Despite the disruptions and challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation is forging ahead in a bid to overcome the stresses of balancing education and safety on an everyday basis by renewing hope through their annual scholarship application season now underway.
Saying that the past year has undoubtedly been a period of transition for the community and the Foundation alike, officials also remind us that “there is a vision of hope and excitement for the future that permeates throughout Berrien and Cass Counties,” adding, “It is our hope that the lessons learned this year will lead to growth in all of the communities we serve.”
A key way that the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation looks forward to being part of that growth is through their many grant and scholarship opportunities. They have announced the opening of this year’s scholarship application season which launched on Friday, January 15th, 2021. Applications will be available at the link below until the deadline of March 15th:
https://mgcf.org/2020-online-scholarship-application-is-open/
The scholarships help young people throughout Berrien and Cass counties excel at their pursuit of higher education. Whether that be at a four year college, one of the region’s great local community colleges or even within the trades.
Michigan Gateway Community Foundation’s President & CEO Michael Rowland says, “This past year has been challenging for everyone, especially our students. Those challenges have also created so many opportunities for growth. It is my belief that students of today will wear this pandemic like a badge of honor. One where instead of looking at what was lost, they choose to look at what was gained. It’s been a transformational year for everyone. We simply want to be a small part of helping young people realize the positive outcomes that will come from that transformation.”
In 2020, the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation distributed 170 grants to programs and organizations in our communities, totaling $486,866.67 and granted 252 scholarships in the amount of $380,459.24 assisting in the dreams and goals of area students for their post-secondary pursuits. With the continuously expanding generosity of the foundation’s partners in philanthropy, they are also pleased to announce several new scholarships to this year’s line-up:
- Munro Memorial Scholarship – This gift was put in place to give post-graduate assistance to Niles High School seniors. The scholarship will be awarded to a student with a minimum GPA of 2.5 with a preference to those students who intend to pursue a career in dentistry, dental hygiene, or a patient care related dental occupation.
- Galien Township School District Scholarship – Graduating seniors that reside in the old Galien school district may apply for this scholarship, regardless of which school they attend. Students must have a 2.5 GPA or higher and must have community service, extracurricular activities and good citizenship.
- Carol D. Baker Memorial Scholarship – Graduating seniors from Buchanan High School with a minimum GPA of 2.5 may apply. Applicant must have held a position of leadership, in a school or community extracurricular or volunteer experience. Preference given to students who intend to pursue a career in education.
- Counseling Association of Southwest Michigan Scholarship – Applicant must be a graduating senior from a high school in Berrien, Cass, or Van Buren County. Student must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and must be pursuing a course of study in Social Work or Counseling.
Additionally, through the generous donation of Walter Schirmer Jr, the Buchanan Promise is a post-secondary scholarship program that provides financial assistance up to $2,500 per year for four years for a maximum up to $10,000 to all eligible graduates residing within the Buchanan Community Schools geographic boundaries. You can learn more by visiting https://buchananpromise.com/.
You can visit http://mgcf.org for more information on Michigan Gateway Community Foundation. You can also reach the by email at info@mgcf.org or by calling 269-695-3521.
