Main header image
BCU Scholarship Program
Deadline to apply: April 10, 2023 3:00 pm CT

BCU has established a scholarship program to assist members who are high school seniors and plan to continue their education in college. Scholarships are offered each year for full-time study at an accredited institution of the student´s choice.

The program is administered by Scholarship America, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarship programs for corporations, foundations, associations and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor, and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.

Applicants to the BCU Scholarship Program must fulfill all the eligibility requirements. Student must be:

  • A BCU member in good standing (not a parent’s account).
  • A high school senior or graduate, or current undergraduate student.
  • Planning to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university for the entire 2023-2024 academic year.

BCU interns are eligible to apply.

Children of employees of BCU are ineligible to apply.

Award Information

Up to twenty-nine (29) awards will be granted in 2023:

  • The BCU Scholarship – up to 20 awards available in the amount of $2,500 each.
  • The Samuel G. O’Kelly Memorial Scholarship for $3,500. (This award will be funded annually through donations made to the Samuel G. O’Kelly Memorial Fund, administered by Scholarship America. The availability and amount of the award in future years are contingent on funds available).
  • Leader of Tomorrow Scholarships. Eight awards in the amount of $5,000 each are granted to applicants who demonstrate the greatest service and dedication to their community, academic performance, and leadership potential.
    • Tom Hodson Leader of Tomorrow
    • Ray & Irene Oddi Leader of Tomorrow
    • Michele Hooper Leader of Tomorrow
    • John Pellettiere Leader of Tomorrow
    • Charles Thurman Leader of Tomorrow
    • Margot Kaplan Leader of Tomorrow
    • Vernon R. Loucks Jr. Leader of Tomorrow
    • Jose Cajigas Leader of Tomorrow
      (An applicant from Puerto Rico will be
      awarded)

Recipients may receive only one award of any type.

Recipients may receive awards one time only. Past recipients may not reapply.

Awards are for undergraduate study only.

Selection of Recipients

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:

  • Academic record
  • Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
  • Work experience
  • A statement of educational and career goals and objectives
  • Unusual personal or family circumstances
  • *Essay

Financial need is not considered.

Assuming there are qualified applicants, the diversity of the recipient pool will proportionally reflect the diversity of the applicant pool.

Selection of recipients is made by Scholarship America. In no instance does any officer or employee of BCU play a part in the selection. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

*Essay

Americans struggle to understand money management and achieve financial wellness. 63% of the population is living paycheck to paycheck. Less than 60% of adults in the United States understand financial decision-making. Currently, only seven states require students to learn about personal finance before graduating high school. Your essay assignment is to write a letter to your Congressman/woman. Explain whether you believe a consumer education/financial literacy course should be a mandatory high school graduation requirement and why you believe that is the case.

Notification

All applicants will be notified in May.

Payment of Scholarships

Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of BCU. The payment is made in one installment in early August. A check is made payable to the student´s school and mailed to each recipient´s home address.

As part of your application, you must upload the following document:

  • A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Unofficial or online transcripts must display student name, school name, grades and credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.

NOTE: If you are providing SAT or ACT test scores, and those scores are not listed on your high school transcript, you will need to upload a copy of your test score report(s) separately. If you are uploading a college transcript, those scores are not required.

Your application is not complete unless all required documents are submitted electronically through the Scholarship America Student Hub.

BCU has partnered with Scholarship America. Select the button below to be directed to the Scholarship America Student Hub!