Alaska Air Group Credit Union is proud to offer a scholarship to support the educational pursuits of our members. A sincere thank you to all our 2026 applicants. Our record 113 submissions went through a rigorous review process, and after careful consideration, the following students were selected by our Board of Directors. Congratulations to the following five students for their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and determination.
Noel Blandino
Port Orchard, WA | Pennsylvania State University
Psychology
Noel completed his senior year at South Kitsap High School where he has been actively involved in marching, symphonic, and concert bands, wind ensemble group, and percussion class. He also held a leadership role in his Asian American and Pacific Islander club, organizing events and weekly meetings.
In addition to his school involvement, Noel has been actively volunteering since sixth grade with the South Kitsap Soccer Club refereeing and assistant-coaching. Noel shows his value to connection and human interaction by volunteering in multiple local elementary schools by designing murals, leading reading groups, helping with art projects, maintaining hall displays, and more.
Noel intends to attend Pennsylvania State University to pursue a double major in Communication and Media and Psychology, with the goal of becoming a counselor and therapist.
“I am increasingly motivated to pursue a career in psychology, specifically as a counselor and therapist for queer and transgender youth…. Fortunately, I have already made significant progress toward this goal. I am currently enrolled at Olympic College as a Running Start student. Over the past year and a half, I have taken two psychology and two communication classes, which have confirmed that this is the path I want to follow. Every school day I complete, every assignment I submit, and every milestone I reach brings me closer to what I have always known I was meant to do: help others.”
Grace Morquecho
Seattle, WA | Seattle University
School Psychology
Over the course of her professional and educational pursuits, Grace has accomplished a four-year service in the Navy with a Sailor of the Quarter recognition and Air Warfare and Information Specialist Warfare Pins, a bachelor’s degree in Education with quarterly Dean’s List ranking, and a 12-year career as a Flight Attendant with Horizon Air.
To support her community, Grace has volunteered in many programs and nonprofits including Seattle Public Schools and South Seattle Cooperative Preschool, Habitat for Humanity, Financial Beginnings, Fit4Mom neighborhood cleanups, Bike for MS, and Relay for Life.
Grace’s goal is to become a licensed School Psychologist by completing her masters in the Education Specialist Degree program at Seattle University.
“My motivation for pursuing higher education is deeply personal and professional. I aspire to become a licensed school psychologist with a focus on serving children who may enter high-stress professions, such as aviation personnel. By combining my academic knowledge with practical experience, I aim to develop programs and interventions that support resilience, reduce burnout, and foster mental well-being.”
Nicolena Berry
Chino, CA | California State University, San Bernardino
Applied Archaeology
Nicolena’s archaeological work has included internships at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, field work in Canada and throughout Sothern California, and thesis work including working with local Tribal Nations. She had dedicated countless hours to honing her skills in several different roles including project archaeologist, crew chief, and report writer, and has learned and grown both in the field and in the classroom.
Nicolena is involved in her community through her participation in the Los Angeles County Sherrif’s Volunteer Dive Team, assisting in search and recovery efforts for families whose loved ones have gone missing. She also shares her passion for diving by volunteering with her local scuba community through Club Aquarius, helping develop veterans-centered activities to create spaces where people can connect, heal, and find belonging.
“I chose archaeology because it brings together everything that matters most to me: careful investigation, stewardship of cultural heritage, respect for descendant communities, and the responsibility to interpret the past in ways that serve the present… I have become increasingly certain that archaeology is not simply what I study — it is the work I am called to do.”
Bela Friedman
Missoula, MT | Colorado College
Biochemistry and Philosophy
Bela graduated high school at St. Paul’s School, where she has been involved in her school’s award-winning rowing team, running cross country, and serving in leadership roles the audition-only A Capella ensemble.
Outside of her school endeavors, Bela volunteers with a refugee and immigrant nonprofit, tutoring children, organizing donations and even securing a service grant to run a summer camp to build a community garden. She also mentors an eight-year-old immigrant through the FRIENDS program, helping her navigate the medley of cultures, and build her self-confidence.
Bela has been traveling her whole life; she was born in Bangladesh, moved to Denmark, then to the United States when she was seven. She chose to attend a boarding school across the country at age fourteen, experiencing the culture shock of going from Montana to New Hampshire. Experiencing diverse cultures allowed Bela to have an open mind and a curious spirit, and an appreciation for those with lives and stories different from her own.
“I see scientific exploration and application as inseparable from their human context. As my current Molecular Biology class is teaching me, understanding gene-editing technologies like CRISPR means little without also understanding their regulatory, ethical, and societal implications. I hope to double-major in Biochemistry and Philosophy to develop a humanistic perspective and inquisitive mentality in exploring scientific topics and applications. By choosing Colorado College, I aim to dive into experiential learning and impactful research that explores science and medicine with the overarching question: how can I use science to bring impact to the communities that need it most?”
Jonathan Myung
Stevenson Ranch, CA | University of California, Los Angeles
Neuroscience and Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
Music has been a large part of Jonathan’s school activities, including winning 2nd place for Musical Composition amongst thousands of applicants in the Sister Cities International 2022 Young Artists and Authors Showcase. He participated in Wind Ensemble and Marching Band throughout high school – holding multiple leadership positions – and has continued on to march in the highly-acclaimed UCLA band. Jonathan even founded the West Ranch Instrumental Music Association, aimed at providing free music tutoring, instrument cleanings, and honor group audition management to middle and elementary schools to help assist those who do not have the ability to afford these services. Jonathan also served as head captain of his school’s Academic Decathlon team, bringing home more medals than in the team’s 15-year history and leading the team to the first ever Division I placement.
“I am currently a pre-medical Neuroscience major at UCLA, looking to pick up a double major in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, or MCDB. I decided on Neuroscience after finding a keen interest in the field after taking classes at my local community college. On top of that, I reflected on my need for psychiatric services when I was younger, of which were not readily available to me. I decided to pursue a double major in MCDB because I hope to specialize in pediatric psychiatry in medical school.
My dream of pediatric psychiatry comes from my lived experiences and my desire to encourage and support people like me so that they will not have to endure what I had to go through alone. I believe that my problems could have been solved if I had someone reliable to turn to, and I hope to be that person for my future patients.”
Congratulations to this year’s winners. Scholarship applications for 2027 will open on January 1st, 2027. Visit Scholarships – Alaska Air Group Credit Union (aagcu.org) to learn more.