SPIRE Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by SPIRE Credit Union

Since its inception, the SPIRE Scholarship Program has awarded a total of $53,500 in scholarships to 88 credit union members.

Amount Awarded

The total amount to be awarded for the 2023-2024 school year is $10,000:

• Two $2,500 scholarships for traditional students (graduating high school seniors).
• Two $2,500 scholarships for non-traditional students (returning to or continuing college).

Application Criteria

• Student must be an active, primary member of SPIRE Credit Union, and their account(s) must be in good standing.
• Student must answer the following essay question within 500-1,000 words: What is your biggest financial concern in the next three to five years, and how are you preparing for that?
• Financial needs is not considered in the selection of the scholarship recipients.

Winner Selection Process

• In order 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 the essay or community involvement response.
• Applicants will be rated by a committee based on the following: 75% essay (content, creativity, and grammar); 25% community involvement.

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• Any scholarship funds not withdrawn by the recipient by the end of the 2023-2024 school year for authorized expenses will be returned to SPIRE.