Oakdale High School graduate and this year’s Leo Volz recipient Lauren Watson was recently selected as a recipient of the 2016 Golden 1 Credit Union scholarship.

Education is a family affair for Watson, who has been attending Modesto Junior College with her mother and older brother, attending classes on top of her regular high school coursework.

She will attend University at California, Davis in the fall.

Watson has always been deeply committed to her studies, a quality that was largely developed through watching her mother return to college in 2013. A dedication which has pushed her above and beyond most high school graduates.

“Receiving a Golden 1 Credit Union scholarship means all my hard work is paying off,” Watson said. “I knew in seventh grade that I wanted to attend UC Davis and become a veterinarian, and this scholarship will help make that dream a reality.”

Golden 1 Credit Union awarded 38 California students more than $400,000 in scholarships as part of its ongoing effort to invest in the state’s future leaders.

“We congratulate this year’s recipients of Golden 1 Credit Union scholarships, whose achievements demonstrate they are among the future leaders of California,” said Erica Taylor, Vice President of Communications and Community Relations of Golden 1 Credit Union. “At Golden 1, we are committed to investing in our community and helping our members and their families achieve their dreams.”