Scholarship Overview
For over 20 years, DCU, through DCU for Kids has provided a scholarship program designed to assist students in the pursuit of higher education with over $2.25 million in scholarships being awarded.
DCU recognizes the lifetime value of a college education. The Annual Memorial Scholarship Program is designed to assist students with the cost of this education. For over 20 years, DCU, through our Foundation, DCU for Kids, has provided this program in recognition of students' hard work and their interest in pursuing higher education. Beginning in December of 2025, students in their senior year of high school who would be attending a state or nationally accredited college or university in the fall of 2026 were able to apply for the Annual Memorial Scholarship*.
Scholarships were awarded on academic merit, teachers' references, an original essay, awards and recognition, and extracurricular and community service activities. An impartial panel of business professionals and collegiate educators judged the participants' entries. In 2026, DCU awarded $150,000 in scholarships and all funds were distributed through the DCU for Kids Foundation. The names of winners from the 2026 award year are listed below.
Interested in applying? Visit this page in late November 2026 for details about the 2027 scholarship program, including official rules and the date the scholarship portal will begin accepting applications.
*All DCU / First Technology Federal Credit Union employees, volunteers, subsidiaries, affiliates, and their immediate family members are ineligible to apply.
2026 Winners
- Abigail Ruiz - Denver, CO
- Abinaya Pinjakan - Nashville, TN
- Amelia Louise DeStefano - Litchfield, NH
- Anya Maheshwari - Olathe, KS
- Grace Yihua Lee - Chula Vista, CA
- Isabella Castro-Cardona - Bradenton, FL
- Jazmin Tamez - Pharr, TX
- Katherine Barten - West Liberty, IA
- Kathryn Ann Hankins - Hixson, TN
- Katia Noelle Bloedel - Port Washington, WI
- Kayla Beidleman - Teaneck, NJ
- Lucas Yang - Winchester, MA
- Maddyson A Grimes - Glenpool, OK
- Medha Ramaswamy - Sylvania, OH
- Melody Ziaee - Houston, TX
- Olivia Skeete - Lake Forest, CA
- Ryan Yu - Boxford, MA
- Shane Ciunci - East Greenwich, RI
- Sreethan Reddy Enjem - Wellington, FL
- Veda Aatre Keshavamurthy - Canton, MI
- Aaditya Mittal - Edison, NJ
- Addyson Lynn Schoepske - Waterloo, IA
- Aditya Das - Fremont, CA
- Akshaya Sreeram - Chester Springs, PA
- Anda Xie - Salt Lak City, UT
- Ansh Vinchhi - Santa Maria, CA
- Bayley Walker - Keizer, OR
- Bryce Joseph Boardman - Las Vegas, NV
- Cambria Lee Hutchison - St. Petersburg, FL
- Carley Jae Etchie - Haskins, OH
- Claire Madeleine Frank - Portland, OR
- Deanna Reyes - Freeport, NY
- Elijah Badgett - Long Beach, CA
- Elizabeth Chung - Nashua, NH
- Elizabeth Hong - Alpharetta, GA
- Ellianna Amershek - Wichita, KS
- Elliot Charles Karr - Grosse Pointe Park, MI
- Ethan Hays - Jackson, MI
- Eugene Kim - Seoul, MA
- Ishaan Vyas - Phoenix, AZ
- Jhanvi Deven Desai - Nashua, NH
- Kaitlyn Lee - McLean, VA
- Krithikha Sai Srinivas - Tomball, TX
- Lakan Jerke - Floyds Knobs, IN
- Lauren Low - Irvine, CA
- Maya Aminova - Taunton, MA
- Mitchell Braidic - Coraopolis, PA
- Molly Volpp - Reno, NV
- Nicholas Joseph Allen Smithhart - Kermit, TX
- Pahal Kaur Bhasin - Hoboken, NJ
- Paige Riley Owens - Lakeview, OR
- Rohin Patel - Waxhaw, NC
- Rozella Rousseau Fadaie - Rancho Viejo, TX
- Simrah Azmi - Westford, MA
- Siri Borra - San Antonio, TX
- Sreegouri Vangala - Shrewsbury, MA
- Sydney Malone - Laguna Niguel, CA
- Theodore Tedesco - Pittsburgh, PA
- Timothy Kulangara - Phoenix, AZ
- Victoria Marie Townsend - Burtonsville, MD
All DCU / First Technology Federal Credit Union employees, volunteers, subsidiaries, affiliates, and their immediate family members are ineligible to apply to the DCU Annual Memorial Scholarship Program.
FAQs
No, you do not have to be a DCU member to submit an application or receive an award. The DCU for Kids Annual Memorial Scholarship is a national scholarship program that is available to any graduating high school senior with plans to attend a state or nationally accredited two or four-year college or university in the Fall of the award year.
Please Note: All DCU employees, volunteers, subsidiaries, affiliates, and their immediate family members are ineligible.
