UCLA Credit Union Awards $25K in Scholarships to 4 Students

Four university students across California are celebrating life-changing $5,000 scholarships that will help them pursue their dreams of service and leadership.

University Credit Union announced its 2026 scholarship winners this week, recognizing students who excel not just in the classroom but in their communities. Jaehee Lee from UCLA received the Al Aubin Advocacy Scholarship for her commitment to speaking up for others. Jennifer Krebsbach from UC Davis earned the Jane Permaul Women in Leadership Scholarship for her work empowering those around her.

Meilani Abraham from Pepperdine took home the University Credit Union Financial Advantage Scholarship. And Dylan Schoenbrod, also from Pepperdine, became the first recipient of a brand new award with a heartwarming backstory.

The credit union created the Norma Iadevaia Service and Leadership Scholarship to honor their retiring board chair. After years of guiding the organization and championing its members, Iadevaia's legacy will now live on through students dedicated to public service.

"This scholarship will ease my financial burden and allow me to focus fully on my education, growth, and future in public service," Schoenbrod said about receiving the inaugural award.

The Ripple Effect

These scholarships represent more than financial aid. They're investments in future leaders who will carry forward the credit union's mission of community service and financial empowerment.

University Credit Union has been doing this work since 1951, when UCLA employees banded together to create a financial cooperative. Today, the organization serves over 58,000 members, returning profits through better rates and lower fees instead of enriching distant shareholders.

By funding education for students committed to leadership and service, UCU is multiplying its impact. Each scholarship winner will touch countless lives through their future work, creating waves of positive change that extend far beyond a single $5,000 check.

Richard Wada, the credit union's president and CEO, put it perfectly when describing Iadevaia's legacy: her commitment has "expanded the positive impact we're making in advancing financial well-being for our members and communities."

Four students just got the support they need to build futures dedicated to helping others.