Onlookers this week might have wondered who was having the big birthday party at Lake Michigan College, and if they were wondering that they’d have the story about half right. The more important part of the celebration, however, turns out to have been the 17th Annual Scholarship Celebration, an event that gets bigger every year.
The reason it looked like a birthday party, by the way, was intentional. While it was the 17th Annual Scholarship Celebration, it also marked the 65th anniversary of the Berrien Community Foundation, which hosts, and sponsors the scholarship party.
Berrien Community Foundation President Lisa Cripps-Downey told the nearly 200 donors, scholars, review committee members and their guests Thursday night that the organization is “celebrating all year long,” as they mark their 65th anniversary milestone. The party was also to celebrate 47 new scholars and 42 renewed scholarships for the year.
Cripps-Downey told party-goers, “Birthdays are milestones, just like graduating from high school and going to college is a milestone.” She then added, “Berrien Community Foundation is celebrating YOU. Like a birthday party, we are celebrating your next step and we are proud to be a part of helping you along the way.”
The birthday theme included paper hats and birthday cake, and there was even a singer, 2017 Heart of Cook Foundation Scholar Brady West. While fun, and even a little silly at times, it was clear that Berrien Community Foundation takes its scholarship program very seriously.
The Honorable Mabel Mayfield serves as Chair of the Foundation. She says, “Many of these scholarships were established to honor a beloved spouse, parent, child or loved one.” She points out, “Many of these donors have taken a terrible loss and turned it into a blessing…whatever the reason, there was sacrifice and thought involved in providing your scholarship…We ask you to remember your donors and when it is your turn, remember to give back.”
The Berrien Community Foundation will provide $130,000 in college scholarships to Berrien County students for the 2017-18 academic year. In its history, the Foundation has awarded over $2.4 million in scholarships to Berrien County students. The scholarships are only possible because of the generosity of the many donors.
Cripps-Downey reminded the scholars, “These donors didn’t have to look to the next generation and reach back to help when help was needed – but they did.” She added, “Donors change the trajectory of the lives of these students and their families. They are relieving a financial burden. Sometimes, what is even more important, is that they are saying they believe in these students and their ability to succeed.”
Committees of BCF volunteers reviewed over 200 applications to select the scholarship recipients. The committee members score the applications and then make the very difficult decision to select the winner. This year the Scholarship Committees were asked to review three new scholarships that were added to the family of Berrien Community Foundation Scholarships. The new scholarships are, The Felland Family Scholarship, The David A. Hicks Scholarship for the Arts and the Arthur and Bonna Vanderlyn Scholarship.
Scholarships and recipients honored this year include:
- All God’s Children Community Choir Scholarship: Darwin Bowman (Lakeshore), Corey Hampton (St. Joseph)
- Edna Bender Scholarship: Diana Gaspar (Berrien Springs)
- Bryce Boothby Family Scholarship: Madelyn Markoch (Lake Michigan Catholic)
- David A. Hicks Scholarship for the Arts: Aidan Diefenbach (Bridgman)
- Jeffrey Evan Demko Scholarship: Madelynne Keller (Bridgman)
- Drews Scholar: Andrew Vigansky (Lakeshore)
- Dunn Scholarship: Annalise Salisbury (Western Michigan University) and Destini Hill (Lake Michigan College)
- Felland Family Scholarship: Rae Ann Anthony (Lake Michigan College) and Shumieka Washington (Lake Michigan College)
- Jameson Matthew Gargano Memorial Scholarship: Andrew Vigansky (Lakeshore)
- Heart of Cook Scholarship: Alex Jasper (Niles), Jacoby Kroschel (Coloma), Sarah Puzycki (Lakeshore), Shreeja Shrestha (St. Joseph), Lindsay Warriner (Bridgman), Brady West (Berrien Springs)
- John E.N. & Dede Howard Instrumental Music Scholarship: Michaela Braamse (Grand Valley State University)
- Honor Credit Union Foundation Community Commitment Scholarship: Maya Fitzstephens (St. Joseph), Leonardo Guadagni (St. Joseph), Julia Kubath (Michigan Lutheran), Jaycee Myer (Niles), Raphael Rauner Dahn (Berrien Springs Parent Partnership)
- Insurance Management Service Scholarship: Christopher Hamler (Benton Harbor)
- Jon Jollay Scholarship: Jacoby Kroschel (Coloma)
- Sondra J. Kaminski Scholarship: Gabrielle Craig (Lake Michigan Catholic)
- Ronald H. Miller Journalism Scholarship: Chelsie Luczkowski (Brandywine)
- Lora Wile-Miller Memorial Scholarship: Sarah Dubbert (Lakeshore)
- Terence Joseph Mulvihill Scholarship: Andrew Keller (New Buffalo) and Kristen Kozel (New Buffalo)
- Carol A. Oehlhaffen Lake Michigan Catholic Scholar: Gabrielle Craig (Lake Michigan Catholic)
- Carol A. Oehlhaffen Youth in Philanthropy Scholarship: Allyson Olson (River Valley)
- Cora B. Parkhurst Memorial Scholarship: Callahan Stoub (Berrien Springs)
- Arlene B. Porritt Memorial Scholarship for Curious Kids: Andrew Menke (St. Joseph)
- Welch Family Scholarship: Florencia Mitchell (Benton Harbor), Cole Sing (Lakeshore), Rebecca Walsh (Lakeshore)
- Wayne K. Wright Scholarship: Megan Miller (Berrien Springs)
- Arthur and Bonna Vanderlyn Scholarship: Sandra Perez (Hartford).
Scholarship applications for next year will be available at high school counseling offices and on the Foundation’s web site in January 2018. For more information on how to start a scholarship, contact Lisa Cripps-Downey at lisa@berriencommunity.org. For more information on applying for next year’s scholarships, contact Susan Matheny at susanmatheny@berriencommunity.org.
The Berrien Community Foundation was founded by William Vawter and other local leaders to give community members a way to give back to the community in perpetuity. Its mission is to connect the power of people who care with the causes and organizations that strengthen our communities. visit www.BerrienCommunity.org.
