All award recipients and recognition

Each year, we honor credit union rockstars for their dedication and effort to the credit union movement in Kansas or Missouri. A selection committee may select a nominee(s) meeting the minimum criteria. We recognize selected nominees at our annual Convention & Annual Meeting.

Questions? Contact Susan Dyer, 800.392.3074, x1362.

Heartland Credit Union Association awards

hcua professional of the year award

Professional of the Year

Credit union employees illustrate the people helping people philosophy every day, selflessly supporting credit unions and demonstrating leadership for the betterment of credit unions and their communities.

2021

Dan Engelhard, Chief Lending Officer
Mazuma Credit Union (Lenexa, KS)

2020

Carol Wight, President/CEO
Holy Rosary Credit Union (Kansas City, MO)

2019

Ashley Pelz, President/CEO
Wichita Federal Credit Union (Wichita, KS)

2018

Rick Nichols, President/CEO
River Region Credit Union (Jefferson City, MO)
and

Erich Schaefer, Member-President
Golden Plains Credit Union (Garden City, KS)

2017

Paul Woodruff
St. Louis Community Credit Union (St. Louis, MO)

2016

Larry Damm, President/CEO
Skyward Credit Union (Wichita, KS)
and
Garth Strand, President/CEO
Heartland Credit Union (Hutchinson, KS)

hcua volunteer of the year award logo

Volunteer of the Year

Credit union volunteers give their time, effort, and talent to support, promote and advocate for the credit union idea movement. Their time and effort have improved people’s lives and enriched their community.

2021

Mike Murphy, Chairman
West Community Credit Union (O'Fallon, MO)

2020

n/a

2019

Howard Hoemann, Board Director
Electro Savings Credit Union (Maryland Heights, MO)

2018

John Davis, Credit Union Director
Wichita Federal Credit Union (Wichita, KS)
and
Dave Williams, Treasurer,
River Region Credit Union (Jefferson City, MO)

2017

Ken Greteman, Credit Union Director
Meritrust Credit Union (Wichita, KS)

2016

n/a

circle with hall of fame award logo

Hall of Fame

It's not uncommon for employees to spend their whole career in the credit union industry. These "long-timers" have helped credit unions, changed members' lives and impacted the movement in significant and meaningful ways.

2021

Dave Tate, Retired
Together Credit Union (St. Louis, MO)

2020

Don Ackerman, President/CEO
TelComm Credit Union (Springfield, MO)

2019

Wayne Warfel, President/CEO (retired)
Wichita Federal Credit Union (Wichita, KS)

2018

Bob Thurman, President/CEO (retired),
Credit Union of America (Wichita, KS)

2017

n/a

2016

n/a

CUNA national awards

Credit unions in Kansas and Missouri do great things for their members and communities every single day. Be recognized for your efforts! CUNA's national award program honors credit unions' impact on their member and their communities. The awards highlight distinguished credit unions that demonstrate social responsibility, the credit union philosophy, and financial education.

Questions? Contact Susan Dyer, 800.392.3074, x1362.

 

Recognizes efforts to strengthen local institutions and materially improve the lives of nonmembers through community outreach programs other than personal finance education.

Dora Maxwell credit union winners

under $50 million in assets category
  • no winners 2016-2020
$50–$250 million in assets category

2020

  • 1st Place: Electro Savings Credit Union (MO), The Power of Comm(unity) - A Community Impact Grant Program

2019

  • 1st Place: Arsenal Credit Union (MO), It’s the little things that count: Taking care of our community’s youth
  • Honorable Mention: Electro Savings Credit Union (MO), School Supply Drive Benefiting Members-Teachers
  • Honorable Mention: United Credit Union (MO), Bringing Home the Tradition

2018

  • 1st Place: Arsenal Credit Union, (MO) Protecting the Environment, Protecting Identities - Electronics and Paper Recycling
  • 2nd Place: Ozark Federal Credit Union (MO, Zoe’s Club - Run For A Cause
  • Honorable Mention: River Region Credit Union (MO), Pars for Patriots Golf Tournament
  • Honorable Mention: Infuze Credit Union (MO), 2017 - 2018 Dora Maxwell Submission

2017

  • 1st Place: Ozark Federal Credit Union (MO)
  • 1st Place: Frontier Community Credit Union (KS)
$250 million–$1 billion in assets category

2021

  • 1st Place: Mazuma Credit Union (MO), 2020 Give Back Month
  • 2nd Place: Arsenal Credit Union (MO), Arsenal Community Impact Fund
  • Honorable mention: Mainstreet Credit Union (KS), Covid-19 Emergency Assistance Fund

2020

  • 1st Place: Envista Credit Union (KS), EnvistaCares Challenge
  • 1st Place: Mazuma Credit Union (MO), $50–$250 million in assets category

2019

  • Honorable Mention: Mazuma Credit Union (MO), Mazuma Give Back Day
  • Honorable Mention: Neighbors Credit Union (MO), Children’s Miracle Network - Our Passion

2018

  • 1st Place: Neighbors Credit Union (MO), Credit Union for Kids

2017

  • 1st Place: Neighbors Credit Union
$1 billion+ in assets size category

2021

  • 1st Place: CommunityAmerica Credit Union (MO), Holiday Pay it Forward

2020

  • 1st Place: CommunityAmerica Credit Union (MO), CACU RE(a)D Fridays
  • Honorable Mention: Together Credit Union (MO), Together in the Community

2019

  • 1st Place: CommunityAmerica Credit Union (MO), Dora Maxwell - Veterans Community Project
  • 2nd Place: Anheuser-Busch Employees’ Credit Union (MO), Community Service Day
  • Honorable Mention: First Community Credit Union (MO), The Season of Giving

2018

  • 1st Place: CommunityAmerica Credit Union (MO), 2018 Dora Maxwell
  • 2nd Place: Anheuser-Busch Employees’ Credit Union (MO), Our Commitment to the Community

2017

  • 1st Place: CommunityAmerica Credit Union (MO)

Recognizes activities demonstrating the credit union philosophy to its members.

