Scholarship Program

Join Us in Celebrating Education

The Blaze Credit Union Foundation believes in the power of education to transform lives and communities.

Our scholarship program is more than financial assistance—it serves as a beacon of hope and a stepping-stone toward a brighter future.

Now Accepting Applications

The Blaze Credit Union Foundation is thrilled to announce the launch of our 2026 Scholarship Program, designed to support the educational aspirations of students in our communities.

With a commitment of $200,000, we are eager to invest in the future of our scholars, helping them to ignite their potential and achieve academic success.

Applications will be accepted February 2 – March 31, 2026 until 11:59 p.m.

Eligibility & Criteria

Traditional Applicants: A current high school student graduating in 2026.

Non-Traditional Applicants: A student who is either continuing or returning to higher-education endeavors.

Awardees may not receive more than one scholarship from Blaze Credit Union Foundation during the same school year.

Winners must be enrolled, accepted, or planning to attend a post-secondary accredited school during the 2026-2027 school year (2-year, 4-year, trade school, vocational school, graduate programs, etc.).

All scholarships must be used within one year of award.

Scholarships will be paid out directly to the student’s school, and can be used for payment of tuition, books, and fees.

Blaze Foundation Scholarship Program Breakdown

Needs-Based Scholarships: Supporting Academic Aspirations

Total Funding: $120,000

Number of Scholarships: 48

Amount per Scholarship: $2,500

Eligibility: Selection is based on demonstrated financial need as indicated in the application.

Student Type: Traditional

Purpose: To remove financial barriers and expand educational opportunities for students with demonstrated need.

Member-exclusive Scholarships: Valuing Our Blaze Family

Total Funding: $60,000

Number of Scholarships: 24

Amount per Scholarship: $2,500

Eligibility: Exclusive to Blaze Credit Union members

Student Type: 12 Traditional and 12 Non-Traditional

Vision: To demonstrate appreciation to our members, these scholarships are dedicated to both Traditional and Non-Traditional student members, reinforcing our commitment to the educational endeavors of our Blaze Credit Union family.

Blaze CU High School Branch Scholarships: Empowering Local Dreams

Total Funding: $20,000

Number of Scholarships: 8

Amount per Scholarship: $2,500

Eligibility: Open to all students, regardless of membership status

Student Type: Traditional

Special Note: These scholarships are allocated specifically for students at Como, Harding, Highland, and Johnson High Schools in St. Paul, MN. Two scholarships are allocated to each of the Blaze CU high school branch partner schools.

Scholarship Recipient Selection Process

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 essay, community involvement response, or anywhere else except the First Name and Last Name fields.

Applicants will be rated by a committee based on the following: 

• Letter of Recommendation (30%)
• Community Involvement (35%):  Notable accomplishments, professional or community affiliations, extra-curricular activities, awards, and community/volunteer involvement.
• Essay (35%): Describe a financial challenge you or your family has faced and how it shaped the way you think about money today.

Disbursement of Funds

Once recipients begin 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 2026-2027 school year for authorized expenses will be reclaimed. 

How to Apply

The online application portal for all scholarship categories is now open!

Please Note: The Blaze Foundation Scholarship Program applications are done through a program called Kaleidoscope. All messages about the grant will come from Kaleidoscope, so check your email and spam folder after setting up your Kaleidoscope account.

We invite students to apply February 2 – March 31, 2026 until 11:59 p.m.