2026 C1st Scholarship Recipients

posted on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Announcements

Community 1st Credit Union’s 2026 scholarship program has announced $54,000 will be awarded to 26 area student-members this summer for the 2026-2027 academic school year. C1st has a long tradition of supporting local communities and education through its scholarship program for both traditional and non-traditional students. In the last decade, C1st has awarded over $500,000 in scholarships to local student-members. 

The C1st Scholarship program includes one $4,000 scholarship, which goes to the child of a C1st employee, two $2,000 Rex Stewart Memorial scholarships to students majoring in an agriculture-related field, and 23 additional $2,000 awards to students at each C1st branch location seeking an undergraduate degree.

The C1st $2,000 scholarship given by each branch winners include Gunner Thomas, a C1st Albia member; Colin Rudy, a C1st Atlantic member; Charlotte Parker, a C1st Avoca Member; Owen Klaus, a C1st Bloomfield member; Belle Werner, a C1st Cedar Rapids member; Rilee Willingham, a C1st Centervillemember; Emersen Gunzenhauser, a C1st Chariton member; and Gavin Larson, a C1st Creston member. 

Additional $2,000 scholarship winners are Payton Van Zee, a C1st Fairfield member; Isaac Hill, a C1st Grinnell member; Brehden Eggerss, a C1st Harlan member; Annika Kelso, a C1st Indianola member; Luke Roozeboom, a C1st Knoxville member; Meadow Carter, a C1st Mt. Pleasant member; Moyra Hicks, a C1st Osceola member; and Molly Prendergast, a C1st Oskaloosa member. 

Also gaining a $2,000 C1st scholarship are Tatum Harbison, Talise Plate, Dissalena Baroma, and Serenity Frantz, all C1st Ottumwa members. Additionally, Alexander Riddle, a C1st Pella member; Owen Nokes, a C1st Shenandoah member; and Tial Labos, a C1st Washington member.

The 2026 C1st Child of an Employee Scholarship for $4,000 is awarded to Maddox Wajda, attending Central College and a C1st Pella Branch member. 

Two Rex Stewart Memorial Agriculture Scholarships of $2,000 each were given to Hailey Pedrick, studying Animal Science & Pre-Veterinary at Iowa State University, and Justin Ockenfels, studying Environmental Sciences at Iowa State University. 

“At Community 1st, we are deeply inspired by the meaningful stories these students shared about the roles both their credit union and financial well-being have played in their lives. Their reflections remind us why we do what we do each day,” said Greg Hanshaw, President and CEO. “We are proud to support their educational journeys and congratulate each recipient as they take their next steps forward.”

The Community 1st Credit Union Scholarship Program is made possible by a partnership with the Iowa Credit Union Foundation.