Day Air Credit Union is pleased to announce that Sydney Wilson and Cole Malenich are the recipients of the 2024 Bettina L. Buscemi Memorial Scholarship. The Bettina L. Buscemi Memorial Scholarship is in memory of Bettina L. Buscemi, a long-time valued Day Air Credit Union associate. This scholarship is awarded annually to local students who demonstrate academic achievement and community involvement.
Sydney Wilson, a 2024 Northmont High School graduate, will be attending Spelman College, where she will pursue a Biochemistry degree. Sydney was active in Student Government, Montgomery County Leadership Academy, various local community charities, and much more. Sydney’s proudest achievement was her efforts to combat racism at Northmont High School. Sydney was a founding member of the Northmont Black Student Union, a safe space for all black students that would foster a tight-knit community and offer a space for mediation if needed. Every month, a meeting or event is held to help build up the black community and educate the faculty, staff, and students while also opening the floor for questions and healthy discussions.
In February 2024, she hosted “Black Excellence: Then, Now, and Forever” with peers from her art class, an exhibit of different black changemakers, both locally and nationally. Sydney was able to identify a problem in her community and come up with a healthy and productive solution.
Cole Malenich, currently attending Georgia Institute of Technology, is pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering. Cole has been an active member of various Georgia Institute of Technology organizations. As Philanthropy Chairman of his fraternity, he organized twelve diverse service events, collectively raising over $2,000 for charity, which led to an accumulation of 399 service hours by fraternity members. From 2021 to 2022, Cole traveled to MedShare multiple times as part of Engineering World Health, where he assisted in categorizing old medical devices for repair, which allowed him to learn more and develop skills in his future field of Biomedical Engineering.
In August 2023, Cole co-founded Rapid Deployment Medical Training, a startup focused on providing realistic training for first responders and combat medics to manage massive bleeding. This startup has benefitted the Atlanta Police Department and other Emergency Medicine organizations by providing realistic training in their field.
“We are so proud to provide scholarships to students in our community each year to support their educational journey and help them establish strong financial futures,” said Amy Cline, Director of Member Services. “Congratulations to Sydney and Cole, our 2024 Bettina L. Buscemi Memorial Scholarship winners, who exemplify a strong commitment to their community.”
About the Bettina L. Buscemi Memorial Scholarship
Bettina L. Buscemi was the Director of Business Development for Day Air Credit Union for 17 years. During her time there, Bettina was a leader and mentor to all who worked with her. She shared her love for Day Air and her community with everyone she encountered.
Bettina fully believed that the best way to support our community was to be present and show up to volunteer! She was very active in many Miami Valley organizations, including several Chambers of Commerce. She led the Credit Union’s efforts to support the Montgomery County re-entry program and served on countless nonprofit boards, such as the Oasis House, CAANE, etc.…
This scholarship commemorates Bettina’s profound impact on Day Air and the community. Her years of friendship, mentorship, and leadership have enriched our lives beyond measure. She dedicated herself to her family, friends, and the community. Her presence was a constant source of positivity and inspiration, radiating warmth and authenticity wherever she went.
Bettina was a pillar in our community, and her contagious spirit will forever be etched in our hearts. We aspire for this scholarship to empower our members to pursue higher education, equipping them with the resources to carry forward Bettina’s legacy of community service.