ATLANTA – The African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC) recently awarded its first CUNA Mutual Group Discovery Conference scholarship to Rita Haynes, CEO of Faith Community United Credit Union. A 40-plus-year veteran of the credit union movement, Haynes has worked at Cleveland-based Faith Community United Credit Union since 1959, serving the last 13 years as its CEO. She is also chairwoman of the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions (NFCDCU). The scholarship, to be presented annually, will cover Haynes' $950 registration fee for the 10th annual event scheduled for June 15-18, 2005, at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Fla. "Ongoing professional education and development is essential, and we intend to provide a deserving AACUC member an opportunity to enrich his or her skills by attending this highly-regarded educational event each year," said Helen Godfrey, AACUC chairwoman. "I can't think of anyone more deserving than Rita Haynes." Haynes was presented the scholarship by Chetta Hebron-Byrd, CUNA Mutual risk management specialist, at AACUC's recent annual conference in Atlanta.