At Cornerstone Credit Union, we believe education is the foundation of a strong future – for our Members and for our community. Since launching the Founders’ Scholarship in 1998, we have awarded thousands of dollars to local students pursuing higher education. For 2026, four graduating high school seniors will each receive a $2,000 one-time scholarship to help further their education.
Scholarship Overview The Founders’ Scholarship supports student Members who demonstrate:
Academic achievement
Leadership and community involvement
Positive character and future potential
Applications are reviewed and selected by the Cornerstone Credit Union Founders’ Scholarship Committee. Award Details
Number of Awards: 4
Scholarship Amount: $2,000 (one-time award)
Use of Funds: University, junior college, or trade school
Enrollment Requirement: Full-time student beginning Fall 2026
Eligibility Requirements To apply, students must:
Be a member of Cornerstone Credit Union as of April 1, 2026 (Parent membership alone does not qualify.)
Be a current graduating high school senior
Plan to enroll as a full-time student at a university, junior college, or trade school in Fall 2026
Application Requirements A completed application must include:
Founders’ Scholarship Application Form
Essay response (1,000 words or fewer)
Academic letter of recommendation from a principal, counselor, or advisor (non-family member)
Personal letter of recommendation from an adult who can speak to your character (non-family member)
Current school transcript showing cumulative GPA
List of volunteer activities, work experience, school involvement, and achievements from the past four years
Parent/guardian signature
A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is recommended. Important Dates
Application Deadline: April 1, 2026 (Must be submitted or postmarked by this date.)
Recipient Notification: By April 17, 2026 (Only recipients will be notified. All decisions are final.)
How to Apply Submit your completed application and all required documents by: Email: Founders.Scholarship@cornerstonecu.org Mail: Cornerstone Credit Union, Attn:Founders' Scholarship Committee, 550 W Meadows Drive, Freeport, IL 61032
Some browsers do not allow you to save the filled-in PDF, so be sure to "Download" this file and save it to your computer. You can also print as a PDF to save the filled-in content.
Cornerstone Credit Union is proud to announce the five recipients of the 2025 Founders' Scholarships
Mason Dietmeier
Mason plans on attending Highland Community College to start his studies and then transferring to Sauk Valley Community College to complete their Radiology program. His goal is to continue through a Doctorate Degree towards a career as a Nuclear Radiology Technician. Kendra Hutchison
Kendra plans on attending Sauk Valley Community College for her associates degree. From there she plans to continue her studies at Illinois State University to finish her degree towards a career as a Speech Pathologist. Jaelin Campbell
Jaelin plans to attend Carroll University in Waukesha, WI. His goal is to get his degree in Exercise Science and make a career as an Athletic Trainer for a pro sports team. Gage Zeigler
Gage plans on attending the University of Alabama’s honor’s college. His goal is to get his degree in Biology & Pre-Dental. He will continue his studies towards his career in Dentistry. Kiara Felton
Kiara plans on attending Highland Community College for her associates degree. She will then transfer to a university to complete her bachelor’s degree, with the goal of being an Elementary Teacher.
Are you an existing member?