news.gcefcu.netGulf Coast Educators Federal Cre

12/19/2012 Gulf Coast Educators FCU CEO Named Pasadena ISD Distinguished Citizen Gulf Coast Educators FCU CEO Linda Lukaszewski was honored as the Pasadena Independent School District's 2012 Distinguished Citizen at a reception in front of a crowd of friends, family, coworkers and community leaders. The award was presented to Lukaszewski by PISD superintendent Dr. Kirk Lewis and Marshall Kendrick, President of the PISD Board of Trustees. Since becoming CEO of the credit union, Lukaszewski has cultivated a culture of volunteerism and involvement in education in local districts. She has encouraged many of the credit union’s employees to serve local districts through mentoring and volunteering. She leads through example by serving on the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation and mentoring elementary school children through the HOSTS program. Through her leadership, the credit union has board members on several area education foundations that have volunteered hundreds of hours of time and the credit union has donated over $100,000 in the last several years to help fund the work of area education foundations. Dr. Lewis said, "We as a district know that we can count on Linda in everything that we do. We would not be able to do what we do here in Pasadena without people like Linda Lukaszewski." When asked about why she volunteers, Lukaszewski said, "I volunteer because I like it." 11/10/2012 dit Union Awards 14 Classroom Grants to Local Area Teachers Each school year, teachers across the country spend hundreds of their own dollars to buy needed supplies for their classrooms and students. Teachers do so willingly for the benefit of their students, but it does represent a financial burden for many. It is a situation that many of the employees at Gulf Coast Educators have witnessed firsthand through parents, siblings, spouses and children who teach. At the beginning of this school year, the credit union decided to offer teachers who are members of the credit union the opportunity to apply for a $100 classroom supplies grant to help ease the burden of purchasing classroom supplies. The response was overwhelming with over 300 requests. The grant requests were reviewed by a committee and fourteen grants were awarded. The grant requests ranged from basic supplies to software to science materials. The following 14 teachers received grants: Maria Gallegos, Houston ISD for the purchase of materials for grammar and spelling and journals to be used by students. Christine Hawthorne, Dickinson ISD for the purchase of materials to make rubber band cars to demonstrate Newton’s Laws of Motion for the entire 6th grade at her school. Christian Frandsen, Pasadena ISD to implement financial literacy concepts by converting the classroom into ancient Babylon. Marty Gibson, Pearland ISD for the purchase of science materials such as petri dishes, test tubes, and composting materials. Laura Rachita, Friendswood ISD to purchase musical instruments for use by 4th and 5th graders. Maria Magampo, Clear Creek ISD for reusable materials to facilitate group experiments and reporting in her physics class. Dianna Peacock, Friendswood ISD to purchase perishable items needed to bring science experiments alive for the third graders at her school. Julie Taylor, Deer Park ISD for the purchase of consumable science materials to study the life cycle. Callie Harmon, Clear Creek ISD to purchase several scientific models to help students understand abstract concepts through concrete visual aids. Karen Grounds, Pasadena ISD to help integrate vocation activities for special needs students such as a mock grocery store, bank and restaurant. Marcie Miller, Deer Park ISD to purchase an online program to assist students with writing by offering high interest activities. Harmony Pratt, Bay Area Christian School for the purchase of human anatomy dry erase boards. Suzanne Bryant, Pasadena ISD to introduce a wide variety of math manipulatives into her classroom. Ashley Smith, Pasadena ISD for the purchase of materials to integrate literacy and math in the classroom. The credit union hopes to expand this program next year and allow the public to assist by funding the unfunded grants since the need is so great....