skip to Main Content
Scholarships
Turn your next opportunity into a reality

Whether you’re a first-year college student or looking to further your skills, we’re here with the resources, tools and scholarships to help you reach your goals.

Dupaco Foundation Logo
Dupaco Foundation Scholarship Program
The application period ended on Feb. 14, 2024. Check back soon to see the chosen recipients!

The Dupaco Foundation is a proud supporter of education. And we love to help you succeed in yours. That’s why we are offering a total of thirty, $2,000 non-renewable college scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year.

4-Year College/University Scholarship Program

Scholarships available: 10

You will be a first year, full-time incoming freshman student for the 2024/2025 academic year at a 4-year college/university. You have never previously attended a college/university, community college or trade school.

Community College/Trade School Scholarship Program

Scholarships available: 10

You will be a first year, incoming student for the 2024/2025 academic year at a community college/trade school. You have never previously attended a college/university, community college or trade school.

Current College Student Scholarship Program

Scholarships available: 10

You are currently enrolled and attending an undergraduate college/university, community college or trade school and will return for the 2024/2025 academic year.

All applicants must address the topic below in an original 500-word essay*:

The Dupaco Foundation was founded to honor long-time Dupaco president and CEO Robert “Bob” W. Hoefer. Bob’s legacy includes providing financial assistance and coaching to help people recover from unforeseen life events. It’s all about people helping people. Tell us, how do you help people? Please include at least one personal example. Also, how would this scholarship help you?

*Plagiarized work will result in disqualification. Any statistics, quotes, or information coming from an outside source must be cited. Failure to cite sources is considered plagiarism and will result in disqualification. Scholarship essays become the exclusive property of Dupaco Foundation and by submitting the electronic application, the entrant is giving Dupaco Foundation and Dupaco Credit Union permission to publish their written essay on Dupaco’s website, affiliate websites, or social media.

A. Programs: Applicants must qualify for one of the following programs:

  1. Four-Year College/University Scholarship Program: Entrants must be classified as a first-time, full-time incoming student who plans to attend an accredited four-year college or university for an undergraduate degree for the 2024/2025 academic year.
  2. Community College/Trade School Scholarship Program: Entrants must be classified as a first-time, full-time incoming student who plans to attend an accredited community college, trade school, or technical college for a degree or certificate for the 2024/2025 academic year.
  3. Current College Student Scholarship Program: Entrants must be currently enrolled and attending a college/university, community college, or trade school as an undergraduate student and will return for the 2024/2025 academic year. Student can be working towards an undergraduate degree or a certificate. Current high school students who are earning college credit as part of high school curriculum should apply for “First-Year Students” scholarships above.

B. Charter Area: Entrant’s permanent home address must be 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, Walworth, Waukesha

Entrants must submit all materials mentioned below by the deadline date, which is 11:59 p.m. (CT), February 22, 2023. Incomplete or applications not fulfilling the entry requirements will not be included in the judging.

A. Application: Entrants can complete their application here.

B. Transcript: Entrants must establish scholastic standing by providing their most recent official transcript. Transcripts may be submitted in one of two ways:

    • Email: PDF document of official transcript can be emailed to scholarship@dupaco.com. PDF must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. (CT) on February 14, 2024.
    • Mail: All paper transcripts must be mailed and received by 11:59 p.m. (CT) on February 14, 2024. Please note: paper transcripts cannot be dropped off at a Dupaco branch. Please mail paper transcripts to:
      Dupaco Community Credit Union
      Attn: Community Impact
      P.O. Box #179
      Dubuque, IA 52004-0179

C. Financial Need: Entrants must establish financial need by providing their estimated tuition cost and percentage of tuition paid via scholarships/grants or loans/out-of-pocket.

D. Essay: Entrants must address the following topic in an original 500-word essay:
The Dupaco Foundation was founded to honor long-time Dupaco president and CEO Robert “Bob” W. Hoefer. Bob’s legacy includes providing financial assistance and coaching to help people recover from unforeseen life events. It’s all about people helping people. Tell us, how do you help people? Please include at least one personal example. Also, how would this scholarship help you?

    1. Plagiarized work will result in disqualification. Any statistics, quotes, or information coming from an outside source must be cited. Failure to cite sources is considered plagiarism and will result in disqualification.
    2. Scholarship essays become the exclusive property of Dupaco Foundation and by submitting the electronic application, the entrant is giving Dupaco Foundation and Dupaco Credit Union permission to publish their written essay on Dupaco’s website, affiliate websites, or social media.
  • Using objective criteria of GPA and financial need, the applications will be narrowed to the top 25 from each program.
  • An independent review committee will read and score each essay. Essays will be judged on originality/personal examples, grammar and organization, adherence to the topic, and demonstration of financial need.
  • Scores will be tabulated, and winners notified. All decisions are final.
  • Entrants who have previously received a scholarship from the Foundation are eligible; however, preference will be given to first-time applicants.
  • Winner must be enrolling as a full-time student at an accredited college, university, community college, technical college, or trade school. Student must begin studies within the 2024/2025 academic year, or the student will be required to forfeit their scholarship funds.
  • Dupaco Foundation offers three separate scholarship programs. When applying, entrant must choose the appropriate scholarship program for their college choice or could end up forfeiting their scholarships funds:
    1. Four-Year College/University Scholarship Program (first-year student);
    2. Community College/Trade School Scholarship Program (first-year student); and
    3. Current College Student Scholarship Program
  • Funds are to be used only for tuition or room and board. The Foundation will make a payment in the form a check that is mailed to the applicable educational institution identified by the entrant. Checks will be made out to the institution and student.
  • The Foundation’s officers, directors, and committee members and their family members are not eligible to receive a scholarship.
  • Scholarship decisions are final and may not be appealed.
  • The Dupaco Foundation Scholarship Program is not a benefit for members or employees of Dupaco Credit Union. It cannot be used by employees of Dupaco Credit Union to encourage potential applicants to become members or employees of Dupaco Credit Union. An individual’s membership or employment at Dupaco Credit Union will not be a factor in the application or selection process.
  • Grant: If chosen a scholarship recipient, for consideration which I acknowledge, I irrevocably grant Dupaco
    Community Credit Union (Dupaco) and Dupaco’s assigns, licensees and successors the right to use my image and
    name in all forms and media including composite or modified representations for all purposes, including advertisement, trade or any commercial purpose throughout the world in perpetuity. I waive the right to inspect or approve versions of my image used for publication or the written copy that may be used in connection with the images.
  • Release: I release Dupaco’s assigns, licensees and successors from any claims that may arise regarding the use of my
    image including any claims of defamation, invasion of privacy, or infringement of moral rights, rights of publicity or
    copyright. Company is permitted, although not obligated, to include my name as a credit in connection with the
    image.
  • Dupaco Foundation has the authority to amend any of the above rules to ensure fairness in the awarding of the scholarships.
  • Any questions regarding the scholarship program should be emailed to scholarship@dupaco.com.
Search