Date: March 23, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vantage Credit Union Awards Quest For Education

Scholarships to Area High School Seniors

ST. LOUIS – As area high school seniors prepare for graduation ceremonies, Hubert Hoosman, Jr., President and CEO of Vantage Credit Union, along with members of the Vantage Senior Team, are preparing to visit area high schools to award twenty-five seniors a combined $25,000 in scholarships.

Vantage Credit Union recognizes that the cost for a college education continues to rise. That’s why the credit union has committed to supporting higher education throughout the years. In the past 22 years, Vantage has awarded over $350,000 in scholarships to area high school seniors.

“Our credit union was founded on education. Today, we devote a full-time employee to financial education in the schools and are proud to support higher education by awarding these scholarships,” said Hubert Hoosman, Jr.

Winners of the 2005 Quest For Education scholarships were chosen based on a combination of a student-written essay; appropriate honors and awards; participation in extra curricular, community and volunteer activities; employment; recommendation letters; and credit union membership. Volunteer scholarship judges consisted of local educators, Vantage Board and Supervisory Committee members, and employees.

Students from 28 public school districts and 17 private schools applied for the scholarships. This year’s winners, listed by school, include:

Cor Jesu Academy, Allyson Rost; Festus High School, Joshua Geringer; Hazelwood Central High School, Ashley Anderson; Lutheran High School, Margaret Grindler; Marquette High School, Courtney Canman, John Krebsbach, Jr., and Melissa Luebbe; McCluer South High School, Todd Shelton; Nerinx Hall High School, Emma Ruhmann; Parkway North High School, Michael Murray; Parkway South High School, Caitlin Pierce; Pattonville High School, Stephanie Grodie and Ashley Wesche; Ritenour High School, Rebecca Coleman and Marty Little; St. Charles High School, Laura Brown and T. Michelle Farnsworth; St. Charles West High School, Ashley Gevecker, Holly Jackson and Megan McDonnell; St. Piux X High School, David Henrion; The Principia, Rebecca Delventhal; Valley Park High School, Jessica Karlow; and Warren County Senior High, Ashley Jones and Daniel Tappmeyer.

Vantage Credit Union raises a portion of the scholarship funds through an annual golf tournament. This year’s golf tournament scholarship fund-raiser will be held on Thursday, June 19, at Innsbrook Estates Golf Course in Wright City. For more information call 314.264.5150. The remainder is matched by the credit union.

Vantage and its employees demonstrate their commitment to the credit union philosophy of People Helping People by contributing money, time and knowledge to people who need it most. Each year, in addition to scholarships, Vantage gives back to the communities in which it operates by donating to worthwhile charities, as well as providing free financial education presentations to area schools and community groups.

Vantage Credit Union is a progressive, full-service financial institution with over $457 million in assets, over 80,000 member-owners, and ten locations throughout St. Louis, St. Charles and Warren Counties in Missouri and in Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois.

# # #