Announcing the Roger Heacock Scholarship Recipients

Four Dakota credit union professionals receive financial assistance to attend the biggest credit union event of the year! ​

The North and South Dakota Governmental Affairs Committees have approved four Roger Heacock Scholarship awards totaling $5,000 for Dakota credit union professionals attending the 2022 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) on February 27 – March 3 in Washington, D.C.
 
The recipients include: 

• Chad Bartosh – Chief Lending Officer – Railway CU (Mandan, ND)
• Lacey Fetch – CEO – University FCU (Grand Forks, ND)
• Tyler Gross – Loan Analyst – Sioux Valley Co-op FCU (Watertown, SD)
• Andy Kronaizl – VP of Lending – Vermillion FCU (Vermillion, SD)

 
The Roger Heacock Scholarship fund was established in 2021 to provide financial assistance for DakCU affiliated members to attend the CUNA GAC or the fall Legislative-Regulatory Hike the Hill meetings. The purpose of the scholarship fund is to cultivate, promote, and energize member credit union professionals and volunteers in the grassroots advocacy process. Assistance varies, based on the number of qualified applicants and funds available for each event.
 
“Roger Heacock truly understood that legislative and regulatory advocacy is at the core of our movement’s purpose and a top priority,” says Jeff Olson, DakCU President/CEO. “He always led by example, mentoring and motivating others to be engaged on all fronts. More importantly, he knew that public opinion, policy shifts, and regulations affect how we serve our members, and that grass roots advocacy will be our greatest contribution to our sustainable success. His personal financial contribution to this fund ensures Dakota credit union professionals have the necessary financial assistance to be actively engaged in the advocacy process going forward,” he concluded.
 
Since 2009, the association has provided a total of $61,000 in financial assistance to 81 Dakota credit union advocates so that they could attend the CUNA GAC or participate our fall Legislative/Regulatory Hike the Hill. Most of the recipients have been small credit union leaders and volunteers. The scholarships are open to all affiliated credit union executives, staff, and volunteer members. Assistance varies each year and is based on the number of qualified applicants and funds available.
 
CUNA's Governmental Affairs Conference is the credit union movement's premier political event, and the largest national conference of the credit union industry. During the event, nearly 5,000 credit union professionals gather for the opportunity to hear from influential leaders from Congress, the Administration, as well as federal regulatory agencies and nationally known motivational speakers.