Scholarships

Four university-based merit scholarships are available to graduating high school students planning to attend the largest universities located within the communities we serve: one scholarship each for Youngstown State University, Kent State University-Main Campus, Kent State University Branches (one scholarship to be awarded from applicants to Trumbull, Salem, or Stark Branch Campuses), and the University of Akron. Applicants must have an account with 7 17 or be the legal dependent of a 7 17 Member. Recipients will be chosen by the financial aid departments of the respective universities based on the applicant’s grade point average, school and community involvement, and letters of recommendation. The university scholarships are non-renewable awards. 

As a financial cooperative, Members' resources are pooled to the financial benefit of the collective membership. In the spirit of the credit union movement’s “people helping people” philosophy, 7 17 offers four Credit Union Spirit Scholarships. These scholarships are also university-specific and apply to the same universities as the University-based Merit Scholarships (Youngstown State University, Kent State University-Main Campus, Kent State University Branches, and the University of Akron). They are also selected by the financial aid departments of the respective universities, but take financial need into account along with minimum merit requirements. Applicants for the Credit Union Spirit Scholarships are not required to be Members of 7 17 at the time of application, but must become a Member to receive the scholarship. If the applicant is not a 7 17 Member upon being selected, 7 17 will open a savings account for the recipient to establish membership.

Two cha-ching℠ Teen Club scholarships are available for any post-secondary education, e.g., any accredited university or trade school. Applicants must be Members of the 7 17 cha-ching^℠ Teen Club. Recipients will be chosen by a five-Member panel, which may include representatives from 7 17’s staff, Board of Directors, and independent university representatives, none of whom have a relative applying for this scholarship. Recipients will be selected based on response to an essay question. Student grade point average, school/community involvement, and letters of recommendation may also be considered if the essay scoring results in a tie.

7 17 offers two scholarships to 7 17 Members between the ages of 18 and 25, who have the edge^℠ account, and pursuing a post-secondary education at any accredited trade school or university. Members with the edge^℠ can apply for this scholarship each year they are pursuing a post-secondary education. The recipient will be chosen by a five-Member panel whose composition will be similar to the cha-ching^℠ scholarship review panel. Recipients will be selected based on response to an essay question. Student grade point average, school and community involvement, and letters of recommendation may also be considered if the essay scoring results in a tie.

The Ohio Credit Union Foundation (OCUF) provides three video scholarship opportunities for Ohio credit union members pursuing an undergraduate degree. The first-place winner will receive $5,000, the second-place winner will receive $2,500 and the third-place winner will receive $1,000. Entrants must answer the scholarship question by creating a 1 to 2½-minute video addressing this year’s topic: ‘How can credit unions attract younger members?’ Video entries can be edgy, funny, bold, simple, serious – or anything in between. Learn more about this scholarship opportunity.