Members First Scholarships

Geographic Scope: Michigan

Background: Founded as a teachers' credit union, Members First Credit Union believes in the power of education and awards scholarships to deserving students annually.

Award Structure:

• Total awards: $10,000 per year
• Number of recipients: 4 students
• Award per recipient: $2,500

Focus Areas:

• Support for high school seniors entering college
• Support for students pursuing new careers
• Support for students attending technical schools
• Undergraduate degree programs

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be the primary owner of a Members First Credit Union account in good standing
• Must be attending or have graduated from an accredited high school
• Must be accepted/enrolled in an accredited institution and/or working towards their first undergraduate degree
• Must NOT be:
  • An M1 employee
  • An immediate family member of an M1 employee
  • An M1 board member
  • An immediate family member of an M1 board member

Selection Criteria:

• Academic record
• Short essay response (200-500 words)
• Participation in community activities/honors/work experience
• Education and career goals
• Response to prompt: "What brings you joy?" or "How do you spread joy and purpose to your community?"

Contact Information:

• Email: community@mfcu.net
• Address: P.O. Box 2165, Midland, MI 48641
• Phone: 855.835.6328

Application Requirements

Essay Component:
Applicants must submit ONE of the following:

• Written Essay: 200-500 words responding to one of these prompts:
  • "What brings you joy?"
  • "How do you spread joy and purpose to your community?"
• Video Submission: Short prerecorded video (must follow specific rules below)

Video Submission Rules:

• Video must be uploaded to YouTube
• Privacy settings must be set to "public" or "unlisted" (otherwise submission cannot be accessed)
• Note: "Public" setting makes video available for anyone to view
• Applicants are responsible for retaining at least one copy of the video in case of damaged or lost file
• Must include the entire YouTube URL on submission form

Required Documentation:

1. Transcript: High school or college transcript (unofficial acceptable)
2. Goals Essay: Outline of goals, aspirations, college/university choice, and career plans

Application Process:

1. Verify you meet all eligibility requirements
2. Prepare academic transcript (official or unofficial)
3. Write essay outlining goals, aspirations, and career plans
4. Choose essay or video format for the "joy" prompt response
5. If submitting video: Upload to YouTube with proper privacy settings and copy full URL
6. Submit application through the form (specific submission method/portal not detailed in provided text)

Key Notes:

• Application period has ended as of the extraction date (April 3, 2026)
• Applicants currently being reviewed