SPRINGFIELD, Ore.)— SELCO Community Credit Union awarded $77,500 in scholarships to 21 students throughout Oregon as part of its annual scholarship program.
The recipients were chosen from a competitive field and a record number of applications, breaking last year’s record that followed the decision to broaden eligibility to include vocational, continuing, and nontraditional students.
SELCO said it awarded 20 scholarships worth $3,500 each to students throughout the state. In addition, SELCO awarded Madison Chimenti 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.
SELCO’s scholarship program received a significant overhaul as part of the SELCO Steps Up philanthropy initiative launched in 2024, which expanded scholarship eligibility while increasing the total amount awarded by nearly 50%.
“One of the key goals for SELCO Steps Up is to evolve its programs to meet the community’s changing needs, including a shifting academic landscape,” the credit union said. “Trade school enrollment surged 4.9% nationwide from 2020 to 2023, while university enrollment slipped 0.6% over the same period, according to a recently released report by Validated Insights, a higher education marketing firm. SELCO’s scholarship program—once limited to high school seniors headed to a two- or four-year college—better reflects this shifting academic landscape.”
“It’s clear that today’s students are thinking differently about their futures, and these scholarships are evolving with them,” said Craig Carpenter, SELCO’s SVP-Lending & Business Banking, said in a statement. “The Selection Panel had a tough job narrowing down such a strong and diverse group. We’re proud to support students taking bold steps toward bright futures.”
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.