SELCO Community Credit Union is accepting applications through Tuesday, March 31, for nearly $80,000 in SELCO Steps Up scholarships. Since opening the application process in early February, SELCO has seen strong interest across the eligibility spectrum, including traditional, nontraditional, vocational, and continuing-education students. However, aspiring students are still encouraged to apply, as there is ample opportunity to receive support.
SELCO will award 20 scholarships of $3,500, and one Lane County student will receive the $7,500 Richard Metzler Opportunity Scholarship. The Metzler scholarship is awarded annually to a student who has demonstrated excellence in education, leadership, or civic responsibility despite adversity or a lack of opportunity. Eligible students for both scholarships include high school seniors planning to attend an accredited two- or four-year college, as well as vocational, continuing, and nontraditional students. Graduate students are not eligible.
Part of the SELCO Steps Up philanthropy initiative that the credit union launched in 2024, SELCO’s scholarship program aims to address the cost of school, which is the most often-cited barrier for those who aspire to attend college. SELCO’s scholarships can also be used for any educational-related expense, so they are uniquely suited to helping students meet the demands of rising costs.
To qualify, applicants must:
- Plan to attend a vocational school or an accredited two- or four-year college/university.
- Be a SELCO member or an immediate family member of a SELCO member. SELCO membership is open to anyone who lives or works in one of the 27 Oregon counties SELCO serves.
- Have earned a GED or a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher from an accredited high school.
SELCO’s Scholarship Panel will review each application, and funds will be released to scholarship recipients by the end of June. Prospective students are asked to apply online at selco.org/scholarships.
For more information on the scholarship program or other SELCO Steps Up programs, visit www.selco.org/steps-up.
About SELCO Steps Up:
The SELCO Steps Up program aims to create positive, innovative, lasting change through volunteerism, resource support, and collaboration with community partners. In 2025 alone, SELCO reinvested nearly $415,000 in the communities it serves through educator grants, scholarships, and impact-driven sponsorships, while SELCO team members committed nearly 1,700 volunteer hours. As a credit union founded by teachers, education is a cornerstone of these efforts, with a focus on removing barriers to financial literacy. By empowering individuals and families to achieve financial well-being, SELCO strives to build a strong foundation for all its members and neighbors. Learn more at www.selco.org/steps-up.
About SELCO Community Credit Union:
Founded in 1936 by a group of fiscally minded teachers, Springfield-based SELCO Community Credit Union today serves more than 150,000 members as one of the largest and longest-standing Oregon-based credit unions. A not-for-profit, federally insured, member-driven financial cooperative with more than $2.8 billion in assets, SELCO provides exceptional rates and low fees on a full range of financial products and services, including banking, mortgages, personal and business loans, investments, and insurance. Membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of the 27 Oregon or eight Washington counties SELCO serves. For more information or to become a member today, stop by one of SELCO’s 15 branches, visit selco.org, or call 800-445-4483.