As a community-based, not-for-profit financial institution, Beginnings Credit Union is passionate and committed to helping our members, youth, and communities succeed on many levels. With the costs associated with higher education nearly insurmountable for some, we are pleased to offer scholarships to aid local youth. We also offer a Community Service Award, because we greatly value giving back to our communities through volunteerism and want to recognize exceptional youth who donate their time and care to help others.
Richard V.V. Stringham Scholarships
These Scholarship options are available to:
High school seniors and non-traditional students planning to enter college for the first time are encouraged to apply.
For students planning to attend a 4-year college or university
One-time awards up to $3,000 each - awarded as two equal amounts across two semesters of study.
For students planning to attend a 2-year college
One-time awards up to $1,500 each - awarded as two equal amounts across two semesters of study.
For students planning to attend a trade or technical school
One-time awards up to $1,500 each - awarded as one amount for the entirety of the program.
APPLICANTS MUST:
- Be high school seniors or others preparing to begin full-time study at 2- or 4-year accredited colleges
- Open a membership savings account in the applicant’s name before Friday, March 20, 2026
- Complete and submit the application form, letters of recommendation, and official transcript by Friday, March 20, 2026
Recipients will be chosen based on a variety of factors, including extracurricular and community involvement, letters of recommendation, completion of an essay, and academic achievement. Scholarships may be used towards the many expenses related to a college education.
Community Service Awards
This Community Service Award is available to:
High school seniors and nontraditional students earning their GED are encouraged to apply.
For those who give back
One-time awards up to $1,500 each
APPLICANTS MUST:
- Be either a high school senior or nontraditional student graduating or earning a GED in the spring of 2026
- Open a membership savings account in the applicant’s name before Friday, March 20, 2026
- Complete and submit the application and recommendation form(s) by Friday, March 20, 2026
Recipients will be chosen based on a variety of factors, including their volunteer experience. Awards may be used at the recipient’s discretion.
Walter Bazydlo Scholarship
This Scholarship is available to:
Beginnings Credit Union members who are high school seniors or full-time college students at an accredited degree granting institution.
For students
One-time awards up to $1,000 each.
APPLICANTS MUST:
- Be a high school senior or full-time college student studying/planning to study at a 2- or 4-year accredited college.
- Open a membership savings account in the applicant's name before Friday, March 20, 2026.
- Complete and submit the application form, letters of recommendation, and official transcript by Friday, March 20, 2026.
Recipients will be chosen based on a variety of factors, including their financial need and academic performance.
Education Committee
The Beginnings Credit Union Education Committee consists of employees and volunteer(s) from the Beginnings Credit Union’s membership. The primary role of the Education Committee is to oversee Beginnings Credit Union’s annual scholarship and award program which includes 2-year scholarships, 4-year scholarships, and a Community Service Award.
The Education Committee is made up of the following employees and volunteers:
- Kyle Christopher (Chair)
- Art Bakert (Award Distribution Processor)
- Mallorie David
- Jennifer Clark
- Leigh Alo
- Laura Edick
- Jennifer Astles
- Tristan Piper
- Colin Tarr
For questions, please contact the:
2025 Recipients
Beginnings Credit Union proudly continued its support of local area students striving to better themselves and our local communities. In 2025, we awarded over $54,000 in Scholarships and Awards to high school graduates!
Your success is our passion!
