Supporting Your Success: Scholarship Opportunities with TRUE Community Credit Union!
Not only does TRUE Community provide financial literacy programs to our youth members and educational partners, we also like to help give back in the form of scholarships, sponsorships, volunteering at school events and more.
Scholarships
Congratulations to our 2025 scholarship winners:
- Jonathan T, Western High School
- Allison M, Addison High School
- Seth M, Jackson High School
- Robert A, Grass Lake High School
- Parker M, Jackson High School
- Henry B, Home School
- Nasier R, Concord High School
- Elle V, Lumen Christi Catholic School.
2026 Scholarship Instructions
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
Students and Non-Traditional Students who currently live, work, or attend school in Michigan
are eligible to apply.
- A Student is defined as a graduating high school senior in the 2026 graduating class.
- Non-Traditional Students are defined as any student over the age of 25 that have a high school diploma or their GED and are now seeking an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree or technical certification.
*Master’s and Doctoral Students are not eligible.
All applicants must plan to enter college in the next academic year (2026-2027). Evidence of enrollment in an accredited college, technical school or university must be submitted before award payment will be made to the award recipient
HOW WINNERS ARE SELECTED
All entries will be reviewed anonymously by a diverse panel that may be comprised of a combination of senior management, teachers or principals, staff and/or board members of TRUE Community Credit Union. During the judging process, all entries will bear no identifying marks or symbols which show either the contestant’s name or the school they attend. Applicants may only apply once.
The principal determining factor in selecting scholarship recipients is the applicant’s essay pertaining to the scholarship topic. The following criteria in judging the essay response will be organization, language use, originality, clarity, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, comprehension, and expression of the topic. Refrain from using AI programs to complete your essay.
All scholarship recipients will be selected without regard to race, religion, or gender.
AWARDS
TRUE Community Credit Union will determine the number of scholarships awarded. Should applicants not meet the criteria set forth in the requirements or satisfactorily respond to the topic no awards will be granted. Recipients may receive a scholarship between $500 and $1,000. Scholarship recipients will be contacted before May 2026. Awards will be paid out at the beginning of the academic year or sooner. The awards are intended to constitute qualified scholarships exempt from federal income tax under Section 117 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Use of the amount for purposes other than those noted may jeopardize tax exempt status. If tax liability arises, it will be the sole responsibility of the recipient. TRUE Community Credit Union shall maintain records, administer, and provide all necessary staffing for the TRUE Community Partnership in Education Scholarship program.
HOW TO APPLY
This year we are asking that applicants submit their application, consent to media release form, and provide your essay using the electronic form found here. Please read over guidelines carefully before submitting. Applications not meeting guidelines or submitted late will not be considered.
Applications will be accepted electronically until 11:59 PM AM EST on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
No hard copies will be accepted. All entries will become the property of TRUE Community Credit Union. If you have any questions, please contact the Financial Education Department at 517.784.7101 or email us at [email protected].
ESSAY GUIDELINES
- Your essay should not be more than 1500 words and not less than 750 words.
- Should address the topic listed below.
- Your essay should be written in your own words. Please refrain from using AI programs
to complete your essay. - Do not put any personal identifiable information in your essay. i.e. your name, family
members’ names, your high school, etc.
THE 2026 SCHOLARSHIP TOPIC
At TRUE Community Credit Union, our mission is to cultivate legacy-defining moments for the people and places we serve for generations to come. We focus on creating meaningful connections and strengthening the communities we proudly call home. Identify a problem in your community that concerns you. Explain why you believe this issue is important and how it affects the people and places around you. Then, using TRUE Community Credit Union’s mission as inspiration, describe the actions you would take to address this challenge and create a stronger, more vibrant community for future generations.
2026 Scholarship Application (Online)
Educational Sponsorship Requests
Our educational sponsorship program is a great resource for schools, teachers and school organizations that are seeking prizes or smaller cash donations. TRUE Community can also provide activities and games for school events. To learn more about how our financial education program can help you at your next event, please complete an educational sponsorship request.
Educational Sponsorship Request Form (PDF)