Adventure Scholarship

Reach your educational goals with help from Adventure

  • Five $1,000 scholarships awarded annually
  • Open to nearly anyone pursuing higher education
  • Applications accepted Jan. 12th - March 31st

Finally, A Scholarship Program for Everyone

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Unlike most education scholarship programs, the Adventure Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors, current college and trade school students, and adults returning to school or formal career training.

The 2026 Adventure Scholarship essay topic consists of two parts:

  • Part one: In 200-300 words, tell us about your plans for continued education. What motivated you to pursue this field of study or career path?

    Part two: In 600–700 words, describe how you embody the credit union philosophy of “people helping people.” Share your involvement, whether formal or informal, in your community, school, or volunteer organizations and explain how these experiences have shaped your character. Include how receiving this scholarship would support your educational goals and enable you to give back to your community in the future.

To Adventure Scholarship is formatted as an essay contest.

  • Winners will be selected by an independent committee.
  • The committee will use the following criteria in judging responses to the topic:
    • comprehension of subject
    • organization
    • language use
    • originality
    • clarity
    • spelling and grammar.
  • The scholarship committee’s principal determining factor in selecting award recipients is the applicant’s passion for the topic.

Scholarship recipients will be selected without regard to their race, religion or gender.

Applications are accepted from January 12th to March 31st. Scholarship applications must be submitted through this webpage.

  • Applicant must be pursuing continued education in a paid program.
  • Applicant must be a member of Adventure Credit Union or be related to a current member with membership affiliation of at least one year prior to the application deadline.
  • Entry is by essay that explains the full meaning of the assigned topic.
  • Essay should reflect the author’s original ideas and writing. Significant reliance on AI tools may be grounds for disqualification.
  • Please answer part one of the essay in 200 to 300 words.
  • Please answer part two of the essay in 600 to 700 words.
  • Scholarship applications must be submitted through this webpage.
  • Five winners will be awarded $1,000 scholarships
  • The amount of the scholarship award will be paid to the recipient to provide financial assistance in their pursuit of continued education.
  • Proof of enrollment in a paid educational / career training program may be required.
  • Winners will be selected by an independent committee.

Adventure Credit Union is a full-service credit union in Michigan with branches in the Greater Grand Rapids and Lansing areas. All those who live, work, worship or attend school in the State of Michigan are eligible to join.