First Citizens’ Federal Credit Union will award 15 scholarships this season to graduating high school seniors.

The Barbara Whitehead Silva Scholarship and Champion Family Scholarship programs are open to any graduating students — including Wareham High School students — who are themselves or who have a parent who is a member of First Citizens. Students must be accepted to a college or university for the 2017-2018 academic year.

The $1,000 Barbara Whitehead Silva scholarship will honor the former President/ Chief Executive Officer for her 45 years of dedicated service to the First Citizens, and will go to a member of the credit union, or to a relative of a credit union member. Three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to immediate family of credit union members with a Champion Checking Account. Champion accounts are exclusively available to teachers, EMT, police, firefighters, and healthcare professionals.

The 21st annual scholarship program awards seniors from 11 area schools with a $1,000 scholarship based on academic achievement, community service, and financial need. The schools include: Barnstable High School, Bridgewater-Raynham High, Dennis-Yarmouth High School, Falmouth High School, Nauset Regional High School, New Bedford High School, New Bedford Regional Voc. Tech., Taunton High School, Mashpee High School, Old Rochester High School, and Wareham High School.

Applications are available at all First Citizens’ branch offices or online at www.firstcitizens.org. Requirements state that the applicant or parent must be a member of First Citizens' and the applicant must be a high school senior accepted to a college or university for the 2017-2018 academic year.

Students must submit a completed application, a one-page typewritten essay addressing why their major field of study was chosen and how it applies to their career goals, and comprehensive official transcripts.

The application deadline is April 1, 2017.

Recipients are awarded in May.