SELCO Community Credit Union awarded $77,500 in scholarships to 21 students throughout Oregon, including $10,500 to three students in Central Oregon, as part of its annual scholarship program. Picked from a competitive field of applicants, this year’s scholarship recipients were honored at a luncheon last week at SELCO’s headquarters in Springfield.
SELCO awarded 20 scholarships, each worth $3,500, to students representing seven Oregon counties. In addition, SELCO awarded Peyton Caldwell of Eugene the $7,500 Richard Metzler Opportunity Scholarship—given to a Lane County student who demonstrates excellence in education, leadership, or civic responsibility despite adversity or lack of opportunity.
Part of the SELCO Steps Up philanthropy initiative, SELCO’s scholarship program aims to address the rising cost of school. Costs are the most often-cited barrier for those who aspire to attend college. SELCO’s scholarships can also be used for any educational-related expense, so they are uniquely suited to helping students meet the demands of rising costs and better meet a variety of student needs.
Recently, the program expanded eligibility to include vocational, continuing, and nontraditional students, as well as high school seniors planning to attend an accredited two- or four-year college.
“Today’s students are pursuing a wide range of paths, and our scholarship program is designed to meet them where they are,” said Olivia Sorensen, SELCO’s Community Development Supervisor. “The depth of this year’s applicant pool made the selection process incredibly competitive, and recipients reflect the determination, resilience, and ambition we see across our communities.”
To qualify, applicants must be a SELCO member or the immediate family of a SELCO member. Applicants must also have a GED or cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (or a 3.0 GPA in their last college term) and plan to attend a vocational school or an accredited two- or four-year college/university.
The 2026 SELCO Scholarship recipients from Central Oregon are:
Name City County School to attend
Ryan Quinn Prineville Crook University of Oregon
Luis Castro Hernandez Bend Deschutes Oregon State University-Cascades
Tavia Zepnewski Bend Deschutes University of New Mexico
SELCO started its scholarship program in 1991 as an important component of its mission to help members reach their financial and educational goals. In the past three years alone, SELCO has awarded more than $230,000 to students taking the next step in their education.
For more on the recipients, visit selco.org/steps-up/scholarships/2026-recipients/, and CLICK HERE for images from last week’s luncheon.
For more information on the scholarship program or other SELCO Steps Up programs, visit www.selco.org/steps-up.
