UICCU Announces 2026 Orange & Blue Scholarship Winners
CHAMPAIGN, IL — Each year, U of I Community Credit Union awards seven college-bound high school seniors a scholarship of $1,000. The Orange & Blue Scholarship Program is designed to benefit students who are U of I Community Credit Union members (and/or legal guardians are members) and will be attending the University of Illinois, Parkland College, and other Illinois colleges and universities.
Scholarship applications are reviewed by a team of volunteers at the U of I Community Credit Union and are given a score based on the information and documents submitted. Applicants are asked various questions including their favorite activities throughout high school, and any honors or awards they have received. They are also required to submit two letters of recommendation and an essay relating to the benefits of credit unions.
“Our 2026 Scholarship recipients continue to impress us with their dedication and achievements,” said Lisa Paul, UICCU Senior Vice President of Member Experience and Marketing. “From academic success to leadership and community involvement, these students exemplify what it means to make a positive impact. We’re excited to see all they accomplish in the future!”
The 2026 Orange & Blue Scholarship winners have been announced and were recognized on UICCU’s social media channels in May. UICCU is proud to announce the 2026 Orange & Blue Scholarship recipients:
Southern Illinois University
- Olivia Gerdes – Monticello High School
University of Illinois Chicago
- Ella Darnall – Unity High School
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Addison Brooks – St. Joseph High School
- Sadie Jewell – Glenbard West High School
- John Meyer – Mahomet High School
- Carter Tiemann – Unity High School
Western Illinois University
- Ethan LaBau – Centennial High School
Details about the scholarship are available online at uoficreditunion.org/resources/orange-blue-scholarship/.
U of I Community Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative that provides a wide range of financial products and services to anyone who lives or works in Champaign, Coles, Dewitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Sangamon, and Vermilion, IL counties as well as University of Illinois employees, Carle employees and other select employee groups. UICCU was named one of the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 Best Places to Work in Illinois, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024, and 2025 Best Credit Unions to Work For and 2019 Tops in the 217 Winner for Banks/Credit Unions. To learn more, visit uoficreditunion.org.