Nominations are open for the 2020 World Council Young Credit Union Professionals’ (WYCUP) Scholarship—an annual award aimed at emerging credit union leaders around the globe.

And even more credit union professionals can apply for the scholarship in 2020, with WYCUP raising the age limit for eligibility from 35 to 40. 

“Raising the age limit by five years is a direct result of seeking to align this educational and networking program with the age limits of affiliate young professional network programs throughout the global credit union community. We want to expand the reach and impact of WYCUP, and we believe opening the process up to more applicants in 2020 will allow that to happen,” said Paul Treinen, World Council executive vice president.

Individuals of all ages that want to participate in the WYCUP program, or support young professionals as mentors in the program, have always been welcomed.

The WYCUP program is an integral part of World Council’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, and is dedicated to advancing young leaders worldwide. The program leverages opportunities to promote professional development through educational events, including our annual World Credit Union Conference.

In 2020, World Council is hosting a Joint Credit Union Conference with Credit Union National Association (CUNA) in Los Angeles, July 19-22. Up to five nominees will be awarded WYCUP scholarships at the Joint Credit Union Conference—each good for an all-expense-paid trip to the 2021 World Credit Union Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, UK.

Each Nominee must submit a completed 2020 WYCUP Scholarship nomination form, along with a three- to five-minute video explaining why they deserve the award, by May 29, 2020. Examples of videos from previous nominees can be found here.

Along with being 40 years of age or younger on January 1, 2020, eligible scholarship nominees must:

• Demonstrate leadership, personal commitment and the potential to significantly influence credit unions or financial cooperatives in or outside their country.
• Be actively involved as an employee or volunteer with a credit union or other financial cooperative.
• Be endorsed by a credit union, financial cooperative or other group affiliated with, or part of, a member organization of the World Council.
• Actively participate in the 2020 Joint Credit Union Conference in Los Angeles, including the DEI conference track. Joint Credit Union Conference registration and travel expenses must be paid by a sponsoring credit union or credit union organization.
• Not have been a previous WYCUP scholarship recipient and not be a current World Council employee.

Young credit union professionals interested in learning more about WYCUP can now explore all the program has to offer at a new website, www.wycup.org.

Along with information about the scholarship program, this new website features information on further WYCUP educational opportunities and events, as well as video testimonials from current members and alumni who share their passion, understanding and knowledge of the program.