Be Local | Teach Local

Monroe Community Credit Union's Be Local | Teach Local Program is back to celebrate the educators who make a lasting impact on students in our community.

Teachers play an important role in shaping futures, building confidence, and inspiring the next generation. Through this program, MCCU invites students to recognize a teacher who has made a meaningful difference.

Create a video testimonial (90 seconds or less) sharing why a teacher deserves to be recognized. Students should introduce themselves and tell use about teacher who has made a lasting impact. What did they do that made a difference, and why do they deseve to be recoginized? The student must appear in the video and speak about their personal experience.

Three teachers will be selected to receive $500* each to use toward classroom needs (supplies, projects, and other classroom expenses), helping them to continue making a difference for their students. One teacher will be selected from each of teh followng grade-level categories:

• Grades K-4
• Grades 5-8
• Grades 9-12

At MCCU, we believe strong communities start in our classrooms, and we’re honored to celebrate the educators who help local students grow and succeed.

Nominate a Teacher today!

What teacher in your life has had a positive impact on you, other students, and/or the community?

How to Enter:

• Submit your video nomination by Sunday, November 15th.
• Our team will select one winner in each grade-level category (K-4, 5-8, or 9-12) based on the strength, clarity, and authenticity of the testimonial, as well as the impact described. Creativity and originality may also be considered. 
• Winners will be selected and contacted by December 18, 2026.

Submission Requirements:

• To enter, nominators must submit a video testimonial nomination through this submission form.
• The nominated teacher must be a currently employed teacher within MCCU’s field of membership area
• Video testimonial must be a maximum of 90 seconds in length
• Video should clearly state the nominator's name and teacher's name.
• Videos should clearly explain how the teacher made a positive difference in the nominator’s life
• Submissions must be appropriate and school-friendly

Who can enter?

Individuals may nominate one (1) K-12 teacher who has made a positive impact on them. Nominators may be under the age of 18. If the nominator creating the video testimonial is under 18 years of age, the submission must be completed by the nominator’s parent or legal guardian on the minor’s behalf through the official contest form. By submitting an entry on behalf of a minor, the parent or legal guardian confirms they are authorized to do so and consent to the minor’s participation and the use of the submitted materials as outlined in these rules.

Teacher Eligibility:
The nominated teacher must be a currently employed K-12 teacher within Monroe Community Credit Union’s field of membership area. The MCCU field of membership includes those who live, work, or worship in the State of Michigan and in the Ohio Counties of Fulton, Lucas, or Wood. The nominator does not need to currently be a student of the nominated teacher.

Nominate a Teacher

*Fall 2026 “Be Local | Teach Local” Contest Terms and Conditions

ELIGIBILITY:
By participating in this contest, each party consents to Monroe Community Credit Union (MCCU) identifying them, by their first name and last initial, for the purpose of promoting the Teach Local Contest and recognizing nominated teachers.

MCCU employees, MCCU Board of Directors, volunteers, and those living in their household are not eligible to win.

Nominator Eligibility:
Individuals may nominate one (1) K-12 teacher who has made a positive impact on them. Nominators may be under the age of 18. If the nominator creating the video testimonial is under 18 years of age, the submission must be completed by the nominator’s parent or legal guardian on the minor’s behalf through the official contest form. By submitting an entry on behalf of a minor, the parent or legal guardian confirms they are authorized to do so and consent to the minor’s participation and the use of the submitted materials as outlined in these rules.

Teacher Eligibility:
The nominated teacher must be a currently employed K-12 teacher within Monroe Community Credit Union’s field of membership area. The MCCU field of membership includes those who live, work, or worship in the State of Michigan and in the Ohio Counties of Fulton, Lucas, or Wood. The nominator does not need to currently be a student of the nominated teacher.

For judging purposes, eligible teachers will be grouped into three grade-level categories, with one teacher selected from each category, for a total of three recipients:

• Kindergarten through Grade 4 (K-4)
• Grades 5 through 8 (5-8)
• Grades 9 through 12 (9-12)

Teachers will be judged only against nominees within their respective grade-level category.

Multiple Nominations:
A teacher may be nominated by more than one individual; however, each teacher is eligible to win only once. MCCU reserves the right to select the winning nomination based on the merits of the submission.

The Contest is void where prohibited by law.

TIMING:
The Teach Local Contest begins at 12:01 a.m. EST on October 23, 2026, and ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on November 15, 2026.

All entries must be received within this nomination window to be eligible.

