Could you use help with college or trade school tuition? Are you entering your freshman through senior year of college or trade school? The $12,000 Credit Union College Scholarship Program is underway now!
Members of Maryland or District of Columbia-based credit unions and members of credit unions that are affiliated with the MD & DC Credit Union Association are eligible to apply.
Eligible credit union members may apply for one of ten $1,000 essay-based scholarships, one $1,000 video-based scholarship, and/or one $1,000 photo-based scholarship. And yes, eligible members may apply in all three categories!
Deadline for applications is Midnight, March 31, 2022. Awards will be announced in May 2022.
This year’s essay topic (750 words or less): “In life, things can happen fast. Describe a sudden change in your life, real or imagined, that presented a financial challenge and describe how your credit union helped you get through it.”
This year’s video topic: “You’re suddenly confronted with an unexpected financial challenge. Create a 60-second video depicting the challenge and how your credit union helped you successfully handle it.”
Photographers are asked to capture an original photograph that represents the credit union core value of “Respect”
Judges will be looking for a photo submission that is good enough to be used for lobby posters. So put some thought into your photo. It will take as much effort as those who submit essays and videos!
Here is an example of the type of scholarship-winning photo our judges are looking for. It is based on a past year’s theme, “Service.” Don’t worry about the caption, we’ll add that later if your photo is selected to be used as a poster.
Your photo doesn’t have to be directly related to the financial services industry, but it does need to capture the year’s assigned theme.
Click on the image to enlarge.
PLEASE NOTE: Parental membership does not qualify applicant. All applicants must themselves be a member of a participating credit union.
Applicants must be entering their freshman through senior year of college or trade school. This scholarship does not apply to students in post-graduate programs nor payment of student loans.
The 111 volunteer judges working with the MD|DC Credit Union Scholarship Program have selected this year’s winners from among the 192 essay-based entries, 57 photo-based entries, and 17 video-based entries.
Each of this year’s winners will receive a $1,000 scholarship award presented by their credit union.
2021 Winning Video Reflecting how credit unions help families achieve their financial goals:
2021 Photo Winner Depicting the Photo Topic, “Improving Lives:”
The 104 volunteer judges working with the MD|DC Credit Union Scholarship Program have selected this year’s winners from among the 241 essay-based entries, 75 photo-based entries, and 13 video-based entries.
Each of this year’s winners will receive a $1,000 scholarship award presented by their credit union.
2020 Winning Video Reflecting Personal Finance Services Ten Years in the Future:
2020 Photo Winner Depicting the Photo Topic, “Innovation:”
The 113 volunteer judges working with the MD|DC Credit Union Scholarship Program have selected this year’s winners from among the 339 essay-based entries, 123 photo-based entries, and 20 video-based entries.
Each of this year’s winners will receive a $1,000 scholarship award presented by their credit union.
2019 Winning Video
2019 Photo Winner, “Dream Big”
From the applicant: “The ability to turn dreams into reality requires perseverance and determination. Believing in one’s self renders a person to create the life that they envision.”
The 111 volunteer judges working with the MD|DC Credit Union Scholarship Program have selected this year’s winners from among the 281 essay-based entries, 72 photo-based entries, and 18 video-based entries.
Each of this year’s winners will receive a $1,000 scholarship award presented by their credit union.
Click to View 2018 Winning Essays
2018 Winning Video
2018 Photo Winner, “Community”
From the applicant: “Community is a value that credit unions embody with their cooperative philosophy; they are locally operated by their members and have extensive services.”
The 104 volunteer judges working with the MD|DC Credit Union Scholarship Program have selected this year’s winners from among the 328 essay-based entries, 58 photo-based entries, and 12 video-based entries.
Each of this year’s winners will receive a $1,000 scholarship award presented by their credit union.
2017 Winning Video
2017 Photo Winner, “Respect”
From the artist – “Respect at its most basic often involves the simple act of holding a door open for someone; it is something anyone can do.”
The 111 volunteer judges working with the MD|DC Credit Union Scholarship Program have selected this year’s winners from among the 373 essay-based entries, 79 photo-based entries, and 26 video-based entries.
Each of this year’s winners will receive a $1,000 scholarship award presented by their credit union.
View the 2016 Top Essays.
2016 Winning Video
2016 Winning Photograph – “Service”
It takes many helping hands to provide
the best quality “service” for a community.
This year’s essay and video topic was:
You are talking with a friend. Explain to them the value of credit union membership.
View the 2015 Top Essays.
View the 2015 Video Winner.
2015 Winning Photograph – “Thrift”
Click here to view the ten scholarship-winning 2014 essays.