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Scholarship Application - College or University

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The Floyd and Gladys Carter Scholarship Award is designed to support and encourage students pursuing a degree from a college or university. This scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated a dedicated commitment to academics, educational achievements, community involvement, and a clear commitment to their future. Below are the application requirements and evaluation criteria for this award.

Carter Credit Union will award (one) scholarship winner $2,500. The winner will be announced and notified before 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 13, 2026. The winner will also be posted on the Carter Credit Union website and social media pages.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Eligibility:

  • Applicants must be a high school student planning to enroll full-time in an accredited college or university in the fall of 2026.
  • The applicant or their parent/guardian must have been member of Carter Credit Union for at least two years and be in good standing with the credit union.
  • Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and a minimum ACT score of 18 or SAT score of 500.
  • Carter Credit Union staff members, directors and their family members - including but not limited to spouses, siblings, parents, children, grandchildren, stepparents, stepsiblings are not eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Submit a certified copy of high school transcript.

Submit official scores from ACT or SAT.

Provide a detailed list of any honors or awards received during high school in academics, athletics, extracurricular activities, or community service.

Detail your involvement in school and community organizations, including clubs, volunteer work, or civic groups.

Upload your acceptance letter from accredited college or university for Fall 2026.

Provide a photo with your application. This will be used on the Carter Credit Union website, social media and newsletter.

Letters of Recommendation: Include two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to your character, work ethic and potential in your chosen field. Suitable references include teachers, coaches, employers, or mentors.

Write an essay (500-750 words, double spaced) addressing one of the following topics. Essay will be scored for proper spelling, punctuation, word count, and coverage of all essay assignments.
  • Discuss the potential benefits and challenges of AI in your chosen field, exploring ethical issues like job displacement, bias, or privacy. How do you plan to use AI responsibly in your future career?
  • Examine the connection between social media use and the youth mental health crisis. What solutions, either technological or social, can help mitigate these negative impacts?
  • Beyond family, who is the most influential person in your life, and how has their unique perspective or character shaped the person you are today?

Provide details of any hands-on experiences, internships, part-time jobs, or personal projects related to your field of interest during high school.

Selection Process: All applications will be based on both subjective criteria and weighted, objective criteria. Each application will be evaluated by an outside agency to provide an unbiased opinion.

The winner of the scholarship will need to provide the tuition invoice from the admissions office to Carter Credit Union. This invoice can be mailed to the address below or emailed to marketing@cartercu.org. Once the invoice is received, we will mail the scholarship proceeds directly to the admissions office.

Submission Deadline and Instructions

Scholarship applications can be submitted via the website through this application only. All application materials must be received no later than Monday, March 2, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.

Questions: marketing@cartercu.org

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