Scholarship Program

Eligibility & Criteria

Traditional: A current high school student graduating in 2024.

Non-Traditional: A student who is either continuing or returning to higher-education endeavors.

Awardees cannot be a recipient of more than one scholarship from the Blaze Credit Union Foundation during the same school year.

Winners must be enrolled, accepted, or planning to attend a post-secondary accredited school during the 2024-2025 school year (2-year, 4-year, trade school, vocational school, graduate programs, etc.).

There will be a one-year expiration date on all scholarships. 

Scholarships will be paid out directly to the student’s school, and can be used for payment of tuition, books, and fees.

Blaze Foundation Scholarship Program Breakdown

Blaze CU High School Branch Scholarships: Empowering Local Dreams

Total Funding: $10,000

Number of Scholarships: 4

Amount per Scholarship: $2,500

Eligibility: Open to all students, regardless of membership status

Student Type: Traditional

Special Note: These scholarships are allocated specifically for students at Como, Harding, Highland, and Johnson High Schools in St. Paul, MN. One $2,500 Traditional Scholarship is allocated for each school.

Needs-Based Scholarships: Supporting Academic Aspirations

Total Funding: $25,000

Number of Scholarships: 10

Amount per Scholarship: $2,500

Eligibility: Open to all students, regardless of membership status

Student Type: Traditional

Purpose: These scholarships aim to assist students who demonstrate financial need, ensuring that economic barriers do not hinder educational opportunities.

Member-exclusive Scholarships: Valuing Our Blaze Family

Total Funding: $15,000

Number of Scholarships: 6

Amount per Scholarship: $2,500

Eligibility: Exclusive to Blaze Credit Union members

Student Type: Two Traditional and Four Non-Traditional

Vision: To demonstrate appreciation to our members, these scholarships are dedicated to both Traditional and Non-Traditional student members, reinforcing our commitment to the educational endeavors of our Blaze Credit Union family.

Winner Selection Process

To eliminate bias, all applicants’ names will be omitted from the selection process. 

The applicant must not use his or her name, nor the names of any family members, in either the essay, community involvement response, or anywhere else except the First Name and Last Name fields.

Applicants will be rated by a committee based on the following: 

• Financial Need (25%): You will be asked to provide a brief statement of financial need.
• First Generation College Student (25%): Being a first-generation student means that your parent(s) did not complete a 4-year college or university degree. 
• Community Involvement (25%):  Notable accomplishments, professional or community affiliations, extra-curricular activities, awards, and community/volunteer involvement
• Essay (25%): 2024 Scholarship Essay Question: “Who, or what experience, has had the greatest impact on how you make money decisions? Explain why.”

Disbursement of Funds

Once recipients have started classes at their schools, funds will be deposited with the Student Financial Aid Office of the college, university, or post-secondary technical school indicated on the application during the first grading period in the school year for which the scholarship applies. Scholarship funds will be disbursed by the school for payment of tuition, books, and fees. The following stipulations will be indicated when funds are submitted to the schools:

Scholarship funds can be disbursed by the school for payment of tuition, books, and fees.

The student must have a GPA of 2.0 or better for the current term.

If the student does not attain a GPA of 2.0 in the first term (quarter/semester), it may be carried over to the second term (quarter/semester).

The student must be in active status and attending classes part-time or full-time.

Any scholarship funds not withdrawn by the recipient by the end of the 2024-2025 school year for authorized expenses will be reclaimed.