Golden 1 Credit Union (Golden 1) announced that it has awarded scholarships to local area students, including Amrit Sahota of Rio Linda. More than 20 students in the Greater Sacramento area and 43 overall received a Golden 1 scholarship, which is awarded based on a student’s academic achievements, community involvement, extracurricular activities, education, and career goals.
“Golden 1 is committed to doing our part to help California’s future leaders, like Dallas, Jacqueline, Miranda, and Amrit, achieve their educational goals and dreams. Our annual scholarship program is one of the most important ways we give back to our members and the communities we are proud to serve.”
Erica Taylor, Vice President of Communications and Community Relations for Golden 1 Credit Union
Amrit Sahota, San Jose State University
Amrit Sahota is a first-generation college student who is majoring in Psychology at San Jose State University. During her Rio Linda High School years, Sahota was involved in many extracurricular activities, including varsity soccer and softball. She enjoys giving back to her community by volunteering at her Sikh Temple where she was part of a team that aids members and their families with free events and service.
“One value that has always been at the forefront of my Sikh community is our commitment to help anyone in need. Through volunteering, we have been able to help feed hundreds of families and provide the support people need to get back on their feet.”
Amrit Sahota
Fascinated by how the mind works, Sahota plans to one day pursue her master’s degree and become a counseling therapist to give back to the community through social work and counseling.
“I am confident I can reach my full potential by obtaining my degree and using it to give back to my community in a meaningful way through counseling,” said Sahota. “I feel incredibly blessed and thankful that I was given this opportunity by Golden 1.
Dallas Vue, California State University, Sacramento
The youngest of seven siblings, Dallas Vue was born and raised by Hmong refugee parents in Sacramento where he attended Grant Union High School. Faced with many obstacles throughout his life and education, Vue found success in high school where he was active in multiple sports, participated in more than 10 extracurricular activities, and graduated in the top 4% of his class.
“I knew in high school that obtaining my college degree would give me lifelong opportunities and allow me to chase my American Dream of becoming a physician or scientist,” said Vue.
He has since received four associate’s degrees, as well as a Certificate of Achievement from American River College. He is now in his junior year at California State University, Sacramento where he will be obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Biomedical Sciences.
Watching his aunt and uncle both battle cancer has motivated Vue to pursue a career in medicine to further explore more about diseases. Vue also participated in the Workforce Investment Act where he participated in a healthcare exploration program, acting as a student assistant for registered nurses in the Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant unit at Sutter General Hospital.
“There are not many Hmong physicians and scientists, so Hmong elders are sometimes reticent to go to the hospital for checkups or to treat illnesses,” said Vue. “A career in research and in the medical and health care fields will help me advance human health and science, advocating and caring for others because learning is never-ending.”
Vue participated in the 2021 Virtual Howard University Leadership Alliance Summer Research – Early Identification Program where he authored a publication in the journal of Zoonoses, titled “Zika Virus Overview: Transmission, Origin, Pathogenesis, Animal Model and Diagnosis” to help find a cure for the Zika Virus.
“I am so grateful for Golden 1 investing in me and believing that I will one day become a leader in the medical field and in my community,” said Vue. “This is a reminder that I am not alone on my higher education journey.”
Jacqueline Nguyen, University of California, Berkeley
As an Elk Grove native and Franklin High School graduate, Jacqueline Nguyen was deeply involved in her community and high school leadership. She was voted class president her freshman, sophomore, and junior year by her peers, and was promoted to student body president her senior year. In this leadership role, Nguyen dedicated her time to creating a fun, inclusive, and safe environment, including creating a Mental Wellness Room where students could practice healthy coping mechanisms.
“My work in student government fostered a passion for building community and a strong emphasis on inclusivity and diversity, which I continue to carry with me today,” said Nguyen.
Nguyen is now entering her junior year at the University of California, Berkeley where she is double majoring in Economics and Business after being inspired by her passion for helping others. She credits her success to her family, and her mom for being her biggest role model. As a first-generation immigrant from Vietnam, her mother came to the United States in pursuit of better opportunities for her children and has always taught Nguyen to face any challenge head on.
“My mother’s encouragement helped me build the tenaciousness and passion that I now pour into my many community involvements. With the financial support of the Golden 1 Scholarship, I will be able to continue making a strong impact on my community and family,” said Nguyen.
Miranda Brandenburg, University of California, Santa Barbara
Miranda Brandenburg, a graduate from Folsom High School, was very involved in her community throughout high school. Volunteering at the local food bank and teaching young children at her church, she has always been passionate about helping people, which inspired her to pursue a degree in Biopsychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) as a first-generation college student after receiving her associate’s degree from Sierra College.
“Joining the UCSB community as a first-generation transfer student presented a series of obstacles that traditional students likely did not face,” said Brandenburg. “I am proud of myself for achieving this goal not only for my own benefit, but for my family. Through their unwavering support and strong determination, I was able to navigate this transition successfully.”
After finishing her undergraduate studies at UCSB, Brandenburg plans to obtain a master’s degree in Psychology with the hopes of becoming a LGBTQ+ youth counselor or entering the field of family counseling.
Brandenburg is grateful for the opportunity to go to college and to pursue her passions. She also credits Golden 1 with being there every step along the way.
“Personally, this scholarship represents my loyalty to Golden 1. I have been a Golden 1 member since I was 9 years old, and I can say with certainty, I will be a member for life,” said Brandenburg. “Additionally, this scholarship also represents Golden 1’s loyalty to me. From opening my first savings account at 9 years old, to getting an auto loan at 16 years old, to now receiving a life-changing scholarship at 21 years old, Golden 1 has played a crucial role not only in my education but in my life.”
The Golden 1 Credit Union Scholarship Program provides members and their dependents financial assistance, valued at up to $20,000 per student, for full-time students who plan to attend accredited, nonprofit two-year community colleges or four-year colleges and universities in California. Since the program began in 2013, Golden 1 has awarded nearly 500 scholarships to college-bound students throughout the state. For more information, visit golden1.com/our-community/scholarships.
ABOUT GOLDEN 1 CREDIT UNION
With more than $18 billion in assets, Golden 1 Credit Union is one of the largest and most admired credit unions in the United States and proudly serves all those who live or work in California. Golden 1 delivers financial solutions with value, convenience, and exceptional service to members. As a dynamic and trusted leader, Golden 1 is committed to enhancing the financial well-being of Californians and their diverse communities. Golden 1 is more than 1 million members strong and has more than 2,000 employees. Visit golden1.com for more information.
