More than 400 Seattle-area college students start the year with extra money to purchase textbooks
The month of September marks many firsts for students. The first day of fall, first day of a new school year, new friends, and maybe new surprises.
SEATTLE, Sept. 29, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- College classes are back in session, and 405 students at three local community colleges are going back to school with smiles across their faces.
Students at Green River College attended the first day of class this week. The air was crisp and cool as the day marked a new year and new memories for students to make. As students walked through campus to get to class and purchase textbooks from the college bookstore, they were surprised by an unfamiliar booth sitting outside of the bookstore.
Inspirus Credit Union invited students to 'spin the wheel' for a chance to win a gift card of $10, $25, or $50 to the student bookstore. The gift cards were intended to offset the high cost of college textbooks. According to The National Association of College Stores, students spend an average of $655 on college textbooks each year. The high cost of college textbooks can be a burdensome to students who have also recently paid for tuition.
One student walked back to the Inspirus booth after visiting the bookstore, and with a confident voice said, "You helped me get the notebooks I needed for my technology classes, thank you."
"We believe in the lifelong learners of Washington, and want to empower student success in their education and beyond," said President and CEO of Inspirus Credit Union Scott Adkins. "For some students, this was a way to celebrate their first day of school, and to others, this was a day that allowed them to get the supplies they really need for the school year."
Green River College was one of three local college recipients where students were surprised with bookstore gift cards to offset the cost of college textbooks on the first day of school. Other gift card recipients were students at Everett Community and Highline Community Colleges.
"This was the second year Inspirus surprised our students at Highline with bookstore gift cards," said Highline Bookstore Manager Kristi Dopp. "Our students were welcomed back to school with a fun surprise that gave them both the resources they needed to purchase their school textbooks, and offered a positive outlook on starting the new school year."
About Inspirus Credit Union
Founded in 1936 by a Seattle math and journalism teacher, Inspirus serves 80,000 members across Washington who share a passion for education. With $1.2 billion in assets, Inspirus operates branches in Seattle, Spokane, and Lynnwood. Its philanthropy model includes education-giveback programs that allow members to direct charitable contributions to teachers and schools in their communities. Inspirus team members donate upwards of 1,000 volunteer hours each year in support of education. Inspirus Credit Union is a 2017 winner of Puget Sound Business Journal's Corporate Champion Awards, honoring their contributions to education. For more information, visit inspirusCU.org.
SOURCE Inspirus Credit Union
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