SELCO Community Credit Union Awards 21 Oregon Students A Total Of $77,500 Through Selco’s Annual Scholarship Program

Recipients were selected from a large, competitive field that included graduating seniors planning to attend a 2- or 4-year college, as well as vocational, continuing, and nontraditional students.

(SPRINGFIELD, Ore.) — SELCO Community Credit Union recently awarded $77,500 in scholarships to 21 students throughout Oregon as part of its annual scholarship program. 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 are:

$7,500 Richard Metzler Opportunity Scholarship

Name City County School to attend

Peyton Caldwell Eugene Lane Oregon State University

$3,500 SELCO Scholarships (arranged by county)

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

Abigail Castelan Cordero Eugene Lane Lane Community College

Peter Gault Springfield Lane Oregon State University

Gabriela Gonzalez Manuel Junction City Lane University of Oregon

Abigail Green Springfield Lane University of Oregon

Charlie Joye Eugene Lane University of British Columbia

Miranda Marquez Curiel Eugene Lane Washington State University

Alexis Marshall Eugene Lane Lane Community College

Alejandra Martinez Springfield Lane Oregon State University

Miranda Ryker Springfield Lane University of Oregon

Goush Shaik Eugene Lane Stanford University

Madison Thurman Springfield Lane Umpqua Community College

Laina Ward Springfield Lane Willamette University

Reena Zhao Eugene Lane Rice University

Marissa Fox Albany Linn Linn Benton Community College

Anonymous Salem Marion Western Governor’s University

Dean Burwash Dallas Polk Oregon State University

Trent Dearborn Tigard Washington Cal Poly State University

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.

About SELCO Steps Up:

The SELCO Steps Up program aims to create positive, innovative, lasting change through volunteerism, resource support, and collaboration with community partners. In 2025 alone, SELCO reinvested nearly $415,000 in the communities it serves through educator grants, scholarships, and impact-driven sponsorships, while SELCO team members committed nearly 1,700 volunteer hours. As a credit union founded by teachers, education is a cornerstone of these efforts, with a focus on removing barriers to financial literacy. By empowering individuals and families to achieve financial well-being, SELCO strives to build a strong foundation for all its members and neighbors. Learn more at www.selco.org/steps-up.

About SELCO Community Credit Union:

Founded in 1936 by a group of fiscally minded teachers, Springfield-based SELCO Community Credit Union today serves more than 150,000 members as one of the largest and longest-standing Oregon-based credit unions. A not-for-profit, federally insured, member-driven financial cooperative with more than $2.9 billion in assets, SELCO provides exceptional rates and low fees on a full range of financial products and services, including banking, mortgages, personal and business loans, investment management, and property & casualty insurance. Membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of the 27 Oregon or eight Washington counties SELCO serves. For more information or to become a member today, stop by one of SELCO’s 15 branches, visit selco.org, or call 800-445-4483.