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Albert & Genevieve Hansen Family Scholarship

The Albert & Genevieve scholarship will be awarded to a CM college bound student with an interest in Business Administration or Special Education.

• CMU
• MCC
• Ferris State

The Albert & Genevieve Hansen scholarship was set up by their daughters, Lois & Bonnie, graduates of Central Montcalm.

Applications due: March 31

Haylie Schneider Scholarship Fund

The Haylie Schneider Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to students in Montcalm County who are pursuing higher education in the special education field. Students do not have to be high school seniors.

The scholarship was established by Haylie Schneider’s family in honor of her 21st birthday.

Applications due: March 31

William J. Seiter, Jr., Ph.D. Endowment Fund

The William J. Seiter, Jr., Ph.D. Endowment Fund assists any Montcalm County High School graduating senior with acceptance to a Michigan college or university to pursue a minimum of a two-year degree or a trade/technical program, receiving a minimum of a one-year degree or certificate. The recipient must be a student with good grades, good citizenship and a good work ethic.

Education was highly valued by Dr. Seiter, and his professional career was a testament to him making things better for residents of Central Montcalm, teachers, students and members of the special education community. He studied at Ferris State University, Central Michigan University and earned his doctorate in education from Michigan State University. Dr. Seiter began his teaching career in Carson City in 1958. He later became a school psychologist, Director of Special Education and then Superintendent of the Montcalm Area Intermediate School District for over 30 years.

Applications due: March 31

Thomas Wittkopp Endowment

The Thomas Wittkopp Endowment was established was Mr. Wittkopp, a Central Montcalm graduate, and provides a scholarship for a Central Montcalm senior who plans to attend a Michigan college or university to pursue a degree in health care management, science or allied health education.

Applications due: March 31

Jack and Jan Pearl Endowment

The Jack and Jan Pearl Endowment is awarded to a Central Montcalm graduate who plans to attend Central Michigan University.

Jack and Jan Pearl were educators for Central Montcalm Public Schools until their retirement.

Applications due: March 31

Petersen Family Endowment

The Petersen Family Endowment provides a scholarship to a graduating Central Montcalm student with a 3.0 GPA who plans to attend Grand Valley State University with an interest in Music. The Scholarship is renewable for up to four years to the student who receives it.

The Petersen Family Foundation was established in 2017 to remember and honor Sherry and Corey Petersen.

Applications due: March 31

Harold & Dorothy Springsteen Endowment

The Harold & Dorothy Springsteen Memorial Fund is awarded to a graduating Central Montcalm High School student who plans to attend a four-year college or university or attend Montcalm Community College with the intent of transferring to a Michigan university to receive a degree in education. The student must exemplify good grades, good citizenship and good work ethic.

The Harold & Dorothy Springsteen Memorial Fund was established by Dorothy, Harold’s wife, and her family. Harold was the Superintendent of CMPS for many of his years in education, retiring in 1984.

Applications due: March 31

Ernest (Bud) and Nancy Rogers Family Endowment

The Ernest (Bud) and Nancy Rogers Family Endowment provides scholarships to Central Montcalm Public Schools graduates who plan to attend a four-year college or university, a community college or a trade school in Michigan.

Applications due: March 31

Doug and Nancy Chapin Family Endowment

The Doug and Nancy Chapin Family Foundation provides scholarships to Central Montcalm Public Schools graduates who have a 3.0 GPA, have earned varsity letters in at least two sports and plan to attend Central Michigan University, Michigan State University or Ferris State University.

Applications due: March 31

Norbert & Jackie Vander Steen WMU Endowment

The Norbert & Jackie Vander Steen WMU Endowment is awarded to students from Central Montcalm Public Schools who are interested in aviation education and plan to attend Western Michigan University. Students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and a commitment to volunteerism, extra-curricular activities and leadership in their school and community.

If no student qualifies for the required criteria, consideration will be given to:

• First: Students attending Western Michigan University who are not majoring in education or aeronautics.
• Second: Students attending Montcalm Community College who intend to transfer to Western Michigan University.
• Third: Students attending Montcalm Community College.
• $100 shall be donated annually to MAISD Dolly Parton Imagination Library

This scholarship was originally established by Norb, Jackie’s husband, in 2009. Since Norb's passing, the family amended the scholarship to pay tribute to both Vander Steens. Jackie loved aviation and took a part-time job to pay for flying lessons, soloing shortly after her seventeenth birthday. She also loved being a teacher and earned her degree from Western Michigan University. Norb was also a graduate of Western Michigan University, graduating in 1953. He originally had intentions of pursuing education; however, he accepted a position with the Bell system and later with AT&T. Norb served on the CMCF Board and was a huge supporter of education.

Applications due: March 31

Erik Thomas Golf and Educational Scholarship Fund

The Erik Thomas Golf and Educational Scholarship Fund is considered to:

• A graduating Central Montcalm senior who has been accepted into the PGA golf management program at Ferris State University.
• A student who would like to renew their original scholarship.
• A graduating Central Montcalm senior golfer who plans to attend any golf management school in the country.
• A graduating Central Montcalm senior golfer who plans to attend Ferris State University (priority) or Central Michigan University.

