jacob will attend the University of New Mexico.
Caroline Stapleton
“When you are a child you never really think about where money is coming from. Now that I have been in college for two years, I realize the importance of saving and utilizing my finances in the most thoughtful way possible. With the rising cost of student loans and their financial impact after graduation, it is imperative to minimize personal debt.”
Caroline attends New Mexico State University.
Karleen Walters
“The misconception that teenagers and young adults don’t need to start saving money till later in life has led many to find themselves in crippling student debt, ultimately affecting their long term goals. I refuse to be a part of student loan statistics and am determined to take the steps it will take to graduate debt free so I can focus on my goals without any financial burden.”
Karleen attends the University of Kansas
Nicole Castellano
“A misconception that has impacted the way I view money is job security. With every paycheck I obtain, I save 50% of it to always have money in case of an emergency, and with the other half I pay car bills or necessities. I believe that having a set savings amount can help when you are in need of money or if an emergency comes along.”
Nicole will attend the University of New Mexico
Kalista Wilson
“The misconception that $2,000 was ‘a lot of money’ led me to have terrible spending habits. I figured that a transfer of $20-$50 here or there from my savings was not that big of a deal. Now that I am about to leave home to attend college I will be solely responsible for my money; because I already learned the lessons I did, I will not make the same mistakes when the consequences could be greater.”
Kalista will attend Trinity University
Pablo Edgar
“It is a misconception that college is affordable solely with scholarships. Scholarships are there to help with the burden of college, but it is up to the students to work hard to find other ways to pay for college. I’ve gained valuable financial skills that I will continue to use throughout my college career that will help me to diminish debt and graduate in a financially stable position.”
Pablo will attend the University of New Mexico
