Blaze Foundation Scholarship Program

Blaze Foundation Scholarship Program

Overview: The Blaze Credit Union Foundation scholarship program supports the educational aspirations of students in Minnesota communities through need-based and member-exclusive scholarships.

Status: Applications for 2026 closed February 2 – March 31, 2026. Winners announced in early May.

Geographic Scope: Minnesota (state-wide, with specific allocations for St. Paul high schools)

Focus Areas:

Educational access and affordability

Financial need

Community involvement

Demonstrated commitment to education

Total Funding: $200,000 across three scholarship categories

Scholarship Categories

1. Needs-Based Scholarships: Supporting Academic Aspirations

Total Funding: $120,000

Number of Scholarships: 48

Amount per Scholarship: $2,500

Eligibility: Selection based on demonstrated financial need

Student Type: Traditional (high school graduating in 2026)

Purpose: To remove financial barriers and expand educational opportunities

2. 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

Purpose: Demonstrate appreciation to members for educational endeavors

3. 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

Geographic Focus: Como, Harding, Highland, and Johnson High Schools in St. Paul, MN (2 scholarships per school)

Eligibility Requirements

Traditional Applicants:

Current high school student graduating in 2026

Must be enrolled, accepted, or planning to attend post-secondary accredited school during 2026-2027 school year

Eligible schools: 2-year, 4-year, trade school, vocational school, graduate programs, etc.

Non-Traditional Applicants:

Student continuing or returning to higher-education endeavors

Must be enrolled, accepted, or planning to attend post-secondary accredited school during 2026-2027 school year

General Requirements:

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 2026-2027 school year

All scholarships must be used within one year of award

Selection Process

• Blind Review: All applicants' names omitted from selection process
• Applicants must not use personal names in essay, community involvement response, or other areas (except name fields)
• Rating Criteria:
- Letter of Recommendation: 30% - Community Involvement: 35% (accomplishments, affiliations, extracurricular activities, awards, volunteer involvement) - Essay: 35% (Describe a financial challenge you or your family faced and how it shaped your thinking about money)

Fund Disbursement

• Funds deposited with Student Financial Aid Office of the student's school during first grading period
• Funds disbursed for tuition, books, and fees only
• Conditions:
- Student must maintain GPA of 2.0 or better - If GPA below 2.0 in first term, may be carried over to second term - Student must be in active status and attending classes part-time or full-time - Any unused funds by end of 2026-2027 school year will be reclaimed

Contact Information:

Email: foundation@blazecu.com

Phone: 651.215.3500 or 888.347.7473