In its 18th year of assisting Flathead Valley Community College students with its Community Pride Scholarships, Whitefish Credit Union shows no signs of letting up.

In the most recent fall scholarships, the credit union gave out $3,000 to several FVCC students, and the cumulative amount has topped $88,000.

Sue Schenck, director of Business Development for the credit union, said it isn’t the usual scholarship.

“There’s a little bit of a niche we’ve developed,” she said. “They tend to go to more nontraditional students and can be used to buy tires or help with gas. We don’t make them buy books.”

The application process tries to make sure the money given will stay local.

Colleen Unterreiner, executive director for Institutional Advancement at FVCC, said there were some other criteria to meet.

“Students in financial need get these,” she said. “But they also have potential for academic and career success. On behalf of FVCC and our foundation, we’re very grateful for Whitefish Credit Union’s longtime support.”

Over the 18-year period, 263 students have received scholarships, usually around $500.

This fall, six students got help to complete their degrees: Brandi Simpson of Bigfork, Anna Burdette and Kari Marsenich of Whitefish and Meghan Danford-Komenda, James Nutzman and Keri Kelly of Kalispell.

Kelly, 31, who graduated from FVCC’s nursing program in May, said the $500 could pay for an entire class as she prepares for a registered nursing program.

She said the passion for nursing came later in life.

“The first, initial light bulb was during the earthquake in Haiti,” Kelly said. “I just felt useless. I wanted to be there, helping.”

She said the money would help her as she looks into working for a Doctors Without Borders-type of organization.

Kelly, a Wisconsin native, has lived for several years in the Flathead. Schenck said Whitefish Credit Union tries to make sure the money gets circulated locally.

“It all stays here,” she said. “We want the money to go back into the community.”

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.