Winners of the 25th edition of the PSFCU Scholarship Program have been selected

New York, NY – The Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union (PSFCU) once again honors it member students by awarding educational scholarships during its annual galas held in New York and Chicago. This year’s edition of the program coincided with a symbolic anniversary – the 25th anniversary of the scholarship program, which has supported the young member generations of the Polish - American communities in the United States for a quarter of a century.

During both ceremonies, scholarships were awarded to 580 talented young PSFCU members who stand out with excellent academic results, where involved in social life and cultivation of Polish - American values ​​and traditions. 386 high school graduates and 181 university students were awarded. The winners received scholarships of up to $5,000, and the total amount of scholarships awarded was $615,000. In this edition of the scholarship program, twelve students were additionally awarded Summer Internships in Poland. The initiative is organized jointly with the Catholic University of Lublin in Lublin.

The PSFCU Scholarship Program was launched in 2001 and has provided support to over 7,000 students in its 25 years of operation, for a total of over $8 million. It is the largest scholarship program among all Credit Unions in the United States run by the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union.

The ceremony on the East Coast took place on June 11, 2025, at the headquarters of the Polish Army Veterans Association of America at 17 Irving Place in New York, bringing together the laureates, their families, and representatives of the Board of Directors of Our Credit Union. Among the laureates of the PSFCU scholarship program were students from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Florida among other States. During the ceremony, the 25-year achievements of the program were emphasized, which over the years have become an integral part of a strong youth engagement with Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union.

"Today's event is a prime example of the fact that our Credit Union is more than a bank," PSFCU President/CEO Bogdan Chmielewski said at the scholarship ceremony in New York. "The scholarship program is what sets us apart from commercial banks and other financial institutions. You would be hard pressed to find another financial institution or credit union that allocates so much to support the younger generation."

The second scholarship ceremony of the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union from the Midwestern region took place on June 14, 2025, in the exhibition hall of the Polish Museum of America. Here too, there was no shortage of positive emotions, congratulations and thanks.

“We are pleased that among the members of PSFCU there are so many talented and ambitious students who are pursuing their educational plans with great determination. Every scholarship awarded is not only a recognition of your achievements but also an expression of our faith in the potential of the young generation of Poles living in the United States. Dear students, although each of you is different, with your own passions and plans, you are all united by one thing: your Polish identity and the bond with the homeland of your parents and ancestors. It is this shared heritage, language, culture, and tradition that builds our Polish community across the ocean” – said Dr. Iwona Korga, Chairperson of the 2025 PSFCU Scholarship Committee.

Ms. Danuta Hamlin, a Polish American journalist and author and a keynote speaker at both ceremonies, was very impressed by the achievements of PSFCU scholarship recipients.

The PSFCU Scholarship Program consists of four components: a program for high school graduates, a program for college students, the PSFCU Rising Star program, and a summer internship program in Poland. The program for high school graduates is organized in cooperation with the New York Credit Union Association (NYCUA). The Association additionally awards its own scholarships to the best applicants. In this year's edition of the program, 19 additional scholarships were awarded to PSFCU members. The scholarship program for college students is an autonomous program organized by Our Credit Union, and scholarship applications are evaluated by fifteen academic professors. Additionally, 12 student members of PSFCU will participate in Summer Internships this summer - organized in cooperation with the Catholic University of Lublin in Lublin. Internships are specialized workshops combined with sightseeing in Poland, and each person participating in the internship will receive a scholarship of $1,000 for educational purposes. The PSFCU Rising Star Scholarship is the last component of our Credit Union’s scholarship program.  Since the launch of the program in 2014, we have honored many young talents - among the awardees were, among others, athletes, Olympic medalists in swimming, gymnastics, and fencing, as well as exceptionally gifted young musicians.

Our Credit Union does not only offer financial services but also supports the Polish American community through educational, social and cultural initiatives. More information about the scholarship program and application rules can be found at www.psfcu.com.