SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — SELCO Community Credit Union has awarded $77,500 in scholarships to 21 students throughout Oregon as part of its annual scholarship program. This year’s scholarship recipients were honored at a luncheon last week at SELCO’s headquarters in Springfield.
SELCO awarded 20 scholarships, each worth $3,500, to students representing seven Oregon counties. In addition, SELCO awarded Peyton Caldwell of Eugene the $7,500 Richard Metzler Opportunity Scholarship—given to a Lane County student who demonstrates excellence in education, leadership, or civic responsibility despite adversity or lack of opportunity.
Part of the SELCO Steps Up philanthropy initiative, SELCO’s scholarship program aims to address the rising cost of school. Costs are the most often-cited barrier for those who aspire to attend college, the credit union said. SELCO’s scholarships can also be used for any educational-related expense, so they are uniquely suited to helping students meet the demands of rising costs and better meet a variety of student needs.
Recently, the program expanded eligibility to include vocational, continuing, and nontraditional students, as well as high school seniors planning to attend an accredited two- or four-year college.
“Today’s students are pursuing a wide range of paths, and our scholarship program is designed to meet them where they are,” Olivia Sorensen, SELCO’s Community Development Supervisor, said in a statement. “The depth of this year’s applicant pool made the selection process incredibly competitive, and recipients reflect the determination, resilience, and ambition we see across our communities.”
To qualify, applicants must be a SELCO member or the immediate family of a SELCO member. Applicants must also have a GED or cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (or a 3.0 GPA in their last college term) and plan to attend a vocational school or an accredited two- or four-year college/university.
