Tallahassee, Fla. — First Commerce Credit Union recently announced the recipients of its 2025 MyWay Scholarship, recognizing the achievements of exemplary students from North Florida and South Georgia. As the largest locally based credit union in Tallahassee, First Commerce has helped ensure bright financial futures by awarding more than $30,000 in MyWay Scholarships over more than a decade.

“This year’s MyWay Scholarship recipients epitomize the dedication and talent of the next generation of leaders,” said First Commerce CEO Cecilia Homison. “As a local credit union committed to empowering generations, First Commerce is proud to support these students in pursuing their future aspirations.”

Each year, First Commerce offers members ages 17-29 the opportunity to apply for a $1,000 MyWay Scholarship. Eligible applications and essays are then reviewed by an independent panel of judges from distinguished institutions of higher learning. This year’s judges were from Tallahassee State College, Florida State University, FAMU and Southern Regional Technical College.

Winners were selected based on criteria including grades, community service, leadership, school activities, and work experience. Each applicant was also required to submit an essay or short video elaborating on their experiences with and approach to money, as well as lessons learned.

The recipients of this year’s $1,000 MyWay Scholarships have excelled in academics while also displaying a diligent and inspiring work ethic.

About the Florida winner

Symone Thompson of Tallahassee, the 2025 Florida recipient, is a student at Spelman College in Atlanta who anticipates graduating in 2027. Pursuing a degree in political science with a minor in economics, Symone has been active in campus organizations such as Future Business Leaders of Spelman and the Spelman-Morehouse Pre-Law Society.

In the summer of 2024 Symone also completed an internship with the City of San Francisco’s Office of Economic Development, designing a business attraction plan to increase the number of merchants in the city’s downtown commercial district.

Symone also participated in Goldman Sachs’ Market Madness: HBCU Possibilities Program during the Spring of 2024, which she described as a semester-long, immersive introduction to key financial concepts and their real-world applications.

In reflecting on lessons that have boosted her financial knowledge, Thompson recounted learning the importance of saving at a young age by collecting First Commerce’s “Acoins” — a fun reward for saving money in a Sammy Squirrel Kids’ Savings Account. “I have since been committed to saving and investing as much as I can,” Symone said.

About the Georgia winner

The Georgia scholarship recipient is Thomasville’s Mikayla Watts. Mikayla is a recent graduate of Thomasville High School who recorded a 3.8 grade point average while excelling in rigorous college preparatory courses. Mikayla, who has held jobs since she was 16, currently works two jobs in the food service industry.

A talented student-athlete, Mikayla balanced her schoolwork and employment with being a varsity basketball and volleyball player at Thomasville High School. Mikayla, in addition to being a member of the National Honor Society, was recognized with a Scholar Athlete Award by the school.

Mikayla pointed to financial education resources provided by First Commerce in describing how she has grown in her knowledge of finances. “Using the financial tools generously provided by First Commerce, like the Budgeting diagram, I’ve learned how to responsibly record my income and expenses,” Mikayla said.

Scholarships will be paid directly to the student’s chosen institution of higher learning and can be used to help pay for school expenses such as tuition, fees, and books.

As Tallahassee’s largest locally based credit union serving the community for 85 years, First Commerce has established a legacy of spearheading and supporting initiatives designed to transform communities and empower generations. To learn more about the MyWay Scholarship, visit FirstCommerceCU.org/MyWay.