If no one meets the above criteria, a graduating senior band member who plans to attend Ferris State University (priority) or Central Michigan University will be considered.

Erik Thomas was a lifelong resident of Stanton who graduated from Central Montcalm in 1989. This fund was started by his wife, daughter, family and friends following his death in 2018. Erik was an avid golfer and graduated from the Golf Academy of the South.

Applications due: March 31

Bill Thwaites Athletic & Education Scholarship

The Bill Thwaites Athletic & Education Scholarship assists graduating seniors in the Central Montcalm Athletic program who plan to attend a four-year or community college.

This fund was established in 2002 following the death of Bill Thwaites, a valued teacher and athletic coach for many years at Central Montcalm High School.

Applications due: March 31

Kevin Seymour Athletic & Academic Scholarship

The Kevin Seymour Athletic & Academic Scholarship invests in Central Montcalm students’ futures for generations and is awarded to a student who is both an athlete and a National Honor Society member.

Kevin graduated with honors from Central Montcalm High School in 1995 as a year-round athlete involved in many sports. This scholarship endowment is given by his wife, family and friends.

Applications due: March 31

Hansen Family Endowment

The Hansen Family Endowment provides assistance to a Central Montcalm Public Schools student who is majoring in engineering. The criteria for this scholarship are as follows:

• First: The student must be majoring in engineering at Michigan State University.
• Second: The student must be attending Michigan State University.
• Third: The student must be majoring in engineering in any Michigan college.
• Fourth: The student must be attending a Michigan four-year college.

The Hansens met while attending Stanton Union High School in 1959. Lloyd, the son of Fred and Virginia Hansen of Stanton, and Judy, the daughter of Arlo and Alice Gould of Crystal, have fond memories of their high school years. Lloyd graduated from Stanton Union High in 1960, and Judy graduated in 1961.

Lloyd and Judy were married on June 15, 1963. Lloyd graduated from Michigan State University, and Judy from Oakland University. They are now living their senior years in the Grand Rapids area. It gives them great pleasure to help Stanton area students with their college education costs.

Applications due: March 31

Montcalm Area Intermediate School District Education Endowment

The Montcalm Area Intermediate School District, or MAISD, has teamed up with the CMCF to establish an endowed fund for Montcalm County students. The MAISD Education Endowment provides scholarships as they matriculate to post-secondary education and technical training.

These scholarship funds are for students who have an Individual Education Program and attend school in Montcalm County. As the fund grows, additional scholarships will be developed to assist students who attend programs developed by the MAISD.

Applications due: March 31

William McCarthy Endowment

Established in 2010 by the Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office, the William McCarthy Endowment grants a scholarship to a student from Montcalm County who must attend an accredited college pursuing a criminal justice or law enforcement related degree.

Applications due: March 31

Korson Family Endowment

The Korson Family Endowment is awarded to Central Montcalm students planning to attend Central Michigan University or continuing their education at CMU’s School of Business.

Wayne Korson earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and economics from CMU in 1971. The Korson family has stayed very active on campus and with the School of Business.

Applications due: March 31

Isabella Bank Scholarship

The Isabella Bank Scholarship is awarded yearly to a Central Montcalm High School graduating senior who has demonstrated community involvement through service/volunteerism, maintained a 3.0 or higher GPA and plans to attend a four-year Michigan college.

Applications due: March 31

Leo Gurecki Athletic and Educational Scholarship

The Leo Gurecki Athletic and Educational Scholarship is awarded to a Central Montcalm High School graduating senior involved in athletics, with the first choice going to students who plan to attend Central Michigan University, and the second choice going to students who plan to attend Ferris State University.

The Gurecki family started this endowment from memorial contributions received after the loss of Mr. Gurecki in 2003. Mr. Gurecki was always involved in school sports and tried to attend every event where his children and grandchildren were involved. Mr. Gurecki lived and worked in Central Montcalm all of his life, retiring from Bookwalter Motor Sales in 1985.

Applications due: March 31

Ronald R. Burkholder Athletic and Educational Scholarship

The Ronald R. Burkholder Athletic and Educational Scholarship is awarded to a Central Montcalm High School graduating senior involved in athletics and accepted for admission at a four-year college.

Mr. Burkholder was an avid sports fan, especially when his grandchildren were involved. After losing his battle to lung cancer in 2003, the Burkholder family established an athletic scholarship from memorial contributions received. The scholarship continues to grow from annual contributions.

Applications due: March 31

Dr. Victor Beal Jr. Scholarship

The Dr. Victor Beal Jr. Scholarship is awarded annually to a student attending Central Montcalm High School with a minimum GPA of 3.5 who plans to attend Michigan State University.

Education and service were very important to Dr. Beal, who graduated from Central Montcalm High School as valedictorian in 1949. He served his country as a member of the U.S. Army from 1953-1955. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and his PhD from Purdue University. For the rest of his career, Dr. Beal worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.

Applications due: March 31

Parr Family Scholarship

A Central Montcalm student seeking a career in the trade field.

Applications accepted throughout the year.