On May 20, 2024, Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union received a Leaders in Financial Literacy Award from the CrossState Credit Union Foundation at their Annual Convention. This award was presented to Mercer County Community FCU for their support of financial literacy by partnering with Junior Achievement of Western PA (JA) and sponsoring students from Mercer County to participate in the JA BizTown experience.

The JA BizTown program involved 167 fifth graders from Ionta Elementary School in Hermitage and started with classroom lessons on personal economics and basic finances. Students then put those lessons into action when they spent a day at the JA BizTown facility, an interactive mock town that simulates the various roles in a thriving community and helps students learn the reality of the business world. 

The Financial Literacy Award included $2,500 to further support financial literacy in the community. Plans are already in place for additional students from local school districts to participate in the JA BizTown experience in the coming school year.

Also at the Annual Convention, Leah Beckert, Administrative Assistant at Mercer County Community FCU, was a top ten finalist in the CU Ambassador Contest with her project entitled “What You Didn’t Learn in School – Young Adult Savings Club.” The CU Ambassador program recognizes young adult professionals who present their ideas for credit union initiatives that would benefit their credit union and the community.

View the video from the awards presentation: https://vimeo.com/951247223?share=copy

On May 29, 2024, Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union celebrated the opening of their newly constructed Hermitage branch office, located at 559 N. Hermitage Road. The new 10,000 square foot facility features a modern atmosphere, additional loan and member service representative offices, and is designed to serve the needs of the credit union’s growing membership.  A large training center in the building will be dedicated to the founders of the credit union, a group of local educators.

Sandi Carangi, the CEO for Mercer County Community FCU, was joined by the Credit Union Board of Directors, Supervisory Committee, staff and community leaders at the ribbon cutting ceremony. “We are very thankful for the many local businesses, organizations and everyone in our community who helped us throughout the construction process over the past year,” said Sandi Carangi. “We could not have done this without the support of our members and the community.”

In addition to this office, the credit union also maintains a second office at 428 Sharpsville Avenue in Sharon, PA. PWCampbell, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA was the design/build firm for the project.

Mercer County Community Federal Credit Union celebrated 67 years of service to its members at their Annual Meeting, held on April 13, 2024. This year, seven Continuing Education Awards for local high school graduating seniors were announced.

The following students each received $1,000 Continuing Education Awards:

Giada Bertolasio, Hickory High School
Hannah Golub, Kennedy Catholic High School
Ava Hurl, Sharpsville High School
Cameryn Krecek, Sharon High School
Nolan Lapikas, Sharpsville High School
Morgan Psznick, Hickory High School
Madelyn Rose Sheffel, Lincoln Park Performing Arts

Honorable mention awards in the amount of $100 each were also given to the following students: Caroline Buckley, Sharon High School; Caden Buxton, West Middlesex High School; Mark Cattron, Sharon High School; Danika Lynne Davis, Hickory High School; Mackenzie Devine, Jamestown High School; Carter DeJulia, Sharpsville High School; Grace Dorfi, Sharpsville High School; Zoe Dottle, Sharpsville High School; Rylan Dye, Hickory High School; Angelo Fromm, Sharon High School; Amy Fulcher, Hickory High School; Ja’laija Gregory, Farrell High School; Avery Hanahan, West Middlesex High School; Lauren Harkless, Hickory High School; Isaac Hightree, Greenville High School; Quentin Lee, Jr., Sharon High School; Emma Marsteller, Lakeview High School; Emma Mild, West Middlesex High School; Noah Ostheimer, Sharon High School; Slade Pfadt, Hickory High School; Santino Piccirilli, Sharon High School; and Colton Scales, Greenville High School.