The BECU Foundation has awarded $3,000 scholarships to 80 student-members, including University of Washington Bothell Campus student David Ricker.

Ricker was awarded for his volunteer service project completing roofing and landscaping in Los Angeles through Youth with a Mission, a non-denominational Christian movement for many cultures, age groups and Christian traditions. Not only did he spend a few months in Los Angeles, but he also spent three months in South Africa building homes and providing food.

“I left this experience a different person,” Ricker said. “I will never forget the young children sitting alone on the side of the road with barely anything to call their own. I have gained a compassion for people in need.”

The scholarship recipients were chosen based upon community and classroom engagement.

The recipients were also invited to attend the Financial Reality Fair, an event giving participants real-life budgeting problems people face every day and affording them the ability to develop skills to make good financial decisions, held July 27 at Safeco Field.

While Ricker was among the most recent, the BECU Foundation has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships to 950 student-members.