For local high school seniors, college planning comes with plenty of big decisions, and every little bit of financial support can help. Empire ONE Federal Credit Union, a Stroll Preferred Partner, is helping two Western New York students take the next step toward their futures through its 2027 Scholarship Program.

Empire ONE will award two $500 scholarships to high school seniors who demonstrate dedication to their studies and involvement in their community.

To qualify, students must be high school seniors at the time of application, be members of Empire ONE Federal Credit Union, and submit a completed scholarship application along with an essay of at least 500 words.

For the essay, students are asked to share their education and career goals and answer an important question: How do they plan to use what they learn to make their community a better place?

Applications also give students an opportunity to share their GPA, college plans, anticipated major, extracurricular activities and an example of a time they demonstrated leadership.

The deadline to apply is March 31, 2027, with scholarship recipients expected to be selected and notified by April 30.

Interested students can request more information or submit their completed application and essay to hking@empireonefcu.org.

Empire ONE’s commitment to the community extends beyond its scholarship program. Beginning November 1, the credit union will also serve as a Toys for Tots collection location, giving residents another way to support local families during the holiday season.

For high school seniors beginning to think about what comes after graduation, now is a great time to start planning and perhaps turn their commitment to education and community into a little extra help toward what’s next.