Award for Academic Excellence

Award for Academic Excellence – Spring 2024 Graduates

Applications are now closed for the 2024 Awards.

Yakima Federal has established this award for the purpose of recognizing high academic achievers graduating from high school and a resident in Benton, Franklin, Kittitas or Yakima County. It is for those graduates who are accepted by and enrolled in an accredited college, university, community college, or technical school during this year’s fall semester.

In 2024, Yakima Federal Savings and Loan will award up to $217,500 in academic assistance to area students and schools. In addition to $2,500 to each student, seven local colleges and universities will each receive $2,500. Since the program inception in 1975, Yakima Federal Savings and Loan has given more than $3,000,000 to local students and institutions to help pay for secondary education.

Applicants must reside in Yakima, Kittitas, Benton or Franklin counties, graduate in the top 10% of their class and have demonstrated high moral character, industriousness, and ambition during their high school career. Also required with the application is a one page letter of motivation outlining future plans, school and life experiences, including any challenges faced and overcome, and the impact of receiving an award.  Students can review requirements and apply online now at YakimaFed.com/scholarship.  

Awards are limited to two applicants from each area school. Home schooled students are also eligible. Awards are funded upon student enrollment for the fall semester following graduation. Award checks are issued payable to the school in which the student is enrolled. 

Sixty four local students received awards for the 2024/25 school year.