Community Foundation Awards Nearly $400K to Support Local Students
[Image description: Three students sitting at a picnic table with two students looking down at their books and another student taking notes.]
The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation recently supported $286,838 in scholarship awards to support 171 students, bringing the total impact so far this year in support of access to post-secondary education for area students to nearly $400,000.
In addition to the scholarships recently awarded, the Foundation granted $110,000 earlier this year to 10 local school districts to support student scholarships – Benzie Central Schools, Buckley Community Schools, Elk Rapids Schools, Forest Area Community Schools, Frankfort Elberta Area Schools, Kalkaska Public Schools, Kingsley Area Schools, Leland Public School, Mancelona Public Schools, and Suttons Bay Public Schools. These grants came from the Foundation’s Wilfred and Joan Larson Endowment.
“We know that supporting accesses to education and learning beyond high school is an essential part of supporting healthy, resilient, thriving communities,” said Gina Thornbury, Community Foundation program and grants manager. “The variety of scholarships we support provide opportunities for students pursuing diverse post-secondary paths, including college, university, and trade schools.”
The scholarships awarded to students this month include $68,369 to 19 students from Antrim County; $28,880 to five students from Benzie County; $154,114 to 125 students from Grand Traverse County; $6,394 to four students from Kalkaska County; $18,900 to 9 students from Leelanau County. Approximately an additional $10,000 was awarded to students from outside the region through unique partnerships with a national and state-wide organization.
“We are proud to congratulate all students receiving our scholarships this year and are honored to support their future endeavors,” said Brittany Morton-Smith, operations and grants coordinator. “Through the generosity of donor partners and our role as steward of community assets for lasting impact, every year we are able to support local youth in their post-secondary pursuits.”
The Community Foundation is home to more than 90 scholarship funds that offer scholarship opportunities to current high school seniors, college students, and trade school 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 awards so far this year, awards are planned to be made later this summer from four additional named scholarships.
For more information on Community Foundation scholarships, visit www.gtrcf.org/scholarships/. To see a full listing of 2022 scholarship recipients, visit www.gtrcf.org/scholarships/scholarship-recipients.