Dupaco Foundation launches renewable college scholarship program

DUBUQUE, Iowa – High school seniors pursuing post-secondary education can now apply for renewable college scholarships from the Dupaco Foundation. The foundation has supported students with scholarships for college since its inception in 2011, but this is the first year the foundation is awarding renewable scholarships. Twenty scholarships totaling $60,000 will be awarded.

• Ten $4,000 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors who plan to attend a 4-year college/university. The scholarship will be distributed in annual increments of $1,000 over four years.
• Ten $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors who plan to attend a community college/trade school. The scholarship will be distributed in annual increments of $1,000 over two years. An extension option of up to $2,000 is available for students who transfer to a four-year college/university.

Also new this year: Students must establish financial need by providing documentation of their Student Aid Index (SAI) number from FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Financial need will be one of the criteria used for judging.

Additional application requirements include uploading a copy of their most recent transcript, including the fall 2024 semester, and submitting a 500-word essay describing a significant personal success.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must:

• Be classified as a first-time, full-time incoming student who plans to attend a four-year college/university or community college/trade school for the 2025-2026 academic year.
• Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident whose home address is located in the foundation’s charter area:
  • Iowa: Any county
  • Illinois: Carroll, Jo Daviess, Rock Island, Stephenson, Whiteside
  • Wisconsin: Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Walworth, Waukesha
• Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.

For more information and to apply, visit dupaco.com/scholarship. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. (CT) Wednesday, February 26, 2025. For questions, please contact scholarship@dupaco.com.

###

ABOUT DUPACO FOUNDATION:
Dupaco R.W. Hoefer Foundation, also known as Dupaco Foundation, (the “Foundation”) is a tax-exempt private foundation described in Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). The Foundation is a separate legal entity from Dupaco Community Credit Union (the “Credit Union”) and is governed by its own Board of Directors and officers. The Foundation was established in 2011 to honor the retirement of 47-year employee and long-time Dupaco Community Credit Union President and CEO, Robert W. “Bob” Hoefer. The Foundation is designed to carry on the Bob Hoefer tradition of providing personal financial assistance and coaching to help hardworking and financially prudent people recover from unforeseen life events and to increase their opportunities for financial stability. Learn more at www.dupaco.com/foundation.