$25,000 in Scholarships Awarded to Students Set to Study Community-Inspired Careers

Folsom and Sacramento Valley, Calif. – (July 30, 2026) – Students awarded a total of $25,000 in scholarships from SAFE Credit Union this year plan to pursue a variety of studies impacting their communities ranging from aviation, health care, data science and the performing and visual arts.

“The scholarship committee was impressed by each recipient’s dedication to their education to pursue future careers that will one day contribute to the social and overall health and wellbeing of their communities,” says SAFE Credit Community Impact Manager Lauren LeBov. “We are proud and humbled to make a difference toward their futures.”

SAFE Credit Union awarded $2,500 each to 10 scholarship recipients from El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Sutter counties (Carmichael, El Dorado Hills, Elk Grove, Rocklin, Roseville, West Roseville and Yuba City).

Scholarship awards were based on merit, financial need, grade point average and proof of college acceptance. This year, scholarship committee members reviewed student personal statements and video introductions as well as a letter of recommendation.

The 2026 SAFE scholarship recipients are Grant Bass, Pleasant Grove High School; Cole Broumas, Rocklin High School; Chanyn Eifertsen, Woodcreek High School; Rose Haag, St. Francis Catholic High School; Daybrielle Jackson, Monterey Trail High School; Carter Mitchell, Veritas Scholars Academy; Samiya Takher, River Valley High School; and Swapnil Botu, Makenna Needles, and Jada Totimeh, West Park High School.

Scholarship recipients and their plans include:

Grant Bass will attend Kent State University's accredited Federal Aviation Administration program in Ohio where the Eagle Scout plans to study to become a commercial airline pilot.

“Becoming a pilot will not only fulfill a lifelong dream for me, but I also believe that through becoming a pilot, I will be able to benefit the lives of the people I fly,” he says, adding that good pilots are in short supply.

Swapnil Botu will attend the University of California, Berkeley in the fall. “I’m majoring in data science because it will give me the mathematical, statistical, and technical foundation to solve real-world problems like poverty, which I’ve experienced personally,” Botu wrote in his statement to the scholarship committee.

“I want to use the education to create financial systems that expand access to fair credit for underserved families around the world,” he says.

Cole Broumas, who studied journalism in high school and was the yearbook's editor-in-chief, will attend Chapman University in Irvine to study film.

Broumas says he wants the films he makes to become “a safe haven for people to express their ideas, because we need stories that silently challenge perspectives, inspire reflection, and remind others that they are not alone.”

Chanyn Eifertsen will attend the California State University, Long Beach Bob Cole Conservatory of Music in the fall to study music performance.

“I hope to bring the music and performance skills I learn during college to my community as a professional orchestral trumpet and jazz musician,” Eifertsen says, adding he has seen the power of how music can bring people together while performing at community events.

Rose Haag will attend Gonzaga University in Washington state where she plans to study psychology or pre-med.

A longtime volunteer for Keaton’s Childhood Cancer Alliance, Haag wrote in her statement, “I have always been empathic and sensitive to the needs of others. It has been natural for me to want to be of service to my community.”

Daybrielle Jackson will attend the University of California, Riverside. Jackson, who has been involved in the GetLIFTED Youth Program, a leadership program at her church advocating against drug abuse, plans to pursue a career where she can be in a position to inspire youth to pursue their dreams.

“I strongly believe in investing in my future to help create a better world for future generations,” she says.

Carter Mitchell will attend Jessup University to begin her studies toward becoming a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse.

“My education in nursing will allow me to create meaningful, lasting change in both my community and my family by turning passion into action,” Mitchell writes in her submitted statement.

Makenna Needles will attend Point Loma University in the fall to study psychology. Makenna aspires to become an occupational therapist.

“Through my involvement in sports, volunteering, and working as a swim instructor for young children, I have discovered how much I value helping others grow and gain confidence, “ Needles says. “Whether I am teaching a child how to swim, tutoring a peer, or volunteering in my community, I find purpose in encouraging people and supporting them through challenges.”

Samiya Takher will attend the University of California, Davis in the fall to study medicine. Takher says her ambition is “to become a physician who does more than just practice medicine. I want to advocate and be a resource finder for those patients who otherwise might not have access to it.”

“My interest lies in enhancing awareness of mental health problems in minority groups. Cultural stigma especially for women sometimes prevents them from seeking care,” she adds.

Jada Totimeh will attend Howard University in the fall. In high school, Totimeh was the vice president of the Black Student Union and Interact Club. She plans to pursue a degree in psychology on a pre-med track to becoming a psychiatrist.

“In college, I hope to accomplish three major things: deepen my academic understanding of mental health, develop leadership rooted in service, and prepare myself to advocate for culturally responsive care,” Totimeh wrote in her statement.

SAFE Credit Union’s scholarship awards program offers a continued commitment to uplift individuals and communities through the support of learning a trade or earning a degree in higher education.

The awards this year were open to graduating high school seniors, community college students with 60 credits or more, and graduates planning to attend a trade school.

Since first offering its scholarships nearly 25 years ago, SAFE has awarded more than $225,000 to students living in the 13 Northern California counties the credit union serves.

In addition to scholarships, the credit union supports nonprofits through grants, volunteerism, direct giving, and sponsorships. Other philanthropic initiatives include no-cost financial education for everyone ranging from school-age children to retirees.

For more information email [email protected].