Community Foundation Awards $364,000 to Support Local Students

[Image description: Tom Raymond, son of James Allen Raymond whom the Giving JAR Scholarship is named for, presenting the 2023 Giving JAR Scholarship to Mackenzie Wysocki from Benzie Central High School. Learn more about our Giving JAR Scholarship.]

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation recently awarded $364,031 in scholarships to 190 high school seniors, college students, and trade school students across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties.

A total of 218 scholarships were awarded, including $76,951 to 24 students from Antrim County; $55,100 to nine students from Benzie County; $179,370 to 133 students from Grand Traverse County; $11,850 to five students from Kalkaska County; and $20,500 to seven students from Leelanau County. An additional $20,260 was awarded to 12 students outside the region through partnerships with national and state-wide organizations.

“Supporting access to education for local students is a critical part of our work as a community foundation,” said Gina Thornbury, Senior Community Impact Manager. “We offer scholarships through more than 90 scholarship funds that support students who are pursuing a variety of post-secondary educational pathways, whether that be community college, university studies, or trade school.”

In addition to these scholarships, the Community Foundation granted $110,000 earlier this year to 10 local schools and school districts to support student scholarships, including Benzie Central Schools, Buckley Community Schools, Elk Rapids Senior High School, Forest Area Community Schools, Frankfort Elberta Area Schools, Kalkaska High School, Kingsley Area Schools, Leland Public Schools, Mancelona Public Schools, and Suttons Bay Public Schools. These grants came from the Community Foundation’s Wilfred and Joan Larson Endowment and bring the Foundation’s total impact for post-secondary education support to $474,031 so far this year.

“Big congratulations to all students receiving scholarships this year,” said Torey Caviston, Youth and Community Impact Coordinator. “We’re excited to support your future endeavors thanks to the generosity of our donor partners.”

The Community Foundation provides scholarships to students based on a range of criteria, such as financial need, community involvement, academic performance, and planned major or career path. In addition to the scholarships awarded so far this year, scholarships from four additional funds will be given out later this summer.

For more information about Community Foundation scholarships, please visit the Foundation’s website at www.gtrcf.org/scholarships/. To view a list of 2023 scholarship recipients, visit www.gtrcf.org/scholarships/scholarship-recipients.