Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union (ACFCU) was among 181 credit unions nationwide named as winners of the prestigious Diamond Awards, America's Credit Unions Marketing, PR & Development Council’s annual competition recognizing excellence in credit union marketing.

ACFCU received the following recognition:

Diamond in the Rough — “Camp Appy”

This year’s competition drew a record 1,481 submissions, with 181 organizations from 42 states elected as winners. In total, 330 awards were distributed, reflecting the exceptional quality of work produced by credit unions nationwide.

ACFCU launched Camp Appy, a hands-on financial education event for children ages 10 and under, in conjunction with "I Love My Credit Union Day" in July 2025. Hosted at the credit union’s Kingsport administrative office, campers enjoyed interactive activities, a behind-the-scenes branch experience, and age-appropriate lessons focused on saving and making smart money choices.

Camp Appy reflects ACFCU’s belief that financial education should begin early and be both meaningful and memorable—an approach that came to life through a thoughtfully designed experience that engaged young members in a fun, approachable way.

The campaign was led by ACFCU Marketing Manager Hannah Hutchins, whose vision, creativity, and attention to detail helped transform the concept into an award-winning experience that resonated with members and stood out among entries from across the country.

"We’re incredibly proud to see Camp Appy recognized at a national level," said Miranda Gray Cooper, ACFCU Chief Experience Officer. "This award is a reflection of the creativity, heart, and dedication our team brings to everything we do—especially Hannah, whose passion and hard work brought this idea to life in such a meaningful way."

Cooper continued, "At ACFCU, we’re always looking for ways to create memorable, impactful experiences for our members, and Camp Appy is a perfect example of that commitment in action.”

“We are proud to recognize ACFCU and this year’s Diamond Award winners for their entries that deliver both creativity and results,” said Lorrell Bellotti, Diamond Awards Co-chair and Chief Marketing Officer at Western Vista FCU in Cheyenne, Wyoming.   “These entries demonstrate an understanding of the people we serve and strategic execution that delivers measurable impact.”

About America’s Credit Unions
America’s Credit Unions is the unified voice for not-for-profit credit unions, representing more than 95% of the industry's assets and their more than 145 million members nationwide. America’s Credit Unions provides strong advocacy, resources and services to advance, empower, and protect credit unions and the people and communities they serve. For more information about America’s Credit Unions, visit AmericasCreditUnions.org.

About Councils
Councils is a member-led, collaborative community of credit union leaders providing vibrant peer interaction, new ideas and innovation to foster professional development while advocating for the overall success of the credit union movement. There are eight Councils with a network of more than 7,000 credit union professionals. For more information, visit AmericasCreditUnions.org/councils.