The 2025 ESL Federal Credit Union College Scholarship

The 2025 ESL College Scholarship application is now closed.

At ESL our Purpose is to help our community thrive and prosper. One of the many ways we do this is by investing in the education of our youth. An essential ingredient to making Greater Rochester a better place to live, work, and raise a family is student success. The ESL College Scholarship helps offset the costs of a college education and recognizes the achievements of students who make positive contributions to our community.

Where are they Now?

We followed up with some past recipients of the ESL Scholarship to discuss their college experiences. Click here to read advice from past ESL Scholarship winners.

Criteria

  • Exhibits behaviors and traits consistent with ESL Core Values.

    ESL Core Values:
    • Accountability
    • Caring About People
    • Initiative
    • Integrity
    • Teamwork
  • Active in their community through extracurricular activities, volunteerism, collaboration, creativity, service, or leadership.
  • Enthusiasm to help their community thrive and prosper.

Eligibility

  • Member in good standing at ESL Federal Credit Union,
  • High school seniors in the Greater Rochester area during 2024/2025 school year, and
  • Attending accredited college or university in the Fall of 2025.

Awards

We will recognize ten students who demonstrate how they help their community thrive and prosper in a unique and meaningful way. These ten students will each receive a $2,000 scholarship. Winners will be notified in May 2025.

Submission Requirements

  • Complete Application
  • Official Transcript (copies will not be accepted)
  • Resume
    • List Awards/Honors, Activities, Community Service, and Work Experience
  • Essay
    • Provide an example or story of how you help or have helped your community thrive and prosper.
    • Your community could mean your neighborhood, your family, your school, your place of worship, your group of friends, etc.
    • One page only, double spaced, typed, 11-pt. font.
  • Letter of Recommendation
    • One letter from a school official, coach, or community/volunteer organization where you volunteered.
    • Clearly illustrates their support for the student to receive this scholarship.
    • No more than one page.

Submission Instructions

There are a few ways to apply for this scholarship:

  • Fill out and submit the online application
  • Deliver your complete application and the required documents to one of our [current branch count] convenient branch locations
  • Mail to the address below (must be postmarked by March 7, 2025):
    The 2025 ESL Federal Credit Union
    College Scholarship
    PO Box 92714
    Rochester, NY 14692-8814

Applicant must have an ESL account in his/her name and be a member in good standing at ESL; be enrolled as a high school senior for the 2024/2025 school year, and plan to attend an accredited college or university in the Fall of 2025. A complete application must be submitted online, delivered to an ESL branch, or postmarked by March 7, 2025. All applications must be complete to be considered. ESL is not obligated to contact applicants regarding incomplete or late applications. Family members of ESL employees, Board members, ESL Trust Services, ESL Investment Services, LLC or Cooper/Haims Advisors, LLC are not eligible. ESL Federal Credit Union is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, damaged, incomplete, ineligible or postage-due mail.



For additional scholarship opportunities supported by ESL Federal Credit Union, please follow this link.