Louise Herring credit union winners

under $50 million in assets category
  • no winners 2018-2020

2017

  • 1st Place: Riverways Federal Credit Union (MO)
$50–$250 million in assets category

2020

  • 1st Place: United Credit Union (MO), Pioneering the Future - Taking Service to our Members

2019

  • Honorable Mention: Electro Savings Credit Union (MO), Nobody Notices Normal

2018

  • 1st Place: Ozark Federal Credit Union (MO), Creating a Successful Life at Every Stage
  • 2nd Place: Infuze Credit Union (MO), Reduced Fees: Returned $407,958 in Financial Value in 2017
  • Honorable Mention - River Region Credit Union (MO), Education Scholarships

2017

  • 1st Place: Electro Savings Credit Union (MO)
  • 2nd Place: Ozark Federal Credit Union (MO)
$250 million–$1 billion in assets category

2021

  • Honorable mention: Mazuma Credit Union (MO), Member Appreciation Events

2020

  • Honorable Mention: Mazuma Credit Union (MO), Louise Herring Award Mazuma Application

2019

  • 1st Place: Credit Union of America (KS), Funding Education
  • Honorable Mention- Mazuma Credit Union (MO), Government Shut Down Assistance

2018

  • 1st Place: CommunityAmerica Credit Union (MO, Louise Herring Innovation Lab$1 billion+ in assets size category

2017

  • 1st Place: St. Louis Community Credit Union (MO)
$1 billion+ in assets size category

2021

  • First Place: CommunityAmerica Credit Union (MO), Collaborative Financial Well-being Project
  • Honorable mention: First Community Credit Union (MO), Cougar College Checking - A Partnership with Southern Illinois University

2020

  • 1st Place: CommunityAmerica Credit Union (MO), CACU Virtual Internship Program
  • Honorable Mention: Credit Union of American (KS), Promoting Positivity and Peace of Mind During a Pandemic

2019

  • 1st Place: CommunityAmerica Credit Union (MO), College and Career Planning - FAFSA Chat project
  • Honorable Mention: First Community Credit Union (MO), First Time Home Buyer Loans - Seems too Good to Be True!

Recognizes model credit union efforts to teach personal finance concepts and skills to members and nonmembers.

Desjardins credit union winners

$50–$250 million in assets category

2020

  • 1st Place youth: United Credit Union (MO), Creating a Frame of Reference - Giving Students a Lesson to Fall Back on

2019

  • 1st Place adult: Electro Savings Credit Union (MO), Taking the Credit Union to the People: A Grassroots Approach to Adult Financial Education

  • Honorable Mention youth: Arsenal Credit Union (MO), Improving Financial Literacy in Our Communities - One Lesson at a Time
  • Honorable Mention youth: Electro Savings Credit Union (MO), A Dollar and a Dream - Financial Education for Future Leaders

2018

  • 1st Place adult: Electro Savings Credit Union (MO), Taking the Credit Union to the People: A Grassroots Approach to Adult Financial Education

  • 1st Place youth: Ozark Federal Credit Union (MO), Zoe Finds a Job
  • 2nd Place youth: Arsenal Credit Union (MO), Youth Financial Literacy

2017

  • 1st Place adult: Electro Savings Credit Union (MO)

  • 1st Place youth: Central Missouri Community Credit Union (MO)
$250 million–$1 billion in assets category

2021

  • 1st Place youth: Mazuma Credit Union (MO), Financial Education in Action

2020

  • 1st Place adult: Mainstreet Credit Union (KS), Financial Literacy in Action

  • 1st Place youth: Mazuma Credit Union (MO), Jack and Jill Financial Literacy Event
$1 billion+ in assets size category

2021

  • 1st Place adult: Together Credit Union (MO), Expanding Reach in 2021
  • 1st Place youth: Together Credit Union (MO), Youth Financial Literacy
  • 2nd Place adult: CommunityAmerica Credit Union (MO), University of Kansas Life Skills
  • 2nd Place youth: CommunityAmerica Credit Union (MO), Real World Learning 

2020

  • 1st Place adult: CommunityAmerica Credit Union (MO), CACU Adult Financial Education
  • 2nd Place adult: Together Credit Union (MO), Prevailing Over Uncertainty

  • 1st Place youth: Together Credit Union (MO), Reaching for the Stars
  • 2nd Place youth: CommunityAmerica Credit Union (MO), CACU Youth Financial Education

2019

  • 1st Place adult: American Eagle Credit Union (MO), Making a Difference
  • 1st Place adult: Meritrust Credit Union (KS), Adult Financial Education
  • 2nd Place adult: CommunityAmerica Credit Union (MO), Adult Financial Education

  • 1st Place youth: CommunityAmerica Credit Union (MO), Youth Financial Education
  • 1st Place youth: Meritrust Credit Union (KS), Meritrust Youth Financial Education

2018

  • 1st Place adult: CommunityAmerica Credit Union (MO), Desjardins Adult 2018
  • 2nd Place adult: American Eagle Credit Union (MO), A Year in the Life of AECU Financial Literacy

  • 1st Place youth: CommunityAmerica Credit Union (MO), Desjardins Youth 2018

2017

  • 1st Place youth: Central Missouri Community Credit Union (MO)