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The Chattahoochee Federal Credit Union in Valley presented its annual People Helping People scholarship to Valley High School student Jonathan Hodge at the 2024 Annual Report meeting on Wednesday. 

The People Helping People Scholarship awarded the Auburn University bound Hodge $1,000 toward his college tuition. 

The People Helping People Scholarship was established in 2016 to honor the commitment and dedication of Oscar Crawley to the CFCU and to the overall community. Crawley served as a CFCU board member for 17 years and as board president from 2008 to 2015.

“Oscar was dedicated to making Chattahoochee Federal Credit Union a place for members to get the financial help that was needed to support their family,” said Tyrone Newton, CFCU board member. “The scholarship name, ‘People Helping People,’ reflects exactly what Oscar Crawley represents.”

Newton said that Hodge is an ideal candidate for the scholarship because he represents those same values. 

Hodge submitted an essay explaining what servant leadership means to him. 

“In his essay, he stated, ‘Being a servant leader means to serve others and my community to the best of my ability, regardless of my own benefit. As a servant leader, I sacrifice my personal time for the development of my community and everyone I serve,’” Newton said.

Hodge serves as his church’s youth director where he plans Bible studies, trips to church conferences and community events. In Valley High’s Beta Club, he participates in community service projects. 

According to Newton, Hodge started the Campus Life program, “a time for students to gather in the library during their lunch period to play games, have discussions and hear the Word of God.” 

He has planned events such as the senior sunrise breakfast, Homecoming Week activities, prep rallies and induction ceremonies. 

“Jonathan states, ‘I never see a word as an obligation, but rather an opportunity,’” Newton said.

Hodge is currently class president, SGA president, Beta club president, key club leader, school ambassador and member of the ecology club. 

On top of his school activities, he is an administrative intern for the Chambers County Development Authority and the Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Junior Ambassador. 

He serves at Fairview Baptist Church as a youth director, sound technician and social media website manager. 

After graduation, Hodge plans to study civil engineering at Auburn. He hopes to work for the Alabama Department of Transportation or a city government with aspirations to run its appropriate office.

“With all this said, we’re excited to honor Jonathan Hodge with this year’s People Helping People scholarship,” Newton said.