A Focus on Education

Sunward scholarship winner Bella Starkweather is following in her sisters’ footsteps by attending the University of New Mexico. One sister is a junior at UNM and another is a sophomore, so as the third and final Starkweather in college, the scholarship has been a huge help, Bella says.

Although she grew up in Albuquerque, she lives on the UNM campus. "I'm a soccer player, and all athletes stay on campus," she says. "Living on campus has helped me transition to college." She's put the money from her Sunward scholarship toward tuition, room, and board. "It's been a real blessing."

Bella has checking and savings accounts at Sunward, as well as the credit union’s debit and credit cards. "I met with a representative at the Juan Tabo branch, and he walked me through getting my cards and explained how to use them properly."

Bella's mother works for Sandia National Laboratories, and her father is a lawyer. She intends to go to law school after receiving her undergraduate degree in finance. The research she did for her scholarship essay helped broaden her understanding of the financial world, she says.

Currently, her favorite class is Introduction to Accounting. She says the logic and methodology appeal to her. "I like how it all balances in the end."