Frank Price & Helen Shipman Cunningham Scholarship — Firstmark Credit Union

A $2,000 scholarship will not pay for an entire degree, but it can ease initial charges, books, or supplies when combined with other aid. Firstmark Credit Union lists fifteen $2,000 Cunningham awards for 2027 for high-school seniors preparing to enter college. Five awards are reserved for students planning to work in education; the others follow the program’s published criteria and available funding.

A defining condition is that the student or a parent or guardian be a Firstmark member in good standing. Funds may be used for education expenses at an academically accredited two- or four-year institution. The credit union excludes its employees, board members, and their families. The page presents the award as a community opportunity tied to membership, not as a scholarship automatically open to every Texas student.

The official 2027 application window runs January 1 through March 1 through the San Antonio Area Foundation’s EPIC portal. Firstmark instructs applicants to complete the profile and select “Firstmark Cunningham Scholarship” specifically; the portal also offers applications for other awards administered by that Foundation. Before submitting, confirm that the membership meets the required status, save the electronic receipt, and ask the administrator whether the award can be combined with institutional aid. Firstmark reports more than $345,000 awarded since 1994, but an individual award depends on annual selection.

To compare this benefit with other options, ask financial aid for an estimate separating tuition, fees, housing, and excluded expenses. Confirm whether it can renew, what academic progress it requires, and whom to contact if payment does not appear on the account. Keep award letters and receipts until the school confirms disbursement.

Official program information and application