PRIZE:
Three (3) nominated teachers will each receive a monetary award of $500 to support classroom or school-related supplies, projects, and educational needs. One (1) winning teacher will be selected from each of the following grade-level categories: K-4, 5-8, and 9-12. If MCCU does not receive a sufficient number of eligible entries in a category, MCCU reserves the right not to award a prize in that category. MCCU intends to issue the award directly to the selected teacher; however, if a school or school district requires that the funds be distributed through the school or district, MCCU will issue the award through the school or district on the teacher’s behalf.

It is the responsibility of the recipient and/or their school district to comply with any applicable school, district, or employment policies regarding acceptance of awards or gifts.

Winners will be selected by representatives of MCCU following the close of the contest period and will be notified using the contact information provided in the submission form.

Prize(s) are non-transferable.

MCCU may request reasonable documentation or confirmation of employment from the selected teacher prior to issuing the award.

HOW TO ENTER / VIDEO SUBMISSION
To enter, nominators must submit a video testimonial nomination through the designated submission form located at www.MonroeCommunityCU.org/TeachLocal.

Submission requirements include:

• Individuals may nominate one K-12 teacher who has made a positive impact on them
• The nominated teacher must be a currently employed teacher within MCCU’s field of membership area
• Video testimonial must be a maximum of 90 seconds in length
• The student nominator must appear in the video submission and personally share how the teacher made a positive impact on their life. If the student nominator is under 18, a parent or legal guardian may submit the entry and provide consent on the student's behalf; however, the student nominator must be the individual featured in the video and provide the testimonial. Parent- or guardian-only video submissions are not eligible for consideration.
• Submissions must be appropriate and school-friendly

If the nominator in the video is under 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian must complete the submission form and grant permission for the video to be submitted and used by MCCU.

Entries must be original and created by the nominator. Entries may not contain offensive, inappropriate, or infringing content. MCCU reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not comply with these guidelines or the spirit of the contest.

All entries must be submitted through the official online form during the contest period to be considered eligible.

ALTERNATIVE ENTRY METHOD

If you are unable to submit a video online, you may submit your nomination in writing. Include:

• Your name and contact information
• The nominated teacher’s name
• A brief description (maximum 90 seconds worth of content) explaining how the teacher made a positive impact

Mail your submission to:
Monroe Community Credit Union
Attn: Teach Local Contest
715 N. Telegraph Rd.
Monroe, MI 48162

All mail-in submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on November 15. 2026.

VIDEO PROMPT

Nominators are encouraged to answer the following prompt in their video submission:

“Please introduce yourself and tell us about a teacher who made a lasting positive impact on you. What did they do that made a difference, and why do they deserve to be recognized?”

JUDGING CRITERIA & SELECTION

Eligible entries will be reviewed by representatives of MCCU. This contest is judged based on the content of the submissions. Winners will be selected within their respective grade-level category (K-4, 5-8, or 9-12) based on the strength, clarity, and authenticity of the testimonial, the impact described, and the effectiveness with which the nominator communicates their story. Creativity and originality may also be considered. MCCU’s decisions are final and binding.

NOTIFICATION

Winners will be notified by MCCU via the contact information provided in the submission form within 10 business days after the close of the contest. Winners must respond within 5 business days to claim their award. If a winner does not respond within this timeframe, MCCU reserves the right to select an alternate winner.

RIGHTS TO ENTRIES

By submitting an entry, nominators grant MCCU a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, publish, and display submitted videos, in whole or in part, for promotional purposes in any media, without further compensation.

For entries submitted on behalf of a minor, the submitting parent or legal guardian grants this permission on behalf of the minor.

GENERAL CONDITIONS:
By entering the Sweepstakes, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules, including all eligibility requirements and the decisions By entering the contest, nominators agree to be bound by these Official Rules, including all eligibility requirements and the decisions of MCCU, which are final and binding. By entering, nominators grant MCCU and its designees permission to use their names, cities and states of residence, and likenesses for advertising and promotional purposes in any and all forms of media, without additional compensation, notification, or permission, except where prohibited by law.

RELEASE AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY:
Nominators agree to indemnify and hold harmless MCCU, its employees, directors, vendors, and assigns (“Releases”), from any injuries, losses, damages, claims, and actions of any kind resulting from or arising out of participation in the contest or acceptance, possession, use, non-use, or misuse of the prize that may be awarded.

By entering this contest, you acknowledge and agree that Monroe Community Credit Union may contact you via phone, email, or mail regarding our products and services.

No purchase or membership is necessary to enter or win. Entry into the contest does not obligate you to open an account or use any services.

If you prefer not to receive future communications, you may opt out at any time by contacting us at marketing@mcccu.org or by clicking the opt-out link in any email we send.