Scholarships Awarded to Local Environmental Trailblazers
San Diego, CA – September, 2023 – Two North County 2023 high school graduates recently received College Sustainability Scholarships from Wheelhouse Credit Union (Wheelhouse) to recognize their commitment to environmental initiatives.
- Belle Dolan-Carleton, a 2023 graduate of Sage Creek High School in Carlsbad, will attend Pepperdine University this fall.
- Ari Kalpakgian, a 2023 graduate of Classical Academy High School in Escondido, will attend Franciscan University this year.
A leader in eco-friendly lending and community sustainability initiatives, Wheelhouse awarded seven Sustainability College Scholarships of $1,000 each to college-bound students in San Diego County who demonstrated leadership, public service, and a desire to make a sustainable difference in their schools and communities.
“We couldn’t be more inspired by the passion, commitment and energy each of these students bring to their sustainability mission,” said Wheelhouse President/CEO Lisa Paul-Hill. “We are honored to support these local trail blazers and help them continue their great work. We know each of them, and all the amazing program applicants, share our goal of helping sustain our environment and resources to benefit many generations to come.”
All the 2023 Wheelhouse Sustainability Scholarship recipients are:
| Scholarship Recipient | School | City | College Attending |
| Noah Campillo | Poway High School | Poway | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Keenan DePaz | University City High School | San Diego | University of California, Irvine |
| Belle Dolan-Carleton | Sage Creek High School | Carlsbad | Pepperdine University |
| Ari Kalpakgian | Classical Academy High School | Escondido | Franciscan University |
| Annalisa Kamahi | Granite Hills High School | El Cajon | San Diego State University |
| Camila Moreno | San Ysidro High School | San Diego | Pomona College |
| Abigail Nguyen | Poway High School | Poway | University of California, San Diego |
Wheelhouse’s Sustainability College Scholarship Program was created in 2005 to recognize conscientious high school leaders in San Diego County who share the Credit Union’s passion to positively impact the community through eco-friendly initiatives, helping sustain the environment and resources for generations to come. Since the creation of the program, Wheelhouse has awarded $116,000 in scholarships.
Founded in 1934, Wheelhouse is one of the oldest credit unions in San Diego. A central aspect of its community commitment is supporting San Diego’s move to 100% clean energy by 2035. The Credit Union’s award-winning Solar and Energy Efficiency Loans have made Wheelhouse the #1 solar loan provider in San Diego, working with over 100 installers to help homeowners significantly reduce their electric bill, increase the value of their home, and help the environment. More information about the Wheelhouse Commitment to Sustainability is available here.
About Wheelhouse Credit Union
Wheelhouse Credit Union (formerly San Diego Metropolitan Credit Union) is a federally insured, state chartered credit union founded in 1934 serving more than 32,000 community members in the greater San Diego area. Wheelhouse is “San Diego Made and Proud,” providing a full suite of consumer banking services and a comprehensive set of Energy-Efficient and Solar Loan products for the conscientious San Diegan. The Credit Union is committed to helping its Members succeed while supporting initiatives that help San Diego thrive. Please visit wheelhousecu.com for more information
