Affinity Foundation Launches 2022 Scholarship Program

April 22, 2022

In our on-going commitment to serving our community, the Affinity Foundation has announced its scholarship program for 2022.

This year, the submission process will look a bit different. We have implemented a new application portal where students will submit their applications. Getting started is easy, students can email scholarship@affinityfcu.com to get set up with a portal account.

The scholarships are available to all qualifying Affinity members. If a student wants to apply but isn't already a member, they can join online¹ or by stopping into any Affinity branch. Students may also be eligible through an association, club, or business if it's a Select Employee Group. If they aren't eligible through the field of membership, they can make a one-time $5 donation to the New Jersey Coalition for Financial Education or the Connecticut Jump$tart Coalition.

The Foundation is offering a total of $10,000 in scholarships this year, and students will be eligible to receive a one-time scholarship of $2,500. Since launching the scholarship program in 2005, the Affinity Foundation has awarded over $186,000 in scholarships to local students.

Scholarships being offered this year have no age requirement and are available to anyone seeking a degree. Over the years, the Foundation has had many applicants who are returning to school later in life seeking continuing education or are changing careers. For this reason, one of our scholarships is specifically dedicated to continuing their education.

For this upcoming year, applicants can choose between four distinct scholarships. The scholarships include:

1. The Robert L. Birkhahn Community Spirit Scholarship: Awarded to graduating high school seniors pursuing an undergraduate degree in the fall.
2. The Affinity Continuing Education Scholarship: Awarded to current undergraduate students transferring to an accredited two- or four-year college or university.
3. The Richard A. Romano Rutgers Scholarship: Awarded to high school, undergraduate, or transfer students pursuing an undergraduate degree at Rutgers University this fall.
4. The Raritan Valley Community College Scholarship: Awarded to high school, undergraduate, or transfer students pursuing their degree at Raritan Valley Community College this fall.

For the application process, candidates must provide an essay or video (up to two minutes in length) in response to the following essay prompt: “The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?” Applications will be evaluated by the Scholarship Committee, which is composed of Affinity employees across various lines of business. 

In order to have your application stand out, students should aim to meet all of the basic requirements, upload two letters of recommendation, and make sure to have a strong essay or video. The various scholarships are not evaluated solely on academic achievement throughout the student's high school or college career, so it is important to share personal experiences through the essay or video.

The Affinity Foundation is ecstatic to continue their scholarship program for 2022 and make a positive impact in the community and look forward to reviewing all the applications this year.