SPRINGFIELD, OR (May 26, 2026) |
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.