COLUMBUS, IND. (May 6, 2026) — Two local high school graduates have been awarded the Loretta M. Burd Scholarship. This program awards one graduating high school senior per Centra Credit Union location with a $2,500 scholarship each year.
This year’s local recipients are:
- Aubree Eldridge, Scottsburg High School
- Cadence Helton, Scottsburg High School
Please join Centra in congratulating these deserving students on their award!
The Centra Foundation also awards $2,500 adult scholarships to adult or non-traditional students who have returned to school to pursue a degree or certification. The Centra Foundation would like to recognize Shirley Shea for her support of the Loretta M. Burd Adult Scholarship Program. This year’s adult scholarship recipients are Sophia Ramirez, Hyrum Croft, Roman Ramirez Herrera, Tory Hatton, Barbara Handt and Yasmin Vargas.
New this year, the program awarded two additional scholarships to individuals pursuing a technical trade or certification program. Those recipients are Cierra Newcomb (Columbus) and Joseph Gray (Seymour).
Named in honor of Loretta M. Burd, who retired from Centra Credit Union after 47 years of service, the Loretta M. Burd Scholarship Program is designed to help local students pursuing a college or technical school education.
All applications are reviewed on academic achievements, school and community involvement, work history and a short essay about financial literacy. The scholarship places value on well-rounded students who display a strong work ethic and involvement in their local community. The full list of winners is available at https://www.centra.org/centrafoundation/scholarships/
The Loretta M. Burd Scholarship Program is one of many programs the Centra Foundation and Centra Credit Union have to give back to their Members and the Communities they serve. In 2025, Centra and the Centra Foundation gave back more than $460,000 to the communities they serve.
About Centra Foundation
Centra Foundation is the charitable arm of Centra Credit Union and was formed to extend the credit union’s mission of “People Helping People.” The Centra Foundation is centered on caring and aims to support charitable efforts that help meet the needs of communities where Centra Members live and work.
About Centra Credit Union
Centered around its Members, Centra Credit Union is a community-based, full-service financial institution with 28 branch locations throughout central and southern Indiana, as well as in Jamestown, New York and Whitakers, North Carolina. Founded in 1940 on the principle of “People Helping People,” Centra strives to create value for Members, Team Members and the communities it serves. With more than $2 billion in total assets, Centra is among the ten largest credit unions in the state of Indiana.
