Poway Student Wins 'Badge Of Honor' Scholarship From Wheelhouse

POWAY, CA — Six students — including one from Poway — were recently awarded "Badge of Honor" scholarships, honoring the heroic efforts of San Diego County's first responders and their families.

Wheelhouse Credit Union gave $1,000 scholarships to six college-bound students in the county. In the sixth year of the Badge of Honor program, scholarships were awarded to students with a parent, grandparent or legal guardian who serve as an active member of law enforcement, fire protection service, healthcare or EMT in the San Diego region.

Award criteria included academic achievement, letters of recommendation, an essay about the first responder in their family, and a desire to make an impact on their schools and communities.

"We are deeply grateful to San Diego's first responders, and we're honored to recognize the next generation of their families through our Badge of Honor Scholarships," said Wheelhouse CEO and president Lisa Paul-Hill.

"Each of these students has demonstrated both academic achievement and a strong sense of purpose and character shaped by the example of their first responder family members," Paul-Hill said. "Their stories reflect the deep commitment and personal sacrifice first responders make every day to keep our communities safe. We're proud to stand behind these remarkable students as they begin this exciting next chapter, and we thank their families for their service and dedication."

These are the 2025 Badge of Honor scholarship recipients:

• Gabriela Alfaro
  • School: Mater Dei Catholic High School
  • City: Chula Vista
  • College Attending: University of Alabama
  • Family First Responder: Homeland Security Investigations, Special Agent
• Ashlyn Castro
  • School: Granite Hills High School
  • City: El Cajon
  • College Attending: Arizona State University
  • Family First Responder: San Diego Police Department, Detective
• Charlotte Crudale
  • School: Poway High School
  • City: Poway
  • College Attending: Nazareth University
  • Family First Responder: Department of Homeland Security, Assistant Chief Patrol Agent
• Keala Custodio
  • School: Mission Hills High School
  • City: San Marcos
  • College Attending: San Diego State University
  • Family First Responder: Registered Nurse
• Siena Ferreyra-MacPete
  • School: Academy of Our Lady of Peace
  • City: San Diego
  • College Attending: Brown University
  • Family First Responder: UCSD, Ophthalmologist-Vitreoretinal Surgeon
• Charlotte Lourey
  • School: Valhalla High School
  • City: El Cajon
  • College Attending: University of California, Los Angeles
  • Family First Responder: SHARP Healthcare and San Diego Unified School District, Registered Nurse