Individuals that have passed the GED or other high school equivalency exam are not eligible to apply. Applicants must be a graduating high school senior and be able to provide an official or unofficial transcript of high school grades for their senior year (to date) and junior year (full year).
No. The scholarship funds awarded in May must be applied in the Fall of the award year. Award funds cannot be deferred. Checks need to be deposited into the students’ account by the institution no later than early October. If the student has questions, concerns, or considerations that align with potentially taking a Gap Year, please contact DCU for Kids for further clarification prior to applying.
All applications and supporting materials must be received before the 3pm (ET) submission deadline as stated on the scholarship application webpage for consideration. Any materials received after the deadline will NOT be submitted to the judges, regardless of circumstance. Please plan the completion and submission of your application accordingly.
Two letters of recommendation are required. The letters must come from your junior or senior year teacher(s) or your guidance counselor; any other sources will disqualify your application.
You will request the letters of recommendation directly in the scholarship portal by providing the recommenders name and email address.
A unique link will be provided in an email generated by the portal to the recommenders. This link will allow them to upload their letter of recommendation. Letters must be in pdf format. Letters are submitted on your behalf in a private portal. You will not have access to the letters in compliance with FERPA regulations.
You may monitor within your application the status of the requests made. A reminder email can be generated should you not see the letter of recommendation in a timely manner.
*Important: Be sure to confirm your recommenders have received your request via email. Sometimes these emails can get caught in the spam/junk folder.
Tip -- It may take some time for your teacher(s) and/or guidance counselor to write the letter. Please plan the completion of this step accordingly. Materials received after the deadline will not be used in the judging process. Letters of Recommendation will not be accepted via email.
Your application is not considered 'complete' until these letters are uploaded. You can submit your completed application once this requirement is met.
Scholarship winners will be notified in late April/early May by email. Winners are required to complete the Confirmation of Award form in the portal. Instructions to do so are emailed to the winners. All confirmations are due immediately upon receipt.
All applicants not receiving an award will be notified in early May. Please check the following web page for a list of winners in late May.
If you are selected as a winner of a scholarship award, you would need to be enrolled and attend a state or nationally-accredited two or four-year college or university within the United States in order to receive the tuition award.
Shortly after the scholarship winners are announced, the award check will be mailed via Federal Express to the student. The student must to endorse and forward check to the school’s Financial Aid/Bursar’s office for endorsement to which that student will be attending in the upcoming academic year. The check will then be posted to the students account.
All scholarship checks must be deposited into the student’s account no later than October 1st. Should you not be able to comply with this date, please contact DCU for Kids via email at scholarships@dcu.org to explain your circumstance.
Note: The award check is a dual signatory check where both the student and the school need to endorse it for deposit. Funds CANNOT be deposited into a personal checking/savings account. Funds must be deposited into the student’s account at the school named in the confirmation of award that you will be matriculating in the upcoming academic year.
No. The check will be made payable to the student and the college/university of which you will be matriculating in the Fall of the award year. You will then need to endorse the check and forward to the Bursar’s office to be applied directly toward your tuition fees. You will not be able to cash the check or deposit it into your own personal bank account as this is a dual signatory check. DCU for Kids will not provide a check for the scholarship recipient in their name only – no exceptions.
If you have already paid your fall tuition costs, the check must still be provided to the Bursar’s Office to be applied toward your spring tuition. If both semesters have been paid, the deposit can typically be made to your tuition account, and your school may be able to issue you a reimbursement check in your name. Please consult your Admissions Officer or Bursar's Office for assistance. DCU for Kids will not provide a check for the scholarship recipient in their name only – no exceptions.
In the event that you need to delay your school enrollment the college or university may keep the award check in your school account to be applied towards your tuition once you enroll. Note: the award check cannot be cashed by you nor be kept in a personal account.
Should you choose not to enroll with the original college/university that you confirmed with us and choose to attend another school before your freshman year begins DCU for Kids will cut a new check for the new school. The original check will become void.
If you decide to completely withdraw your intention to attend any higher education institution as originally stated for whatever reason the award will then be considered forfeited.
If any of the above circumstances occur please contact DCU for Kids at scholarships@dcu.org to let us know about your plans.
You are responsible for providing an official or unofficial transcript of high school grades for your senior year (to date) and junior year (full year). Upload your transcripts as one file in pdf format through the portal in the designated space provided. You will be able to see the attachment on your application page.
Note: There is no secondary log-in for school administrators to submit documentation on your behalf. NO emailed transcripts will be accepted. All supporting materials (recommendations and transcript) must be uploaded to the portal site prior to the submission deadline for consideration. Documentation missing will prohibit you from submitting your application.
No. Submitted scholarship applications become official, and therefore cannot be edited. Please carefully review your application before submitting.
Tip -- Consider saving your application in draft form and returning to edit, review, and submit prior to the submission deadline. Also, request your recommendations early to eliminate undue time constraints with submitting your application in a timely manner.