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orsa Member Scholarships
Students shouldn’t have to skip out on school because tuition has gotten too high. Because we believe that You are Enuff™, orsa credit union is here to help you achieve the learning that makes your Impossible Dreams possible.
orsa Scholarship Fund, in collaboration with the Local Impact Alliance, awards scholarships to college and trade school bound members each year. In 2026, we will award 10 general scholarships and 5 CTE trade scholarships, for a total of $40,000 for our students. Huzzah!
2026 scholarship applications are now closed—but stay tuned!
Scholarship Criteria
Scholarship criteria
Planning on going to school, but need some help getting there? We want to do our part to make it happen!
Who can apply:
- Applicants must have their own personal orsa credit union account opened on or before December 31, 2025
- Beneficiary or joint owner status alone does not qualify
- Applicants must have been accepted at or applied to an accredited college, university or CTE trade school full or part-time for the 2026 fall semester
- Applicants must be pursuing an undergraduate degree or CTE trade school degree
Previous recipients and applicants are eligible to apply again if they still meet the eligibility criteria!
orsa board members, employees, and their family members are not eligible for these scholarships.
Applicants will be judged on:
- Community service
- Extracurricular activities
- Letter of recommendation
- Job or employment experience
- Application essay question
- Financial need
- Academic performance
Scholarship Application
Required materials
If you’re applying for an orsa member scholarship, we’ll just need a few things to get your application processed.
Online application
This is where you’ll answer a few questions, as well as attach the other required materials.
orsa account number
Not the full thing – we just need the last four digits during the application process.
Latest transcript
You’ll need to submit your latest transcript during the application. No minimum GPA required!
Letter of recommendation
A letter of recommendation from someone other than a family member is the last step!
All orsa Scholarships
Scholarship types
Inspired by the memory of beloved orsa credit union leaders, we’ve been supporting Michigan students for over 30 years with annual scholarships.
The Margaret Dunning Memorial Scholarship was established to honor Plymouth Community icon, Margaret Dunning, for her 23 years of volunteer service as a member of orsa credit union's Board of Directors. Ms. Dunning's years of enthusiastic volunteerism and altruistic contributions to the Plymouth Community make her a model for today's youth. orsa is pleased to offer scholarships in her name. Dunning Scholarships are awarded to needy students who demonstrate good character, a commitment to their community and a commendable academic record.
The George Lawton Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to honor the memory of the credit union's General Manager of 29 years, George Lawton. Mr. Lawton is best remembered for his kind heart and unrelenting drive to help others.
The Ron Carlson Scholarship was created in memory of Mr. Carlson’s commitment to the students and communities orsa credit union serves. Ron Carlson served on the orsa Board for 28 years. Carlson’s first term started in 1983, and in the years of his service, he helped the credit union grow and focus on the families in our communities.
Under Carlson’s leadership, orsa passionately supported the development of financial literacy partnerships with local schools. With years of experience as a math teacher in the Plymouth-Canton school district, Carlson advocated the importance of helping young members develop lifelong money management skills.
Support Our Scholarship Fund
Contribute to community education!
Do you want to help grow the orsa member scholarship program? Reach out to our foundation team to learn how you can support Michigan students and their continued education by contributing to the orsa Scholarship Fund, housed at the Local Impact Alliance!
Ignite your Impossible Dreams
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You are Enuff®
Looking to make your Impossible Dreams possible? Your membership can help make it happen!
What We Do
Making Impossible Dreams come true on the daily.
Wherever you are on your financial journey, you Belong here.
