Young Adult Scholarships
Achieve Credit Union is awarding up to five $1,000 scholarships in 2027 for Lorain County students and beyond in Northeast Ohio.
They’re open to high school seniors and current college students. University, college, trade school, and technical school students can all apply.
- Up to 5 scholarship recipients
- $1,000 for each scholarship
- Feb. 20, 2027 Postmark or drop-off deadline
Why Apply?
$1,000 toward your education. We send the funds straight to your school to make it easy for you.
A local pool of applicants. You must be an Achieve member to apply and be a recipient.
Judged on merit. The committee reviews applications without seeing your name.
Your whole story counts. Grades matter. So do your volunteer activities, your career goals, and your financial need.
Trade and technical schools qualify. A four-year degree isn’t required.
You can apply again. Past applicants and past recipients are welcome to reapply.
Celebrate with us! Recipients are invited to receive their award at Achieve’s Annual Meeting in April.
“Achieve started in 1958 as a credit union for educators. Supporting students is part of who we are.”
Who Can Apply?
You can apply if you:
Are 17 to 25 years old when you apply
Have an Achieve Credit Union account in your name by February 20, 2027. If you are 18 older, you must be the account’s primary owner.
Will attend school full time (at least 12 credit hours) in fall 2027
Attend or are accepted to a university, college, technical school, or trade or vocational school.
Not a member yet? You can still apply. Anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Lorain, Cuyahoga, Erie, or Medina County can join. Open your account by February 20, 2027. Become a Member.
Scholarships for High School Seniors and College Students
Graduating High School Seniors
Up to two scholarships go to seniors starting college or trade school in fall 2027. Previous scholarship recipients include graduates from high schools in Elyria, Lorain, Grafton, Oberlin, Amherst, and Avon.
Current College Students
Up to two scholarships go to students already enrolled full time at a college, university, or trade school.
Warren Wallace Education Major Scholarship
One scholarship goes to a student studying education or an education-related field. Graduating high school seniors and current college students are both eligible to receive this scholarship.
How to Apply
Step 1: Make sure you have an Achieve account in your name.
Do this by February 20, 2027.
Step 2: Complete your application packet.
All applicants include:
Signed application form
Career objective essay (500 to 700 words)
Need for financial assistance statement
Official transcript from your high school or college
Two letters of recommendation: one from a teacher, counselor, advisor, faculty member, or coach, and one personal reference
High school seniors also include:
SAT or ACT score(s)
College or program acceptance letter, if you have one
Type your application form and essays, or write clearly in pen. Print everything single-sided.
Step 3: Submit by Saturday, February 20, 2027.
By mail: Postmarked by February 20, 2027. Send to:
Achieve Credit Union
ATTN: Young Adult Scholarship Program
340 Griswold Rd.
Elyria, OH 44035
In person: Drop off at any Achieve branch by 12:30 PM on February 20, 2027. Find a Branch.
How Recipients Are Chosen
The Scholarship Committee of Achieve’s Board of Directors reviews every application. They review and score the following:
Grades
Career objective essay
Need for financial assistance
Letters of recommendation
School and community activities
Honors and awards
Community service and work experience
SAT or ACT scores and acceptance letter (high school seniors)
What happens next:
Scholarship recipients are notified by Tuesday, March 23, 2027. Due to the amount of scholarship applications, only recipients are contacted.
Recipients are invited to the Annual Meeting on Tuesday, April 20, 2027, to receive their award. If you can’t attend, we can make other arrangements.
Award funds are paid directly to the recipient’s school in the summer.
Using AI on Your Application
We want to hear your story in your own words. You may use generative AI tools to:
Brainstorm ideas
Organize an outline
Check spelling and grammar
Suggest clearer wording for a sentence you wrote
You may NOT use AI to:
Write any part of your essay or answers
Rewrite your work until it no longer sounds like you
Make up facts, experiences, or achievements
We recommend keeping copies of your essay notes and/or drafts. We may ask to see them if we have doubts about authorship.
Applications with AI-written answers, plagiarism, or false information will be disqualified.
Read the full STATEMENT ON THE USE OF GENERATIVE AI TOOLS in the 2027 Young Adult Scholarship Application.
Celebrating Our 2026 Scholarship Recipients
High School Senior Recipients
Leah DiFranco, Elyria: University of Kentucky
Benjamin Thompson, Amherst: University of Dayton
College Student Recipients
Jocelyn George, Lorain: University of Cincinnati
Lydia Schlechter, Oberlin: The Ohio State University at Mansfield
Warren Wallace Education Major Scholarship
Bobbi Wervey, Elyria: Bowling Green State University
Where Are They Now?
Young Adult Scholarship FAQs
Achieve members ages 17 to 25 who will attend school full time in fall 2027.
Yes. You need an Achieve account in your name by February 20, 2027.
If you live, work, worship, or attend school in Lorain, Cuyahoga, Erie, or Medina County, you can join and apply this year.
Yes. Up to two scholarships go to graduating seniors.
Seniors and graduates from Lorain County schools generally make up the majority of our scholarship applicants.
Yes. Up to two scholarships go to students already enrolled full time.
Yes. Universities, colleges, technical schools, and trade and vocational schools all qualify.
All applicants submit:
- A signed application
- A career objective essay
- A financial need statement
- An official transcript
- Two letters of recommendation
High school seniors also include SAT or ACT scores and an acceptance letter, if they have one.
One should be from a teacher, counselor, advisor, faculty member, or coach.
One should be a personal reference from a non-relative.
How will your education help you achieve your career objective?
Write 500 to 700 words.
High school senior applicants should include SAT or ACT scores in their application packet.
Generative AI tools can be used for brainstorming, outlining, and checking spelling and grammar.
The writing must be your own. AI-written answers will be disqualified.
Saturday, February 20, 2027.
Mail your application with a postmark by that date, or drop it off at any Achieve branch by 12:30 PM.
No. Mail your application or drop it off at any Achieve branch. Emailed applications are not accepted at this time.
The Scholarship Committee of Achieve’s Board of Directors scores each application.
Judging is blind. The committee doesn’t see your name or other identifying information.
Recipients are notified by March 23, 2027. Only recipients are contacted.
The funds are paid directly to your school in the summer.
Before we send payment, we’ll confirm with you where you’re enrolled, including if you’ve transferred.
No. Each award is a one-time $1,000 scholarship.
You’re welcome to apply again the following year.
Yes. Past recipients and past applicants can apply again.
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