Get to Know the 2024 Maps Credit Union Scholarship Recipients

When you choose a credit union like Maps over a bank for your financial services, your dollars are invested back into your community.  It’s a classic example of opting for “Main Street” over “Wall Street.”

When you open a Maps Free Community Checking account, you become a part of our giveback plan. Every time you swipe your debit card, Maps donates a penny from that transaction to the Maps Community Foundation (MCF)—at no cost to you. With this simple and highly impactful penny-per-swipe model, our members play a key role in supporting community-driven programs (like the Maps Credit Union Scholarships).

Put simply, the amount MCF gives back each year is almost solely dependent upon Maps Credit Union members. Our members make the work we do possible. Since its inception in 2012, the Maps’ Free Community Checking program has contributed well over $1 million back into the community. This year alone, we distributed $35,000 in Maps Credit Union Scholarships (plus $23,000 in other scholarships).

Christina Terhaar (Silverton High School)

Christina Terhaar received a $2,500 Maps Credit Union Scholarship. At Silverton High School, Terhaar was active in student government, volleyball, and the FFA—all while tackling an unexpected diagnosis of a brain tumor. Terhaar envisions a future as an emergency room nurse. She plans to study Emergency Medical Services at Chemeketa Community College. There, she hopes to receive her CNA certification and then a paramedic degree.

After her degree, she hopes to transfer to Western Oregon University to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. “Being awarded this scholarship will allow me to help those who feel alone in their diagnosis just as I did when I was diagnosed with a brain tumor just at 17 years old,” says Terhaar. “This scholarship will help me achieve my career goals by providing me the financial assistance I need to make a difference in the world, just as my nurses, doctors, and surgeons did for me during a very challenging time of my life.”

Kyla Welch (Silverton High School)

Kyla Welch received a $2,500 Maps Credit Union Scholarship. At Silverton High School, she was active in yearbook, STEM programs, track, and Key Club (international student-led organization focused on leadership and serving others).

Welch, however, has a passion for filmmaking and giving life to marginalized voices. She plans to study Media Arts Production at Emerson College. “I see filmmaking not just as a way to shift perceptions, but as a form of activism,” says Welch. “Through the cinema, I hope to contribute to a more inclusive society where all individuals are celebrated and valued for who they are.”

Wyatt Heath (Silverton High School)

Wyatt Heath received a $2,500 Maps Credit Union Scholarship. In high school, the honor student stayed busy with peer tutoring and the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). Heath, who also received a merit grant from Oregon State University, has a passion for problem-solving and hands-on work. He is excited to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering at OSU and focus his studies on renewable energy solutions.

“Building connections with like-minded individuals and industry professionals will be extremely helpful for my growth and development,” says Heath. “I am going to take advantage of any and every opportunity that college offers to help set myself up for a successful career in renewable energy engineering.”

Samuel Stuart (Sprague High School)

Samuel Stuart received a $2,500 Maps Credit Union Scholarship. At Sprague High School, the honor student participated in the robotics and varsity swim team. He also led a project to develop and provide 3D yearbooks to visually impaired students.

Stuart, who has a fascination for the 3D printing process, also received a Finley Academic Excellence Scholarship from Oregon State University. He hopes to study Engineering at OSU, where he’ll focus on additive manufacturing—an emerging technology that involves building layer by layer. “Community collaboration is the driving factor in accelerating the pace of progress,” says Stuart. “My career goals include making developments to the field as a whole, adding to the work that others have done to bring 3D printing to what it is today.”

DeMari Thompson (North Salem High School)

DeMari Thompson received a $2,500 Maps Credit Union Scholarship. The varsity track champion stayed busy at North Salem High School with jazz band and peer tutoring. He also worked 30+ hours a week and played music on the weekends at the Salem Saturday Market. After graduation, he hopes to study Kinesiology and Business at Western Oregon University.

However, it’s unlikely the multi-talented go-getter will give up music. “I’ve always just wanted to be somebody who can spark creativity and imagination in others no matter what their age is,” says Thompson. “Music is most certainly something that everybody should have in their lives. For me to be able to introduce people to fun music is so magical. I use it as my way of giving back.”

Ellie Lucas (South Salem High School)

Ellie Lucas received a $2,500 Maps Credit Union Scholarship. At South Salem High, the honor student and competitive mountain biker was co-captain of the Speech and Debate Team. She also sang with the Symphonic Choir—all this while holding a part-time job. She plans to study English and Pre-Law at Oregon State University. There, she hopes to set the stage for a career as a prosecutor.

Through this, she believes she can help women who have experienced domestic violence, abuse, or assault. “As I move through my life, I have experienced the way relationships and communities can transform people’s lives. I have seen examples of this in almost every community I am involved in,” says Lucas. “Because of my life experiences, I want to approach everything I do in my academics and career with a focus on community, equity, and inclusion as core pillars.”

Yolett Lara Martinez (McKay High School)

Yolett Lara Martinez received a $2,500 Maps Credit Union Scholarship. The McKay honor student was involved in student government and multiple clubs—including the Gay-Straight Alliance, Leadership Club, Math Club, and Music Appreciation Club. She plans to study Psychology at the University of Oregon where she hopes to earn a Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology. Martinez envisions a career as a forensic psychologist for the City of Salem. She strives for this because it merges her two primary interests: criminal justice and psychology.

