SELCO Community Credit Union Awards $77,500 to 21 Oregon Students Through Annual Scholarship Program

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on May 20, 2025

SELCO Community Credit Union awarded $77,500 in scholarships to 21 students throughout Oregon as part of its annual scholarship program. The recipients were chosen from a competitive field and a record number of applications, breaking last year’s record that followed the decision to broaden eligibility to include vocational, continuing, and nontraditional students.

SELCO awarded 20 scholarships worth $3,500 each to students throughout the state. In addition, SELCO awarded Madison Chimenti of Eugene the $7,500 Richard Metzler Opportunity Scholarship — given to a Lane County student who demonstrates excellence in education, leadership, or civic responsibility despite adversity or lack of opportunity.

SELCO’s scholarship program received a significant overhaul as part of the SELCO Steps Up philanthropy initiative launched in 2024, which expanded scholarship eligibility while increasing the total amount awarded by nearly 50%.

One of the key goals for SELCO Steps Up is to evolve its programs to meet the community’s changing needs, including a shifting academic landscape. Trade school enrollment surged 4.9% nationwide from 2020 to 2023, while university enrollment slipped 0.6% over the same period, according to a recently released report by Validated Insights, a higher education marketing firm. SELCO’s scholarship program — once limited to high school seniors headed to a two- or four-year college — better reflects this shifting academic landscape.

“It’s clear that today’s students are thinking differently about their futures, and these scholarships are evolving with them,” said Craig Carpenter, SELCO’s Senior Vice President of Lending & Business Banking. “The Selection Panel had a tough job narrowing down such a strong and diverse group. We’re proud to support students taking bold steps toward bright futures.” 

To qualify, applicants must be a SELCO member or the immediate family of a SELCO member. Applicants must also have a GED or cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (or a 3.0 GPA in their last college term) and plan to attend a vocational school or an accredited two- or four-year college/university.

SELCO started its scholarship program in 1991 as an important component of its mission to help members reach their financial and educational goals. In the past five years alone, SELCO has awarded more than $300,000 through this program. And unlike many scholarships, these funds can be used for educational expenses beyond tuition.

Each recipient was invited to attend a ceremony at SELCO headquarters in Springfield, Ore., on May 22. For more on the recipients, visit www.selco.org/steps-up/scholarships/2025-recipients/.

Posted in Community Impact, Oregon, Regional Member News.