Community Service Awards
- Charli Bennett, Southern Cayuga High School
- Rhoda Brown, New Roots Charter School
- Eden Sears, McGraw High School
- Lily Yang, Cortland Jr./Sr. High School
Student Branch Awards
East Syracuse-Minoa (ESM) High School
- Jacob McGuigan
- Donovan Randall
- Michael Saunders
Cicero-North Syracuse (CNS) High School
- Justin Asch
- Titus Dimitroff
- Nicholas Marullo
Richard V.V. Stringham Scholarships
- Justin Asch, Cicero-North Syracuse High School
- Kathleen Harbold, Cicero-North Syracuse High School
- Joshua Kwakye-Minott, Ithaca High School
- Veronika Liivak, Ithaca High School
- Max Lindenberg, Ithaca High School
- Alexandria McCall, McGraw High School
- Riley McLeod, Mynderse Academy
- Breyden Silva, Cincinnatus High School
- Charlotte Tay, Ithaca High School
- Gregory Taylor, Newfield Senior High School
- Ethan Yan, Ithaca High School
- Lily Yang, Cortland Jr./Sr. High School
- Julie Zdep, Christian Brothers Academy
Walter Bazydlo Scholarships
- · Clara De-Souza, SUNY Delhi
- · Sophia DiGennaro, Rochester Institute of Technology
- · Samuel Nessel, Cornell University
- · Rebecca Seargent, Onondaga Community College
- · Caroline Sitnik, East Syracuse-Minoa High School
- · Keenan Smith, Onondaga Community College
Previous Recipients
2024:
Community Service Awards
- Lincoln Kersey, John C. Birdlebough High School
- Alexis Partridge, Moravia Jr./Sr. High School
- Madalyn Perkins, Groton Jr./Sr. High School
- Andrew Thomas, Bishop Grimes Jr./Sr. High School
Student Branch Awards
East Syracuse-Minoa (ESM) High School
- Michael Ojeda
- Shayla Sanson
- Logan Welch
Cicero-North Syracuse (CNS) High School
- Katelynn Brown
- Thomas Newton
- Nathan Williams
Richard V.V. Stringham Scholarships
- Benjamin Beer, Ithaca High School
- Mckenna Crocker, Dryden High School
- Sophia DiGennaro, Chittenango High School
- Nyah Ernste, Ithaca High School
- Genevieve Femino, Cortland Jr./Sr. High School
- Tristan Hagel, Geneva High School
- Emily Hay, Our Lady of Mercy for Young Women
- Kaylee Hastings, Dryden High School
- Tirmizi Hossain, Ithaca High School
- Daniel Jackson, Cortland Jr./Sr. High School
- Alicia Long, Ithaca High School
- Mia Miller-LaBar, Lansing High School
- Rachel Molloy, Cazenovia High School
- Karamia Montalvo, Cortland Jr./Sr. High School
- Anya Packard, Ithaca High School
- Austin Raicht, Marcellus High School
- Ezri Rubenstein-Miller, Ithaca High School
- Chloe Russell, Dryden High School
- Sophie Scanlon, Lansing High School
- Rachel Tay, Ithaca High School
- Natalie Tibbals, Newfield High School
- Crosby Woods, Ithaca High School
- LeAnn Zhu, Ithaca High School
Walter Bazydlo Scholarships
- Clara De-Souza, SUNY Delhi
- Abigail Herrington, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Benjamin Kowanes, East Syracuse-Minoa High School
- Shayla Sanson, East Syracuse-Minoa High School
- Jonah Sauve, Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins
- Rebecca Seargent, East Syracuse-Minoa High School
- Ella Smith, Springfield College
- Leslie Yakubu, East Syracuse-Minoa High School
2023:
Community Service Award
- Trinity Odom-Reed, Ithaca High School
Student Branch Awards
East Syracuse-Minoa (ESM) High School
- Zackary Harmon
- Maeve Hooker
- Zachary Johnson
Cicero-North Syracuse (CNS) High School
- Andrew Hillman
- Khol Kalfass
- Roemellow Robinson
Richard V.V. Stringham Scholarships
- Miles Ackerman, Ithaca High School
- Madison Boyer, McGraw High School
- Mary Effinger, Homer High School
- Zakary Eshelman, Dryden High School
- Siena Goebel, Ithaca High School
- Simon Goldweber, Ithaca High School
- Ryleigh Larkin, Cortland Jr./Sr. High School
- Julianna Nelson, Newfield High School
- Boaz Ng, Ithaca High School
- Andrew Partigianoni, Cortland Jr./Sr. High School
- Breanna Romans, Homer High School
- Nicole Rudert, Lehman Alternative Community School
- Shannon Ryan, Cincinnatus High School
- Jonah Sauve, Chittenango High School
- Keenan Smith, Baker High School
- Zachary Taylor, Newfield High School
- Addyson Wells, Lansing High School
- Hajo Wise, Dryden High School
- Stephen Yang, Ithaca High School
Walter Bazydlo Scholarships
- Julia DePalmo, Cedarville University
- Abigail Herrington, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Samuel Nessel, Cornell University
- Angelina Polcaro, East Syracuse-Minoa High School
- Jonah Sauve, Chittenango High School
- Ella Smith, Springfield College
- Keenan Smith, Charles W. Baker High School
- Kyle Williams, Cicero-North Syracuse High School
- Sydney Wright, Cicero-North Syracuse High School
Student Product Options
Student Loans: Beginnings Credit Union has partnered up with Student Choice to bring you access to student loans with great benefits.
Student Checking: All of the perks of our Rewards Checking account without any monthly minimums or fees.