Through it all, Martinez is driven by a connection with and appreciation for her hardworking, supportive family. “My parents inspire me to achieve my goals because they have always put their children’s needs above all else,” says Martinez. “Consequently, they instilled values within me that propelled my educational aspirations to what they are today.”

Lai Saephanh (McKay High School)

Lai Saephanh received a $2,500 Maps Credit Union Scholarship. The McKay honor student and daughter of immigrant parents played softball in high school and tutored her peers in her free time. Saephanh considered a lot of careers over the years but admits she has always known she wanted to be a nurse.

This choice was, perhaps, inspired by her experience caring for her grandmother, who was diagnosed with hemiplegia. She notes, “I will never be able to show her my true appreciation, but this is one way I can.” Saephanh also volunteered weekly at Kaiser Permanente, providing companionship and care to patients while supporting the Kaiser staff. She hopes to pursue Nursing at Chemeketa Community College. “Essentially, my parents are my motivation,” says Saephanh. “Moving to the United States, my parents’ dream for me was always to live the life they wish they had and not struggle like they did… If I could do anything to make my parents proud of me, it would be to become a Nurse.”

Areli Torres (Woodburn High School)

Areli Torres received a $2,500 Maps Credit Union Scholarship. At Woodburn High School, the honor student stayed active in sports (like volleyball, softball, and cheerleading). She was also involved in Key Club, Feed the Hungry, and other service-driven groups through her church. Motivated by her family and a passion for giving back, Torres plans to study Nursing at George Fox University. She has a fascination with the medical field and hopes to eventually become a physician’s assistant or nurse.

“Suffering and pain are currently affecting people all around us [and] I at least want to be a part of the change people want to see,” says Torres. “I can make it to that point in life with dedication and determination. I can reach my aspirations in both college and career by taking full responsibility for how I get there. Setting these goals and having hopes for myself is the foundation of my pursuits. With them, I can achieve so much.”

Emma Swartzfager (Central High School)

Emma Swartzfager received a $2,500 Maps Credit Union Scholarship. At Central High School, the honor student was active in student government and became ASB president her senior year. She hopes to study Psychology at Western Washington University. It’s a field she became interested in after experiencing a frightening personal crisis.

“I became very enamored with the human brain and how such diseases of depression and anxiety affect it,’ says Swartzfager.  “I’ve noticed how social media and the increased digital use contribute to the uproar of mental health issues faced by teenagers today. I want to continue to research things such as this in college and understand how our country can work to combat this. “

Manya Vaquera (John F. Kennedy High School)

Manya Vaquera received a $2,5000 Maps Credit Union Scholarship. At John F. Kennedy High School, the honor student was active in volleyball and student government. She served multiple terms as Class President and was ASB Vice President from 2023 to 2024. She has also been active in the community, organizing blood drives, volunteering for the Red Cross, and helping support the Mt. Angel Oktoberfest.

After high school, Vaquera hopes to study Nursing at a yet-to-be-determined school. “I will speak up about my dreams and I will pursue an education because that is my dream,” says Vaquera. “As a minority woman, my education is an opportunity to represent my race and be an advocate for patients of minority status.”

Hanna Krahmer (Cascade High School + Willamette Career Academy)

Hanna Krahmer received a $2,500 Maps Credit Union Scholarship. During high school, Krahmer was very active in programs like Future Farmers of America (FFA), 4-H, and the American Boer Goat Association (ABGA).  The 2023-2024 Linn-Benton County Dairy Princess Ambassador was able to represent the dairy industry at local events and in classrooms across the region. She plans to study Ag Management and Diesel Technology at Linn Benton Community College.

“As I enter the next phase of my education, my course of study will propel me toward a career that utilizes my unique skill set to not only work in production agriculture but also be a voice in the agriculture industry,” says Krahmer. “Farmers are my favorite people. I live and breathe agriculture and I look forward to finding a career where I can continue to make an impact, striving to help tell the story of production ag while working in the industry would be a dream.”

Logan Skipper (West Salem High School)

Logan Skipper received a $2,500 Maps Credit Union Scholarship. He also recently completed an internship with Maps. At West Salem High School, Skipper was active in sports, like lacrosse and football. The honor student also volunteered with the Lion’s Club and participated in his school’s Future Business Leaders of America club. He plans to study International Business at the University of Southern California (USC). After earning his bachelor’s degree, he hopes to further his education and earn a law degree. He envisions a future career as an attorney specializing in immigration law.

“I’m motivated to achieve these goals because I feel that I have been blessed with the ability and passion to use my voice to help the underrepresented and disadvantaged around me,” says Skipper. “As an immigration attorney, I feel that I can use my passion to make an impact on many generations who are trying to pursue the American Dream.”

Laila Ceja (South Salem High School)

Laila Ceja received a $2,500 Maps Credit Union Scholarship. At South Salem High School, the honor student served as a mentor in the Saxon Youth Mentoring Program and offered peer tutoring. She also participated in the Latino Club and founded the Black, Indigenous People of Color Book Club. She plans to study Pre-Med and Psychology at a yet-to-be-determined school.

“This scholarship will empower me to achieve my goal of positively impacting individuals’ mental and physical well-being through a career in medicine,” says Ceja. “Your investment in my education not only represents my personal development but also the advancement of pre-med psychology as a field. It will enable me to make meaningful contributions to the field, benefiting both individuals and society as a whole.”