Blaze Credit Union Foundation Awards Over $70,000 in Scholarships

Blaze Credit Union has continued its longstanding commitment to support the educational aspirations of students in the communities that it serves by awarding more than $70,000 in scholarships to 28 Minnesotans.

With nearly 500 applicants to choose from, the Blaze Credit Union Foundation Board selected this year’s recipients based on need, academic performance, community involvement, volunteering, school activities, and other accomplishments, with consideration for first-generation college students. The applicants were also required to submit an essay answering the question: “Who, or what experience, has had the greatest impact on how you make money decisions? Explain why.”

“The Blaze Credit Union Foundation is committed to serving our communities and our scholarship program is one way that we can do that,” said Christine Cordell, Blaze Credit Union’s Chief Project/Learning Officer, and Chair of the Blaze Credit Union Foundation. “We are thrilled to be able to provide financial resources to our next generation of leaders. Today’s students are the future of our communities and to be able to support them as they continue their education and as they look to grow and learn is exciting and a privilege.” 

The Blaze Foundation Scholarship Program addresses the needs of three major groups:

Blaze Credit Union High School Branches
Needs-Based Scholarships
Blaze Member Scholarships: Traditional – A 2024 high school graduate; Non-Traditional — A student who is either continuing or returning to higher-education endeavors but is not a 2024 high school graduate.

The scholarships were awarded at the end of the school year, and, in many instances, a member of the Blaze Credit Union Foundation Board presented the recipient with a certificate to commemorate their award during their school’s end-of-year awards banquet.

To be eligible for a Blaze Scholarship, applicants needed to be a current student at a Minnesota high school (graduating in 2024), or a student who is either continuing or returning to higher education endeavors. All applicants must be enrolled, accepted, or planning to attend a post-secondary, accredited school during the 2024-2025 school year.

Since its inception in 2017, the Credit Union’s Foundation has donated nearly $175,000 in scholarships to those in the community wishing to continue their education.