North Island Credit Union funds STEM education for 650 San Diego students on USS Midway

(L-R) North Island Credit Union VP, 5th & Laurel Branch Manager Sean Swanson; North Island Credit Union VP, Kearny Mesa & NAS Branch Manager Dino Santos; North Island Credit Union VP, Regional Manager Therese Caballes; North Island Senior School & Community Development Officer Shadi Poustchi with students from Lakeside Farms Elementary School

North Island Credit Union is extending its partnership with the USS Midway Museum to fund STEM education programs for students from Title 1 schools across San Diego. 

With a $15,000 contribution to the museum’s “No Child Left Ashore” scholarship fund, the credit union will support 650 students from underserved communities, providing access to the Midway STEM Education Onboard Field Trip program.

Through this funding, the credit union covers tuition and transportation for students who qualify for the Midway’s scholarship, allowing them to engage in hands-on learning activities on topics including maths, electricity, social sciences, and weather. 

The Midway’s programs are designed to engage elementary and middle school students with real-world STEM applications and to encourage interest in further studies and careers within the field.

North Island Credit Union President and CEO Steve O'Connel, stated:

"As a credit union originally founded to serve military and civil service personnel, we are honored to support the USS Midway Museum's outstanding youth and teacher initiatives. USS Midway is a tremendous resource to our community, and we are excited to help expand access to its STEM programs to new students and educators across San Diego."

North Island Credit Union has supported the USS Midway Museum’s youth and educational initiatives since 2015, donating over $167,000 during that time. 

Located in downtown San Diego, the USS Midway CV-41 served as America’s longest-operating aircraft carrier of the 20th century before becoming an interactive museum. 

The museum’s School and Youth Programs are held in educational facilities on board and welcome more than 1 million visitors each year.

North Island Credit Union, operating in San Diego and Riverside Counties, is a division of California Credit Union, serving more than 200,000 members with a focus on educational and community initiatives.

Tina Chin, education director at the USS Midway Museum, said:

"Due to North Island Credit Union's single-minded devotion to education and the youth of San Diego, hundreds and hundreds of school aged children get to learn about math, electricity, social science, weather, and more aboard the USS Midway Museum as they walk in the footsteps of the thousands of sailors who came before them.

"Additionally, students learn about the price of freedom, civic responsibility and being an Everyday Hero on the aircraft carrier as well as back in their own schools and communities. I am deeply grateful that the credit union's generosity year after year allows us to do some of the heavy lifting in the support of teachers and students."