Hutt Scholarship

A teacher's legacy. A student's future.

Submissions for the 2027 graduating class will open October 1, 2026 and close November 30, 2026.

Read last year's winning essays and explore scholarship details, eligibility, and process information. 

About the Lloyd F. Hutt Scholarship

Before Lloyd F. Hutt founded Lake Michigan Credit Union, he was a schoolteacher. That's not a footnote. It's the whole story. A teacher who believed that access to knowledge and opportunity could change a person's life went on to build a financial institution around that same idea.  In 1990, LMCU established the Lloyd F. Hutt Scholarship to carry that belief forward. Every year, we invite high school seniors to respond to an essay prompt — not to prove they're exceptional, but to think carefully about what they want to do with their lives and why it matters.  This year, 1,058 seniors answered the question: "What sort of legacy do you want to leave — and how will you make it a reality?" Twenty of them walked away with $2,000 scholarships.  Since the program began, LMCU has awarded over $660,000 in scholarships to 372 deserving students. We're proud of every single one of them — and we're not done yet. 

Who is eligible?

The Hutt Scholarship is open to high school seniors (including homeschooled students) who plan to enroll in an accredited trade school, college, or university in the next academic year. To be eligible, you must meet one of the following:   
• You're a resident of Michigan or Florida.  
• You're a member of LMCU.  
• You're the child of an LMCU member. (Students outside Michigan and Florida must be an LMCU member or the child of an LMCU member to qualify.)   

Format/guidelines

The scholarship essay contest is judged on passion above all else. The committee wants to hear your voice; not a polished version of what you think they want to read. They'll also look at comprehension of the topic, organization, language use, originality, clarity, spelling, and grammar.   
 
A few things to keep in mind:   

  • Do not include your name, school name, or any other identifying information in your essay. 
  • Each essay will be screened for plagiarism and AI-generated content. Your words only. 
     
    Essay requirements:   
  • Length:750–1,500 words 
  • Typed in an easy-to-read font 
  • Black font on a white background 
  • Double spaced 
  • Include a title 
  • Save and submit as an Adobe Acrobat PDF (.pdf) 
     
    Note: Failure to follow the official format guidelines may result in ineligibility. 

How are winners selected?

Winners are selected by an independent committee of area professionals appointed by the LMCU Board of Directors. All essays are submitted without any identifying information. The committee never knows whose essay they're reading or what school the student attends. The committee's principal factor: demonstrated passion for the topic. They'll also evaluate comprehension, organization, language use, originality, clarity, spelling, and grammar. Scholarship recipients are selected without regard to race, religion, or gender identity. To ensure originality, each essay will be screened for plagiarism and/or AI-generated content. Questions? Email us at CommunityRelations@LMCU.org. 

School resources

School counselors and teachers: we've made it easy to share the Lloyd F. Hutt Scholarship with your students.  A complete resource kit is available for download with everything your students need to understand the program, confirm their eligibility, and submit a strong application. Just pass it along. Questions about the program? Email CommunityRelations@LMCU.org. We'll get back to you. 

Download School Resource Kit
Program Terms

The scholarship is not open to LMCU employees, directors, or officers, or their immediate families, or to employees or immediate families of any of LMCU's affiliated companies, licensees, advertising, or promotional agencies. Immediate family includes spouse, child, father, mother, brother, sister, grandparent, stepparent, stepchild, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, grandchildren, and grandparents-in-law.  Recipients must submit evidence of acceptance and enrollment in an accredited trade school, college, or university before payment will be made. 

The amount of the award will be paid to the recipient and educational institution in which the student is enrolled. The award is intended to provide financial assistance to the recipient in their pursuit of an undergraduate degree at an accredited trade school, college, or university. The money is to be used for the student's tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment. The awards are intended to constitute qualified scholarships, exempt from federal income tax under Section 117 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Use of the amount for purposes other than those previously noted may jeopardize exempt status. If a tax liability arises, it will be the sole responsibility of the recipient. 

Lake Michigan Credit Union shall maintain records and administer and provide all necessary staffing for the Lloyd F. Hutt Scholarship Program (except for the scholarship committee). Lake Michigan Credit Union will provide the Board of Directors with a written report, detailing all awards. 

Modification or elimination of program 
Lake Michigan Credit Union reserves the right to modify or eliminate the Lloyd F. Hutt Scholarship Program at any time without notice. Not withstanding the foregoing, any award due and payable under the program prior to such modification or elimination shall continue to be payable according to the program’s terms in effect at the time Lake Michigan Credit Union made the grant. All entries shall become the property of Lake Michigan Credit Union.