VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.—Chartway Credit Union has expanded its long-running Directors' Memorial Scholarship program to include students pursuing vocational, trade, technical, certificate and licensure-based education, awarding 13 student-members $4,000 scholarships this year.
The expansion broadens eligibility beyond traditional undergraduate and graduate degree programs as part of the credit union's more than $1 million annual investment in scholarships, charitable grants, financial education and crisis relief.
Recipients were selected based on financial need, academic or program performance, community involvement, an essay or video submission and a letter of recommendation. The 2026 scholarship winners represent Virginia, Utah, Texas and Michigan and are pursuing careers ranging from business, engineering and nursing to psychology, government and medical billing and coding.
"Our scholarship program expansion reflects a simple belief – education can open doors, strengthen families, and help people build the future they imagine for themselves," President and CEO Brian Schools said. "Some pursue college degrees and others build careers through trade, technical, certificate, or licensure-based programs. We're proud to support student-members across those pathways and help them take the next step toward their goals."
Created in 1989, the Directors' Memorial Scholarship program has awarded more than $680,000 to Chartway members pursuing higher education. The $3.2-billion credit union, which serves more than 265,000 members in Virginia, Texas and Utah, also supports students through financial wellness resources, paid internships and other scholarship initiatives, including support for Old Dominion University and Salt Lake Community College.