Scholarships

To be considered for a scholarship award through this program, applicants must meet ALL following eligibility criteria. Please review these rules carefully before beginning your application. 

1. U.S. Citizenship Requirement
   All applicants must be citizens of the United States of America at the time of application. Proof of citizenship may be required if selected as a finalist or recipient. Non-citizens, including permanent residents and international students, are not eligible for this scholarship program.


2. Educational Enrollment Requirement
   Applicants must plan to enroll in and attend a college, university, or accredited trade school located within the United States during the academic year immediately following high school graduation. Enrollment must be on a full-time basis beginning in the Fall 2026 semester or earlier.
   
   Eligible institutions include:
   • Public or private colleges and universities
   • Accredited community colleges
   • Accredited vocational or trade schools
   
   Enrollment in international institutions, online-only schools, or unaccredited programs does not meet this requirement.


3. Academic Achievement Requirement
   Applicants must have maintained a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 throughout high school. GPA must be calculated through the most recently completed grading period (first semester or second trimester of senior year) and verified through an official or unofficial transcript submitted with the application.
   
   We encourage applicants to demonstrate academic excellence, commitment to learning, and a strong work ethic in both their academic and extracurricular pursuits.
    
4. Student Status Requirement
   Applicants must be current high school seniors scheduled to graduate as part of the graduating class of the year of application. Students who have already graduated, are currently enrolled in college, or are taking a gap year are not eligible for this cycle of the scholarship.
    
5. 7 17 Credit Union Membership Requirement
   The applicant and/or their parent or legal guardian must be an active member of 7 17 Credit Union in good standing as of the date the scholarship application is submitted. This includes members who hold any 7 17 Credit Union personal or joint account (e.g., savings, checking, or loan products).
   
   Applicants will be asked to provide the member’s name and membership/account number for verification. Only one applicant per member of the household may receive a scholarship award each year.
    
6. Final Requirement
   On another document, write a double-spaced, 12point Times New Roman, two-page essay describing why it is you should receive this award, and how the funds are planned to be used. Additionally, submit two letters of recommendation (one academic and one from a community leader), an updated resume and the high school academic transcript for review.
    
    The essay should contain:
    
   • Community involvement and volunteer work
     7 17 wants to ensure that the winners of the scholarship are individuals who are committed to themselves, their academics, and their community. We are looking for well-rounded individuals overall.
   • Extracurricular and academic activities
     Along with being involved in the community and volunteering your free time, the applicants should be extracurricular active. They should be involved in a sport, club, or have some hobby that gets them involved with the world around them. This can go together with community involvement as well.
   • Accolades
     The accolades portion will vary from person to person. This is a section where the writer can include any accomplishments they would like to share. This can be academic, athletic, etc. This will give 7 17 an even deeper understanding of who this person is and how they dedicated they can be to themselves or to a team.
   • Graduation and career plans
     This portion of the paper gives us insight into where the applicant sees themselves in the future. We want someone who is not short-sighted. The applicant should have goals and standards for themselves and for their future.

1. Describe why you should receive this award
   • How are the funds planned to be used?
   • Why are you applying for the scholarship?
2. Describe a time where you took on a leadership role
   • What was the role and its responsibilities?
   • What were the key takeaways from this role?
3. Describe a time where you faced adversity
   • What did you learn from this experience?
   • How do you think this experience will help you in the future?
4. Describe why attending secondary school is important to you?
   • Are you pursuing a particular career?
   • Are there certain skills that you hope to acquire and how will those skills help you in the future?
   • Is having trade school, college, or university experience important?

Regardless of chosen prompt, MLA formatted and two pages long. If applicable, please include:

• Community involvement and volunteer work
• Any work experience
• Extracurricular and academic activities, and accolades
• Graduation/career plans

The essay portion will be rated on one hundred points as listed below.

Category

Additional Notes

• Scholarship recipients will be selected based on academic merit, extracurricular involvement, community service, and written responses.
• Scholarship funds that are awarded are to be applied toward tuition, fees, or required materials. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification of the scholarship and will require a return of funds in the amount awarded.
• By applying, students agree to allow 7 17 Credit Union to use their name, likeness, and educational background for promotional and recognition purposes, unless prohibited by law.