Shorewood student wins BECU scholarship

Leah Deobald
BECU Scholarship winner

BECU, Washington’s largest credit union, believes that postsecondary education and career development can help establish a strong foundation for someone’s financial future.

By providing the right support at the right time, they hope to help students achieve their financial dreams and start rewarding careers.

As ways to improve student financial health, this year the BECU Foundation awarded 80 student members with either $2,500 or $3,500 scholarships each to use towards their college education.

One of those students resides in Shoreline: Leah Deobald, 18, Shorewood High School.

Leah graduated from Shorewood this year and will be attending Juilliard this fall. She received a $2,500 scholarship from the BECU Foundation.

Leah was a two-time winner of the Washington State MTNA Senior piano performance and 3rd prize winner at the 2016 International Institute for Young Musicians. Some of her other accolades include being named National Young Arts Winner, 1st prize at the Bainbridge Symphony Concerto Competition, and 2nd prize at the Seattle Philharmonic Concerto Competition.

In Summer 2017, she attended the Aspen Music Festival and School and just returned from the Art of Piano Festival in Cincinnati Conservatory of Music on full scholarship.

She has performed on Classical King FM Radio, Kansas Public Radio, Benaroya  Hall, and in Carnegie Weill Recital Hall. Her performances have also taken her to St. Petersburg, Russia and Central Italy. 

Leah also supports poverty relief efforts through her work, raising near $4000 through solo recitals during her time in high school to fund Oxfam and World Concern projects. (See previous article) She enjoys performing at her church, University Presbyterian Church, and for the seniors at Aegis Living Retirement Community.

Since 1995, the BECU Foundation has awarded more than $2.6 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 students.

The BECU Foundation awards scholarships each year to qualified student members who have demonstrated community service, as well as academic and leadership potential.

“The BECU Foundation scholarships program embodies our People Helping People philosophy,” said Rachel Van Noord, BECU’s director of community outreach and executive director of the BECU Foundation. 

“Continuing education after high school can help establish a strong foundation for these student’s futures, and we are honored to play a small role in their journey towards pursuing postsecondary degrees.”

For the very first time, this year’s class of recipients will be eligible to renew their scholarship over a two-year period – receiving $5,000 - $7,000 in total – to help lessen financial barriers they may face after their first year of a degree program.


BECU is a not-for-profit credit union owned by its members. Members receive the benefits of ownership through better rates and fewer fees. With more than 1 million members and over $18 billion in assets, BECU is the largest credit union in Washington and one of the top five financial cooperatives in the country. BECU currently operates more than 49 locations in Washington and two financial centers in South Carolina.