The IDA Insider

Press Release

Ideal Credit Union Member Celeste Villafuerte Awarded College Scholarship from the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation

March 10, 2026

Woodbury, Minn. (March 10, 2026)

Ideal Credit Union Member Celeste Villafuerte Awarded College Scholarship from the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation

Ideal Credit Union is proud to congratulate member Celeste Villafuerte for being awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation Scholarship Council (FSC). Villafuerte was one of 18 students selected from hundreds of applicants to receive a scholarship for the 2025–2026 school year.

“We’re proud to congratulate Celeste on earning this scholarship to advance her education at the University of Minnesota – Duluth,” said Brian Sherrick, CEO of Ideal Credit Union. “Supporting the FSC scholarship program is one of the many ways Ideal brings our commitment to people helping people to life. Scholarships like this help members achieve their educational goals, prepare for the future, and strengthen the communities where we live and work.”

Villafuerte is a graduate of Robbinsdale-Armstrong High School and is pursuing career paths in STEM and healthcare at the University of Minnesota–Duluth.

The Foundation Scholarship Council (FSC), a subcommittee of the Minnesota Credit Union Foundation, builds credit union awareness and strengthens member relationships through its annual scholarship program. To learn more about credit union scholarship opportunities, visit the Foundation Scholarship Council website for program details.

Pictured left to right: Emily Kelly, Ideal SVP of Human Resources; Celeste Villafuerte, FSC scholarship winner; Jane Hennen, Ideal VP of Marketing; and Alisha Johnson, Ideal Chief Growth Officer.

About Ideal Credit Union:

Founded in 1926, Ideal Credit Union is a member-owned financial institution that is dedicated to providing financial services driven by a sincere and personal interest in the needs of our employees, members, and community. Ideal CU offers a complete range of services, including a full suite of digital banking products, savings, checking, loans, mortgage products, business services and more.

Ideal CU operates branches in Eagan, Hugo, Inver Grove Heights, North St. Paul, Stillwater, and Woodbury, with a new Blaine location opening mid-2026. Visit idealcu.com for details.

The credit union is widely recognized for excellence, earning honors such as the 2026 and 2025 Great Minnesota Workplace Award (Twin Cities Business Magazine), 2022–2025 Best in State Credit Union (Forbes), 2023, 2025 Best Place to Work (Minneapolis–St. Paul Business Journal), Best Credit Union (Stillwater Gazette, five consecutive years), and multiple 2025 Readers’ Choice awards from the Hugo Citizen, including Best Workplace, Best Bank/Financial, Best Mortgage Company, and Best Customer Service.