CU College Scholarship

Foundation Announces 2021

$12,000 Credit Union Scholarship Program

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, 2021. Awards will be announced in May 2021.

This year’s essay topic: “How do credit unions demonstrate the phrase, “Not For Profit, Not For Charity, But For Service?”

This year’s video topic: “Create a 60-second video showing how credit unions help families achieve their financial goals.”

Photographers are asked to capture an original photograph that represents how their credit union is “Improving Lives”

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.

Visit our Applicant Page

Foundation Announces 2020

Credit Union Scholarship Winners

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.

View 2020 Winning Essays

2020 Winning Video Reflecting Personal Finance Services Ten Years in the Future:

2020 Photo Winner Depicting the Photo Topic, “Innovation:”

Foundation Announces 2019

Credit Union Scholarship Winners

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.

View 2019 Winning Essays

2019 Winning Video

2019 Photo Winner, “Dream Big”

Foundation Announces 2018

Credit Union Scholarship Winners

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”

Foundation Announces 2017

Credit Union Scholarship Winners

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.

View the 2017 Winning Essays.

2017 Winning Video

2017 Photo Winner, “Respect”

Foundation Announces 2016

Credit Union Scholarship Winners

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.

Foundation Announces 2015

Credit Union Scholarship Winners

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”



2014 Scholarship-Winning Essays

Click here to view the ten scholarship-winning 2014 essays.

First Place 2014 Photo

