Like seemingly everything else in our lives this year thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the Berrien Community Foundation’s scholarship season looked considerably different this year, comprised of lots of yard signs, virtual meetings, phone calls and a host of videos. Nevertheless, despite the challenges of social distancing mandates, 62 scholarships that tally to nearly a quarter of a million dollars have been awarded to the outstanding students across the Berrien County region for the current school year.
Berrien Community Foundation President Lisa Cripps-Downey says, “BCF scholarships are established by donors to support students who excelled in academics, or community service, or the arts, or are pursuing a particular career path.” She adds, “To celebrate this generosity we have always held a celebration for the scholars, donors and volunteers, but this year that was not possible.”
To replace the celebration, video conference meetings were set up so that donors could surprise the students with their awards, followed by yard signs that were planted in the student’s yards to announce their achievement.
Amid the more than 300 scholarship applications reviewed and awarded, there were applications for ten new scholarships added this year to the BCF scholarships list. They include:
- Arcadia Gardens Scholarship
- Sondra J. Kaminski Soccer Scholarship
- Lehmann-Peapples Trades Scholarship
- Howard D. Merchant Memorial Scholarship
- Michigan Grape Society Scholarship
- Passaro Family Volunteer Scholarship
- Pasquale Santaniello Family Scholarship
- Joseph Class of 1970 Scholarship
- Ken & Jeanne Thomas Memorial Scholarship
- Alton & Millie Wendzel Scholarship.
BCF Program Manager Susan Matheny says, “We have gotten to see the resiliency of this community through this process,” and adds, “Volunteers meeting remotely, scholars prepping for interviews, signs instead of banquets. It was different but we still were able to support students and celebrate their achievements.”
Here is the comprehensive list of the 2020 Berrien Community Foundation Scholar winners:
- All God’s Children Community Choir Scholarship: Lucille Arbanas (Buchanan), Ethan Bowman-Hawkins (St. Joseph), and Eva Schley (Edwardsburg)
- Arcadia Gardens Scholarship: Noemi Mendez (St. Joseph
- Edna Bender Scholarship: Jacob Herman (Berrien Springs)
- Bryce Boothby Family Scholarship: Daniel Moore (Benton Harbor)
- Jeffrey Evan Demko Scholarship: Jackson Schmaltz (Bridgman)
- Drews Family Scholar: Chiara Thrum (Lakeshore)
- Dunn Scholarship: Zaida Castillo (Siena Heights University) and Vanessa Martinez (Lake Michigan College)
- Felland Scholarship: Ingrid dos Reis Faria (Lake Michigan College) and Althea Rapaich (Lake Michigan College)
- Jameson Matthew Gargano Memorial Scholarship: Alena Louie (Lakeshore)
- Heart of Cook Scholarship: Skylar Brawley(Niles), Michael Kaufmann (Niles), Brighton Lee (Buchanan), Claire Lundy (St. Joseph), Chloe Russell (St. Joseph), Allison Schmidt (River Valley)
- David A. Hicks Scholarship for the Arts: Alice Askren (Coloma)
- John E.N. & Dede Howard Instrumental Music Scholarship: Jared Jaggi(Western Michigan University)
- Insurance Management Service Scholarship: Eric Johnson (Benton Harbor)
- Lehmann-Peapples Trades Scholarship: Ross Clare (Michigan Lutheran) and Elena Loucks (Berrien)
- Jon Jollay Memorial Scholarship: Cameron Needham (Coloma)
- Sondra J. Kaminski Scholarship: John Mansfield (Lake Michigan Catholic)
- Sondra J. Kaminski Soccer Scholarship: Lindsey Adent (St. Joseph)
- Leonard & Marion Krall Scholarship: Susanna Van Lente (Watervliet)
- Howard D. Merchant Scholarship: Zachary Kreiner (St. Joseph)
- Michigan Grape Society Scholarship: Daniel Berghoff (Lake Michigan College)
- Lora Wile Miller Scholarship: Lillian Hoose (Lakeshore)
- Ronald H. Miller Journalism Scholarship: Dominic Giandiletti (St. Joseph)
- Terence Joseph Mulvihill Scholarship: Jacob Fidler (New Buffalo), Grace Gradowski (New Buffalo)
- Carol A. Oehlhaffen Lake Michigan Catholic Scholar: John Mansfield (Lake Michigan Catholic) and Bailey Siglow (Lake Michigan Catholic)
- Carol A. Oehlhaffen Youth in Philanthropy Scholarship: Lindsey Schaffer (St. Joseph)
- A. Mason Penwell Nursing: Ingrid dos Reis Faria (Lake Michigan College) and Hailey Smith (Lake Michigan College)
- Cora B. Parkhurst Memorial Scholarship: Vanessa Rojo-Merida (Berrien Springs)
- Pasquale Santinello Family Scholarship: Alena Louie (Lakeshore)
- Passaro Family Volunteerism Scholarship: Diego Avello (Lakeshore)
- Southwest Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force Awareness Scholarship: Margaret Harris (Southwest Michigan College)
- Stoub Family Scholarship for Working Students: Katarra Roberts (Eau Claire)
- St. Joseph Class of 1970 Scholarship: Tekeira Roberts (Benton Harbor)
- Ken & Jeanne Thomas Memorial Scholarship: Hannah Pittman (Berrien Springs)
- Trefz Family Scholarship: George Kertawidjaja (Berrien Springs), Victoria DesLauries (River Valley) and Alexis Stump (Niles)
- Frederick S. Upton Opportunity Scholarship: Victoria DesLauries (River Valley), Noah Hayden (Lake Michigan College), Jacob Herman (Berrien Springs), Caroline Madison (Home School), Jonathan Miesse (St. Joseph), Sydney Prillwitz (Niles), Emma Springer (River Valley), Erin Thomas (Niles), and Gary Washington (Benton Harbor)
- Arthur & Bonna Vanderlyn Scholarship: Joel Soto (Hartford)
- Rodney Weir Scholarship for Coloma Marching Band: Alice Askren (Coloma)
- Welch Family Scholarship: Daiden Shaw (Countryside)
- Alton & Millie Wendzel Scholarship: Allison Eisen (Watervliet)
In addition to the scholars listed above, there were students who received renewable scholarships from previous years.
Scholarship applications for next year will be available at high school counseling offices and on the Foundation’s web site in December of 2020. For information on starting a scholarship, contact Lisa Cripps-Downey at lisa@berriencommunity.org. For information on applying for next year’s scholarships, contact Susan Matheny at susanmatheny@berriencommunity.org.
Your wealth developed over a lifetime makes a more positive community impact when working through Berrien Community Foundation (BCF). For more than 65 years, BCF has helped concerned individuals establish their own charitable giving legacy and achieve their charitable goals. If you’d like to develop a fund or endowment to impact your specific charitable interests, visit www.berriencommunity.org or call (269) 983-3304 and ask for Lisa Cripps-Downey, BCF President.
