MADISON, Wis. (2/3/15)--Nominations are now being accepted for the World Council Young Credit Union People (WYCUP) scholarship program, the World Council of Credit Unions announced Monday.

World Council leaders present awards to the 2014 WYCUP winners. From left, Brian McCrory, World Council director; Oleg Vakhrushev (Russia); Brian Branch, World Council president/CEO; Emma Avery (Australia); Carlos Gustavo Alves Ferreira (Brazil); Robin Blythe (Canada); Paul Norgrove (United Kingdom); and Grzegorz Bierecki, World Council chair. (World Council of Credit Unions Photo)

The program serves as an international networking and educational opportunity for promising credit union leaders. The deadline to apply is June 1.

"Turn your young employees into your credit union's ambassadors by nominating them for a WYCUP scholarship," said Brian Branch, World Council president/CEO. "An investment in young staff's professional development--with a global focus--helps them strengthen their commitment to credit unions and their ability to attract their peers as members worldwide."

The scholarship awards and this year's WYCUP program will take place July 12-15 during the 2015 World Credit Union Conference in Denver. The conference, operated in collaboration with the Credit Union National Association, takes place simultaneously during CUNA's 2015 America's Credit Union Conference.

To be eligible for the WYCUP scholarship, nominees must:

• Be 35 years of age or younger as of Jan. 1, 2015;
• Demonstrate leadership, personal commitment and the potential to significantly influence credit unions in and outside their community;
• Be sponsored by their credit unions or credit union organization to attend the 2015 World Credit Union Conference;
• ubmit a completed nomination form and supporting materials by June 1;
• Not have previously received a WYCUP scholarship; and
• Not be employed by World Council.

Five nominees will receive WYCUP scholarships, which provide an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2016 World Credit Union Conference in Ireland.

Further, any conference registrant 35 years or younger qualifies for a discounted registration fee and will be able to participate in WYCUP events during the World Credit Union Conference in Denver.