ACA International Education Foundation Announces Scholarship Winners

The ACA International Education Foundation Scholarship was created in 1985 and honors the memory of ACA member Robert E. Loomer and ACA staff member Irvin "Dempsey" Mortenson.

Loomer, an ACA instructor from 1975–1984, was one of ACA’s most requested instructors and was honored as ACA’s Certified Instructor of the Year in 1979. Mortenson was ACA’s director of public affairs from 1973–1981, and was instrumental in negotiations with congressional committees that produced the version of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act signed into law in 1977.

The Foundation scholarship program is dedicated to advancing the higher education of people connected to the credit and collection industry. Employees and dependents of any collection company, or those employed in a collection or credit management function, are eligible to compete for the scholarship.

One first place award of $3,000 and two second place awards of $1,000 were given this year. Winners were selected based on grade point average and an essay on the importance of financial literacy education.

The 2010 first place winner Levi Christian Watkins, son of ACA member Brian Watkins, president of Southern Oregon Credit Service in Medford, Ore., noted that with financial education, consumers can learn how to avoid financially destructive decisions and will be empowered to more informed and learn how to protect their rights. He will be attending Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Ore., and plans to study math, computer science and engineering.

Jamison Watson-Van Oosbree, son of ACA member Paul Van Oosbree, manager of Northland Group in Minneapolis, discussed how important it is for consumers to know their options when investing money and that being financially literate can make a difference in life choices with short-term and long-term results. He will be studying physics and chemistry at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.

Dayna Alyse Hawk, daughter of ACA member Sabrina T. Hawk with Professional Account Services in Brentwood, Tenn., said being financially literate means understanding the importance of controlling the disbursement of funds and maintaining a high credit score. She will be studying to be a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner at Vanderbilt School of Nursing in Nashville, Tenn., this fall.

For more information or to apply to the Loomer-Mortenson Scholarship, please contact the ACA International Education Foundation at +1(952) 928-8000, ext. 124, or foundation@acainternational.org.