Reinforcing its ongoing commitment to education, the Blaze Foundation awarded $200,000 in scholarships to 80 students across the Minnesota communities it serves.
The foundation invests in this programming to create opportunities for young people in strengthening the future of our communities.
Scholarships and youth-focused support help remove barriers, recognize hard work, and encourage students to continue pursuing their goals with determination. The foundation board sees this investment as a way to not only support individual achievement, but also to foster stronger, more vibrant communities by preparing the next generation to contribute, lead, and succeed.
“At Blaze Credit Union Foundation, we believe supporting young people means investing in both their education and their financial future. Our 2026 scholarship program is about more than financial support—it’s about encouraging dreams, opening doors, and reminding students that their goals matter,” said Christine Cordell, Chair of the Blaze Credit Union Foundation and Blaze Senior Vice President/Chief Project/Learning Officer. “We are honored to stand beside these students as they continue their educational journeys, and we remain deeply committed to creating opportunities that help young people grow, thrive, and shape a stronger future for our communities.”
The Blaze Foundation Board selected the 2026 scholarship recipients based on need, academic performance, community involvement (notable accomplishments, professional or community affiliations, extra-curricular activities, awards, and volunteering), and a letter of recommendation. Applicants were also required to submit an essay answering the question: “Describe a financial challenge you or your family has faced and how it shapes the way you think about money today.”
The 2026 scholarship recipients are:
Yusra Abdi: Mahtomedi High School
Sara Abraham: Highland Park Senior High School
Breauna Ailts: Pillager High School
Wallis Ausing: Harbor City International School
Isaac Banner: Washburn High School
Lillian Bannink: East Ridge High School
Miguel Barreto Gil: Brooklyn Center High School
Ruby Beier: Ogilvie High School
Erik Braaten: Roseville Area High School
Rachel Bray: Crosby-Ironton High School
Jessica Cabrera: East Chicago Central High School
Evey Carlson: Kennedy Senior High School
Charlie Dahl: Como Park High School
Ashlynn Dhaene: Minnesota New Country School
Leila Dietz: Homeschooled
Braiziah Dixon: Vrije Universitet Brussels
Fatima Donzo: Blaine High School
Vonnie Duong: Eden Prairie High School
Ava Figuera: Highland Park Senior High School
Laney Fliehler: White Bear Lake Area High School
Ava Goers: Rosemount High School
Sofia Gonzalez: Como Park High School
Brinley Grimsgard: Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City HS
Lucia Herman: University of Minnesota
Molly Hetland: Maple Grove Senior High School
Emma Hilgemann: Princeton High School
Hannah Hoglund: Syracuse University
Tennyson Holmes: Anoka High School
Tristan Holmes: Anoka High School
Madelon Humeniuk: Pine City High School
Jahari Iverson: Robbinsdale Armstrong High School
Mirabelle Jackson: Roseville Area High School
Alexander Jaeck: University of Florida
Emmery Jensen: Princeton High School
Paige Jensen: Belle Plaine High School
Nica Johnson: Highland Park Senior High School
Jamila Jones: Hiawatha Collegiate High School
Joel Knudsen: Mora High School
Ellis Landry: Maple Grove Senior High School
Yana Latz: Minnetonka High School
Lauren Leaseburg: St. Mary’s University Minnesota
Abbigail Maki: Cloquet Senior High School
Alis Moo: Camden High School
Joseph Munene: Providence Academy
Kyleigh Noble: Princeton High School
Bradyn Nordeen: Gustavus Adolphus College
Evelynn Oestreich: Mora High School
Alina Oyen: University of Northwestern St. Paul
Lauren Packard: Owatonna High School
Jacob Pangarakis: Armstrong High School
Alexander Parker: Roseville Area High School
Lar Say Paw: College of St. Benedict
Purpose Price: Totino-Grace High School
Rukshan Rajan: University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Cecilia Ratemo: Eden Prairie High School
Taelin Richmond: Mahtomedi High School
Langston Richter: Bethlehem Academy
Kelly Sackett: Owatonna High School
Ava Schaible: Andover High School
Samantha Schulner: University of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Stephen Sennott: Owatonna High School
Odin Sjoberg: Brainerd Senior High School
Brendan Smith: Richfield Senior High School
Danica Son: Central Senior High School
Savana Soule: Hennepin Technical College
Sven Storbakken: Princeton High School
Mckayla Thao: Johnson High School
Lillian Tidrick: Princeton High School
Taylor Tollefson: Pine City High School
Sena Tran: Shakopee High School
Hannah Trudeau: Two Rivers High School
Miley Utsch: Buffalo High School
Emily Vang: Harding High School
Bodie Whitnah: Minnetonka High School
Kiri Werner: Highland Park Senior High School
Amber Winzenburg: Ridgewater College
Lilian Woyak: Wayzata High School
Evalyn Xiong: Harding High School
Olivia Xiong: Johnson High School
Jonathan Yani: Blaine High School
The Blaze Foundation Scholarship Program addresses the needs of three major groups:
Needs-Based Scholarships
Blaze Member Scholarships
Traditional Students – 2026 high school graduates
Non-Traditional Students - Students who are either continuing or returning to higher education endeavors but are not 2026 high school graduates
Blaze Credit Union High School Branch Scholarships
The scholarships were awarded at the end of the school year during each school’s awards ceremony. Foundation Board members or Blaze representatives presented each recipient with a certificate to recognize their achievement.
To be eligible for a Blaze Foundation Scholarship, applicants needed to be a current student at a Minnesota high school (graduating in 2026), or a student who is either continuing or returning to higher education pursuits. All applicants must be enrolled, accepted, or planning to attend a post-secondary, accredited school during the 2026-2027 school year.
Since its inception in 2017, the Blaze Credit Union Foundation has donated nearly $500,000 in scholarships to those in the community seeking to advance their education.
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