TruMark Financial Credit Union Now Accepting Applications for Difference Makers Scholarship Program

Jyotirmai Kadiyala, pictured with TruMark Financial Credit Union CEO Kelly Botti, won first place in the 2024-25 Difference Makers Scholarship Program.

TruMark Financial Credit Union is once again celebrating high school seniors who are transforming compassion into community impact.

Applications are now open for TruMark Financial’s Third Annual Difference Makers Scholarship, which rewards students whose volunteer work is making a measurable difference in their communities.

The scholarship is open to high school seniors planning to attend college or another higher-education program who have completed a volunteer project, either through a nonprofit organization or one they launched on their own. Applicants must also have a sponsoring teacher and be eligible for membership at TruMark Financial.

Students will be evaluated on the reach and impact of their work, the number of verified volunteer hours, the scalability of their projects, their storytelling ability in describing the initiative, and their completion of required financial education modules. Top awards include $7,500 for first place, $4,000 for second, and $3,000 for third, with smaller prizes for additional finalists. Nonprofits working with each of the top 10 finalists will also receive a donation from TruMark Financial.

Last year’s recipients showcased how service and creativity can come together to make lasting change. First-place winner Jyotirmai Kadiyala, from Pennsbury School District’s STEM Academy, designed Pat on the Back, a therapeutic silicone hand model that provides comfort during depressive episodes and raises awareness about mental health. She presented her invention at more than 10 expos, showing how STEM can be a powerful force for compassion and social impact.

Devlyn Faber, from the Central Bucks School District, earned second place for years of volunteer work with the For the Love of Grace Foundation, an organization inspired by a neighborhood child’s battle with a brain tumor. What began as a middle school fundraiser grew into an ongoing commitment to organizing community events that raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer.

Cole Marozsan, of Neshaminy High School, who turned his volunteer service with The Breathing Room Foundation into a lesson on empathy and giving, placed third. Working through his school’s National Honor Society, Marozsan supported the nonprofit’s mission to ensure no one faces cancer alone.

This spring, TruMark Financial will once again honor the top 10 finalists, their sponsoring teachers, and their nonprofit partners at a recognition breakfast, where students will share how they’ve turned their ideas into impact.

The application deadline is April 30, 2026. Students can learn more or apply at TruMark Financial Credit Union.