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Scholarship Program 2026

SUMA FCU is offering college-bound high school seniors the opportunity to compete for statewide college scholarships through the New York Credit Union Association’s College Scholarship Program.

Scholarships may be used at any two- or four-year accredited educational institution. 

Students can take advantage of this opportunity by completing these steps:

  1. Download and save the 2026 Scholarship Application. The student will need to contact Ihor Makarenko, SUMA FCU's Treasurer/COO, directly (see below) to obtain a credit union verification code to verify eligibility.  All scholarship applicants are required to be members of SUMA FCU. If the student is not a member, he/she can apply for membership.
  2. Complete the application form with the required essay and obtain the required transcripts, along with the signature of a parent or guardian.
  3. Upload and submit the completed application and supporting materials online no later than January 9, 2026.
There is no fee for submitting an application, but applicants MUST be:
  • members of SUMA FCU;
  • college-bound high school seniors at the time of application; and
  • attending either a two- or four-year accredited educational institution for the first time in the fall of 2026.
In early spring, applications will be judged against other submissions statewide. Winners will be announced in May 2026.

2026 NYCUA Scholarship Program

 Memo to Applicants


Subject: Important Information on Your 2026 NYCUA Scholarship Application

Dear Scholarship Applicant,

Thank you for expressing interest in our 2026 scholarship program, offered in partnership with New York Credit Union Association! We are reaching out to provide you with detailed instructions on applying to the program. Please review the following before completing your application.

Important Eligibility Information

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be a member of SUMA Federal Credit Union.

Application Steps

  1. Completing the Application Form: Fill out the scholarship application form, using only the space provided for your responses. Other than where specified on the application form, no attachments, resumes, pictures or other materials of any kind should be submitted or used to answer the questions.
  2. Certification and Release Authorization: Both you and your parent or guardian must sign the Certification and Release Authorization on the final page of the application form.
  3. Credit Union Verification Code: Secure a verification code from your credit union to confirm your eligibility for the scholarship. Please email imakarenko@sumafcu.org for the verification code.
  4. Application Submission: Your completed application should be submitted online via the NYCUA Scholarship Portal by January 9, 2026. Along with your application, please upload:
    1. A high school transcript documenting your GPA for grades 9-11
    2. Your essay response

Ensure that all sections of the application are complete and all necessary documents are included. Incomplete applications or those missing required components will not be considered.

When uploading documents, please use PDF, Word, or JPG formats only (Google Docs are not accepted). Save and upload the following as three separate files:

  1. Scholarship Application
  2. High School Transcript
  3. Essay

Assistance and Notifications

If you require further clarification or assistance, do not hesitate to reach out to Ihor Makarenko at (914) 220-4855. Successful applicants will be notified in May 2026.
We thank you for your interest in our scholarship program and eagerly anticipate your application. Best of luck in this and all your future endeavors!

Warm regards,
Ihor Makarenko, Treasurer & COO
(914) 220-4855
imakarenko@sumafcu.org 













For more information about this scholarship program, contact Ihor Makarenko by calling 914-220-4855 or email imakarenko@sumafcu.org