MIDLAND - Dow Credit Union has awarded $15,000 in scholarships to 10 local students, marking the tenth anniversary of its program.
The credit union maintains two separate funds with the Midland Area Community Foundation. Credit union members and their families are eligible to apply for the Dow Credit Union Members Scholarship, while the Dow Credit Union Employees Scholarship is reserved for the households of those employed by the credit union.
Each year, scholarships for $1,500 are awarded to 10 students, eight from the members’ fund and two from the employees’.
"We established these funds to empower members of our community through their academic pursuits," credit union CEO Michael Goad said. "It has been wonderful to watch so many young people take advantage of these programs over the last decade."
Since the program's launch in 2013, Dow Credit Union has awarded a cumulative $165,000 to 110 students. One of the 2023 recipients, Caleb Brown, presently works as a co-op for the credit union. Similar to interns, co-ops are high school students employed by the credit union. Brown said he intends to study finance at Michigan State University in the fall.
"It's really helpful to be able to get this scholarship and put that towards tuition," Brown said. "Everyone at the credit union supported me on this, everyone around me."