American Heritage Credit Union (“American Heritage”) is awarding 30 graduating high school senior members with a $1,000 scholarship each to help ease the financial burden of higher education expenses. American Heritage’s Scholarship Committee will select the 2026 recipients based on their scholarly merits, community and school involvement, a letter of recommendation, credit union eligibility, and a submitted essay describing where the applicant sees themselves in the next five years, and the steps they intend to take to achieve this vision.

Eligibility requirements for graduating high school seniors include:

• Minimum GPA of 2.5 on transcript *This must be verified by a transcript issued within the last six months*
• Have been formally accepted into an accredited two- or four-year college, university, trade, technical, or business school
• Be a member in good standing of American Heritage since April 1, 2025 *Applicant must have an account in their name to qualify*
• Cannot be an associate or family member of an associate of American Heritage, First Heritage LLC, or American Heritage's Board of Directors

The Scholarship Program honors American Heritage’s Chairperson Emerita, Cecilia B. Grady, who served on American Heritage’s Board of Directors for over 40 years. American Heritage’s annual scholarship program represents her dedication to financial literacy, education, and community outreach.

“With higher education costs continuing to rise, additional aid and scholarships are now more vital than ever,” said Bruce K. Foulke, President & CEO of American Heritage Credit Union. “Today, students are graduating from higher education with more debt and financial burdens than any generation before them. Our Cecilia B. Grady Scholarship Program is a way to reward them for their diligence in both their schools and their communities and to help ease the burden of higher education costs and expenses. I encourage all qualified student members to apply!” 

The application period begins February 1, 2026, and ends on March 31, 2026. Students interested in applying can visit AmericanHeritageCU.AmericanHeritageCU.org/Scholarships to begin the application process or to read the full list of submission materials or eligibility requirements.