ATLANTA – More than 70 college students applied for slots in this year's Reaching Toward the Future internship program and in the end, 34 interns got a real taste of the credit union working world this summer. The African-American Credit Union Coalition launched the program five years ago and the number of credit unions and affiliated companies wanting to host interns has steadily grown, said Bert Hash, AACUC intern committee chair and president/CEO of Municipal Employees Credit Union of Baltimore, Inc. (MECU). This year saw partnerships with 20 credit unions and financial partners. Six new credit unions and three more colleges participated in the paid, 12-week internship program for the first time this year, Hash said. Though scattered around the nation, the interns kept in touch through a newly-launched newsletter titled "Making Waves." Two interns attended an NCUA board meeting and met with Chairman JoAnn Johnson and Board Member Debbie Matz. One former intern, Iesha Stevens, is now a full-time employee at MECU. Other college graduates have been offered jobs at credit unions. AACUC Interns Rudolph Pierson, James Hobbs and Tanyika White were awarded the inaugural Pete Crear scholarships, worth $2,000 each. Through the AACUC's new Pete Crear Fund, which aims to provide financial assistance for intern placement, among other initiatives, the hope is to have a housing arrangement in the city where the host credit union is located, said AACUC board members. In the past, there have been situations where a credit union will want an intern for the summer but if there wasn't a family member or friend in the area, placement could not occur, Hash said. The following hosted interns this summer: 1st Choice CU, Atlanta; Andrews FCU, Suitland, Md.; Anheuser Busch FCU, St. Louis; Atlanta Government City Employees CU; The Coca-Cola Family FCU, Atlanta; Fannie Mae; Georgia Power CU, Atlanta; Georgia Telco, Atlanta; Maryland Credit Union League; MECU of Baltimore; MEDCOM, Atlanta; Navy FCU, Vienna, Va.; Shell FCU, Houston; Sattiewhite Training Productions, Atlanta; SECU, Baltimore; Shreveport FCU, La.; Vantage CU, St. Louis; Seattle Metropolitan CU; and Verity CU, Seattle. [email protected]