Elton “Miller” Peterman Scholarship Program
Belco’s 2026 scholarship application is Now Open! Belco is proud to recognize the achievements of deserving students and support their continued education and training. Our annual scholarship program is an important part of our credit union’s commitment to giving back to the communities we serve.
Our role as a community leader is possible in part because of Elton “Miller” Peterman, a true visionary we are fortunate to remember as one of our founding fathers. He and several other employees of the former Bell Telephone Company pooled their funds to establish Harrisburg Belco Federal Credit Union in 1939.
Scholarship Details
Each year, Belco awards five $1,000 scholarships: three to graduating high school seniors, and two to members who are continuing their education.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicant must be a Belco member.
- Applicant must be a graduating high school senior or enrolled in post-secondary education at the associate, bachelor’s degree level or pursuing technical certification.
- Student must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.
Our scholarship application is completed and submitted entirely online. Note: The application is not accessible on Internet Explorer. For best results, use Google Chrome, MS Edge or Firefox.
Applicants must submit a 300 to 500-word essay as part of the scholarship application. The essay prompt is:
In today’s economy, young people are facing rising inflation, and student loan debt. Reflect on how these economic challenges have affected you or your family personally. How have these experiences shaped your financial decisions, goals, or outlook on the future? How can Belco support young people in overcoming these challenges?
Use personal stories, observations, or experiences to illustrate how these challenges have influenced your education, employment, spending habits, or plans for financial independence
Scholarship Applications are due by midnight Sunday March 1, 2026.
Decisions will be made by the Belco Scholarship Selection Committee; all decisions are final.
Good luck to all applicants!