The Spring 2026 Scholarship is now open for entries

and due before April 15, 2026.

Scholarship Program Rules

Award:  

Three eligible applicants will each receive a $1,250 scholarship award, AND one eligible applicant will receive a $500 scholarship award.

Scholarship Use:

The scholarship may be used for any field of study at an accredited Title IV fund-disbursing post-secondary institution. (Search here for eligible post-secondary institutions.) 

Eligibility:

Applicant MUST

1.  Be a high school student, graduating class of 2026 or 2027 at an accredited Utah school.

2.  Have successfully completed, or currently be enrolled, in the General Financial Literacy course in Utah.

3.  Not be a direct relative of the Utah Jump$tart Coalition Board of Directors or staff. 

Deadline to submit application:

1.   CLICK HERE TO OPEN AND COMPLETE the ONLINE SUBMISSION ENTRY FORM by 11:59 pm BEFORE APRIL 15, 2026. 

Selection and Judging:

All qualifying entries will be judged by a panel composed of representatives from the scholarship sponsoring organizations. All decisions of the judges are final.

Utah Jump$tart Coalition Scholarship Application Process

 1.   Scholarship Application Form

Complete the scholarship application form on the Utah Jump$tart website.

Application components include:

PART 1.  VIDEO

Submit a link to a 60-second YouTube video addressing the following questions

“Explain 3 important skills from your financial literacy class that will help you prepare for college and life after college.”

·   Also a bonus $500 will be awarded to a candidate whose video demonstrates an understanding of Utah’s educational saving plan, my529.

Students will receive points based on their content and creativity and must meet following requirements:

·   VIDEO MUST BE POSTED AS PUBLIC ON YOUTUBE so that the committee can view it. 

·   Video must be no more than 60 seconds in length. Videos over 60 seconds will be disqualified.

·   Creativity is important. Please do more than just a PowerPoint presentation OR record yourself reading prepared remarks. 

·  You can find GREAT examples of the level of creativity demonstrated by previous winners at our YouTube channel or website here.

·  Video must be in English, must be the entrant’s original work and not infringe on any copyrights or trademarks (i.e. no mentioning any stores, businesses, or companies). 

·  All music or graphics must be original unless used with written permission. 

·  Videos may NOT solely be AI generated. 

·  Video must not contain violent, negative, obscene, immoral, defamatory, derogatory, offensive, illegal or sexually suggestive content or contain, include, or encourage images or activities that are dangerous, unsafe, or present unreasonable risk of harm to a person or property.

PART 2.  Short Answer

Candidates will be asked to write a short paragraph providing positive feedback about their General Financial Literacy teacher and how this teacher helped them master financial literacy concepts. 

Disqualification. Entries will be disqualified if they:

• Are not submitted on the official entry form

• Do not provide sufficient contact information

• Contain material protected by copyright or trademark

• Are not the original work of the submitting student

• Were submitted in previous years

• Are received after the deadline

Winner Notification

1) Winners will be announced by the third week of APRIL 2026 on Utah Jump$tart’s website and social media.  

2) Winners, their financial literacy teacher, and school counselor will also be notified directly by email.

Scholarship Disbursement

When the student is ready to claim their funds, they must email Utah Jump$tart:

1.     Proof of acceptance to an accredited Title IV fund-disbursing post-secondary institution. Search here for eligible post-secondary institutions.

2.     Proof of enrollment in college courses at the institution to which they were admitted

3.     Student ID number at the institution to which they were admitted

If the student wishes scholarship funds to be deferred, they must request the deferment in writing no later than the last day of the August immediately following their high school graduation. The Utah Jump$tart Coalition reserves the right to determine under what circumstances the scholarships may be deferred.  

All scholarships must be disbursed 3 years from date of notification or the funds will be forfeited. 

The Utah Jump$tart Coalition is a statewide, 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the financial literacy of Utah’s youth. Visit them at  www.utahjumpstart.org.

America First Credit Union has become one of the largest and most progressive credit unions in the country. Today, America First has 113 full-service branches and more than 800,890 members. Visit them at www.americafirst.com. 

my529 is Utah’s official 529 educational savings plan. my529 has been helping families across the United States invest for higher education for more than 25 years. my529 funds may be used for qualified education expenses, which includes tuition, fees, books and supplies as well as  K-12 tuition expenses, qualified education loan repayments and registered apprenticeships (up to certain limits). Learn more at my529.org.

Congratulations to the:

WINNING ENTRIES FROM fall 2025

Elizabeth Penovich, Stansbury High School, $1250 from America First Credit Union

Sophia Sims, Corner Canyon High School, $1250 from America First Credit Union

Camryn Taylor, Skyridge High School, $1250 from America First Credit Union

Rishi Patcha, Skyline High School, $500 from my529

WINNING ENTRIES FROM spring 2025

Anhkhoa Le, Skyline High School, $1250 from America First Credit Union

Brooklyn Hanson, Davis High School, $1250 from America First Credit Union

Addison Ivie Oyler, Mountain Crest High School, $1250 from America First Credit Union

Brooklyn Evans, Sky View High School, $500 from my529

WINNING ENTRIES FROM FALL 2024

Jason Piech, Corner Canyon High School, $1250 from America First Credit Union

Allison Anderton, Davis High School, $1250 from America First Credit Union

Jacklyn Wei, Hillcrest High School, $1250 from America First Credit Union

Aubree Fry, Bear River High School, $500 from my529

WINNING ENTRIES FROM SPRING 2024

Connor Van De Graaff, Corner Canyon High School, $1250 from America First Credit Union

Valentina Rodriguez, Layton High School, $1250 from America First Credit Union

Abigail Dovenbarger, Layton High School, $1250 from America First Credit Union

Anson Taylor, Timpview High School, $500 from my529

WINNING ENTRIES FROM FALL 2023

Cannon Blackhurst Pleasant Grove High School, $1250 from America First Credit Union & $500 from my529

Rosalie Songer Weber High School, $1250 from America First Credit Union

Claire Pesci Providence Hall High School, $1250 from America First Credit Union

WINNING ENTRIES FROM SPRING 2023

Melea Ludlow Juab High School, $500 from my529

Madison Wilcox Davis High School $1250 from America First Credit Union

Finley Lewis Salem Hills High School, $1250 from America First Credit Union

Eliza Runolfson $1250 from America First Credit Union

WINNING ENTRIES FROM FALL 2022

Michael Chen Hillcrest High School $1250 from America First Credit Union & $500 from my529

Haleigh Grimstead Bountiful High School $1250 from America First Credit Union

Teya Snowder Hillcrest High School $1250 from America First Credit Union

WINNING ENTRIES FROM SPRING 2022

Ava Bair Davis High School $1250 from America First Credit Union

Dale Herrod Timpview High School $1250 from America First Credit Union

Lauren Bassett Sky View High School $1250 from America First Credit Union

To see other great entries, checkout The Utah Jump$tart Coalition for Financial Literacy youtube channel

The Utah JumpStart Coalition would like to sincerely “Thank” our major scholarship sponsor of (3) $1250 scholarships each semester America First Credit Union.

The Utah JumpStart Coalition would like to sincerely “Thank” our scholarship sponsor of A $500 CREATIVITY scholarship each semesteR TO UTAH’S MY529.