Community First Credit Union (CFCU) received this year’s Fox Valley Technical College Partnership award for its longstanding, exemplary support of the college’s mission. The award was given to CFCU President Cathie Tierney by Stephen Kohler, chair of FVTC’s Board of Trustees, at a recent end-of-year event at the Appleton campus. Tierney also serves as a current member of the college’s Board of Trustees and was a past president of the board, in addition to serving on the FVTC Foundation Board.

Cathie Tierney displays Community First’s award with Stephen Kohler and FVTC President Dr. Susan May.

The support of CFCU spans several years and continues to take many forms. FVTC students have benefited from the time, talent, and support of the credit union and its staff, ranging from the availability of financial planning resources to sponsorship of the annual Foundation Golf Outing, and more. In 2005, CFCU was recognized for its support of FVTC by receiving the C.L. Greiber Award of Merit from the Wisconsin Association for Career and Technical Education, and in 2010 the organization earned the FutureMaker award on behalf of the Wisconsin Technical College System.

Below is a snapshot of CFCU’s additional support to FVTC and its students over the years:

• Since 1985, more than $21,000 allocated toward scholarships, with an additional $55,000 in scholarship revenue from Fox Cities Marathon proceeds
• Fundraising assistance toward the development of FVTC’s new Waupaca Regional Center, which opened in 2008 as a renewable energy facility
• Community campaign supporter of Achievement Against the Odds, Youth Entrepreneur Summit, and vehicle acquisition for the Residential Building Construction program

CFCU also houses a branch office inside FVTC’s Appleton campus.

In 2014, the Waupaca Foundry earned the college’s Community Partnership award.