When Erica Ray-Franks walked into her local Tinker Federal Credit Union branch to replace a lost debit card, she didn’t expect to walk away with an opportunity of a lifetime.
“While I was waiting, I looked up and saw an ad for TFCU’s College Cash giveaway,” she said. “I thought, ‘Okay, I’ll text this number and see how it works out.’ And here I am!”
A few weeks later, the Tulsa Community College sophomore got the call – she’d won $5,000 in TFCU College Cash.
“I was sitting on my couch doing homework when they called,” Erica laughed. “At first I thought, ‘Who’s calling me from Oklahoma City?’ But then I found out I’d won. My parents didn’t believe me at first!”
Dreaming big, giving back
Erica is majoring in pre-medicine and plans to become an anesthesiologist – a career inspired by her love of science and her desire to help others.
“My mom got sick when I was growing up, and I wanted to help people like her who can’t always help themselves,” she said.
Her busy semester includes calculus, zoology, medical ethics and physics.
“Calculus has actually become my favorite,” she said. “Once you understand it, it’s like solving a puzzle.”
The $5,000 award is helping Erica stay focused on her studies and her future.
“$5,000 is a lot – it’s probably the most I’ve ever seen,” she said. “It’s going toward tuition, books and saving for next semester. Anesthesiology is a long journey, and this will help me get to where I want to be.”
A TFCU member from the start
TFCU was Erica’s first bank account when she started her first job. “My mom said, ‘You need a place to put your paycheck – go to Tinker!’” she said. Since then, she’s loved using TFCU’s mobile app for checking balances, transferring funds and depositing checks.
When she thinks about TFCU’s College Cash program, Erica is grateful.
“It’s amazing that TFCU invests in students like this,” she said. “They realize how much $5,000 can impact someone’s future, and they want to help. That means a lot.”
About TFCU’s College Cash program
Tinker Federal Credit Union’s College Cash program awards $5,000 scholarships to help Oklahoma students pay for college expenses and reach their goals — one student at a time.