Scholarships

Great NorthWest Federal Credit Union has partnered with the Grays Harbor Community Foundation to provide scholarships to local students in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties. 

To qualify for a scholarship, the following requirements must be satisifed.

Every applicant....

• Must be a resident of Grays Harbor or Pacific County OR
• Must have graduated from a Grays Harbor or Pacific County high school
• Must be a Great NorthWest FCU member in good standing
• Must submit a complete application
• Must request renewal online each year to continue receiving a scholarship (up to 4 years)
• Renewals may be deferred for one year only, after which a complete application must be submitted

Further, each undergraduate student.....

• Must enroll as a full-time student (12 credits minimum) at an accredited college, university, or trade/vocational school
• Is more likely to be considered with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or its equivalent B average) in both high school and college, if applicable.

Beyond meeting these basic requirements, each applicant should exhibit outstanding character, a proven work eithic, and the promise of useful citizenship. These more qualitative judgments will be based on the applicant's personal essay, resume and other information provided through the application form.

Application

Previous Scholarship Winners

2025 - Christian Escobar and Oscar Galeana

Christian Escobar | Willapa Valley High School

“I am planning on attending Centralia Community College and pursuing a career in Diesel Mechanics. I am determined to build a successful career that both excites me and allows me to contribute to my community. Growing up in a hardworking family, I learned the value of hard work, perseverance, dedication, and the importance of pursuing my dreams despite facing many challenges. As a first generation student, it is very important for me to make my parents proud.”

Oscar Galeana | Aberdeen High School

“I was born and raised in Aberdeen, Washington where I currently reside, and have personally seen the diligence and desire needed to thrive in an area where chances may seem limited, but the sense of community is strong. The future that I am devoted to is psychology, engagement and entrepreneurial spirit which have all been shaped by the things I have learnt here whether from my past/current mentors, my studies, or personal struggles. I find it beneficial to assist people to overcome their difficulties while improving their lives, whether it means learning about abnormal psychology, the impact of drugs on mental health, or how to interact with others in a productive, positive reinforcement way.”

2024 - Maria Lopez Morales and Kevin Mendoza

Maria Lopez Morales | South Bend High School

“As a child of immigrant parents, I learned to take responsibility for my family and myself at a very young age. My parents pushed me to value my education since they were forced to giveup theirs to help provide for their family. The more involved I became with my family and their dreams, the more I knew what I wanted to be in the future. I saw the happiness in my parents eyes as they purchased their first home with the help of a realtor. I just officially became a Real Estate Agent and joined our local brokerage, The Seiler Home Group. I plan to open my brokerage to help break down the language barrier and bring happiness to other families as mine received.”

Kevin Mendoza | Lake Quinault High School

“My mom dropped out of school so she could focus more on work and raising me. My mom showed me that everything can be achieved with time. I worked really hard in middle school so I could move up a grade going into high school and had to do some extra classes. I started doing Rayonier careers in forest field trips. So far I’ve learned about road construction and how drones have been a huge help in forestry. I would like to attend Grays Harbor College and enroll in their forestry program. I am excited to learn more about this field of work.”

2023 - Alia Enlow and Alexander Sweet

Alia Enlow | Raymond High School

“I am a senior at Raymond High School. This is a very small community that developed the person that I am today. I have amazing support and am pushed every day to achieve my goals. One of my long term career goals is to open my own chiropractic practice. My education is one of the things in my life I take very seriously and strive for excellence. I have maintained a high 3.9 GPA throughout high school while participating in multiple extracurricular activities and clubs. I have set many goals and will continue to set more goals for myself as I grow. I am excited for the journey ahead and I am confident that I will be able to make my goals a reality.”

Alexander Sweet | Montesano High School

“This year I am taking all my classes at Grays Harbor Community College. I have already been accepted into Central Washington University and plan on getting my degree in Kinesiology along with the possibility of taking some business level classes for some extra knowledge. After I get my degree I am going to transfer to a chiropractic school and get my license there. I plan on graduating top of my class so I can get accepted into a high level school for my career. My degree will only take three years to get because of my year of college transferring over this year.”