The Shiawassee Community Foundation recently hosted its Scholarship Awards Night at the Owosso High School Auditorium on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, commemorating five decades of impactful giving within our community. This milestone event brought together nearly 300 guests to honor the achievements of our outstanding local students and celebrate the Foundation’s 50-year legacy of support.
The evening was a testament to the Foundation’s commitment to education and community stewardship. A total of 155 scholarships, generously funded from 83 different funds, were awarded, amounting to over $184,000 in financial assistance. These scholarships benefitted deserving students from 12 school districts across Shiawassee County. Each recipient demonstrated exceptional academic performance and a strong dedication to community service.
Benjamin Frederick, Associate Vice President of Advocacy and Government Relations at Memorial Healthcare, delivered the keynote speech. Mr. Frederick emphasized the pivotal role of community engagement and commended the seniors for their potential to make positive impacts within Shiawassee County and beyond.
A highlight of the evening was the inaugural presentation of the “Community Cares” award, bestowed upon Dutch and Rita Bouwman for their outstanding 15-year commitment to the Youth Advisory Council. This award recognizes their significant contributions to nurturing young leaders in our community.
Following the awards ceremony, attendees enjoyed a special commemorative video showcasing the Shiawassee Community Foundation’s enduring impact over the past half-century. It was a powerful reminder of how philanthropy can transform lives and strengthen our community.
Following the awards ceremony, attendees enjoyed a special commemorative video showcasing the Shiawassee Community Foundation’s enduring impact over the past half-century. It was a powerful reminder of how philanthropy can transform lives and strengthen our community.
The success of this event was made possible by the dedication of the Foundation’s board, staff, and Youth Advisory Council, along with the generous support of event sponsors, including Young Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC, Horizon Bank, Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC, DayStarr Communication, Huntington Bank, Memorial Healthcare, and Zaleski Law Firm.
As the Foundation looks forward to the future, we invite everyone to join us in congratulating all the scholarship recipients for 2024. Their accomplishments inspire us and reinforce the importance of investing in our youth. If you’re interested in supporting the Shiawassee Community Foundation’s mission, visit shiacf.org to learn more about volunteering or making a donation. Remember, you don’t need a million dollars to give back—just dedication and commitment. Together, we can all be philanthropists.
Let’s continue to celebrate and support the bright futures of our students and the enduring impact of the Shiawassee Community Foundation!
Please join the Shiawassee Community Foundation in congratulating all the scholarship recipients for 2024! They are listed below:
Alexander Women’s Scholarship Fund
Jadyn Spaleny
Karl F. and Ziritha H. (Lowers) Allert Memorial Scholarship Fund
Jeana Travis
Bancroft Lions Club John Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund
Gabrielle Koehler
Nancy Ruth Patenge Beyer Memorial Scholarship Fund
Elijah Whiteside Rebekah Starr
Dr. Bhaskaran Memorial Scholarship
Elizabeth Rood
Elsie Blair and Suzanne Blair Anderson Memorial Scholarship
Zoie Brandt
Olive Blanner Scholarship
Quinn Skarich Tyler Hufnagel
Brittany Buchholz Memorial Scholarship Fund
Quinn Skarich Kenzee DeFrenn Jaidyn Sadler
Byron Community Scholarship Fund
Allissa Ash Baylie Villani Violet Schmidt
Byron Community Scholarship – Chase
Allissa Ash
Byron Community Scholarship – Duncanson
Desirae Young Thomas Harris
PFC Shane W. Cantu Memorial Scholarship Fund
Kylee Matznick Madelyn Wright
Emily Chapman Memorial Scholarship Fund
Emma Warren Julia Burk Mackenzie Pancheck
Philip and Inez Colton Memorial Scholarship Fund
Isabelle Cooper
Phyllis L. and Alton D. Crandell Memorial Scholarship Fund
Haley Munson
Karen K. Dasen Memorial Scholarship Fund
Lillia Reid
Rollin V. Dasen Memorial Scholarship Fund
Elizabeth White
Norman L. and Marcella C. DesJardins Memorial Scholarship Fund
Madison Salander Olivia Savage
Margaret E. Dittenber Memorial Scholarship Fund
Amelia Freehling
Shana Lynne Dumond Memorial Scholarship Fund
Allyson LaMay Madelyn Miller Rorie Babcock
Durand Lions Club Scholarship Fund
Marcus Johnston
Durand Rotary Club Scholarship Fund
Madeline Bias
Shelli (Bowles) Edgington Memorial Scholarship Fund
Lillia Reid
Alford and Alice Emmert Scholarship Fund
Cassie Stone Mason Struck Lindsey Wendling
Don and Becky Galloway Scholarship Fund
Olivia Krejci Colton Symons Hayley Lademann Calena Stevens
Cheryl Gapinski Memorial Scholarship Fund
Zoie Brandt
The GFWC Owosso Woman’s Club Scholarship Fund
Kaitlyn Kingsbury
Cyril C. and Ella M. Gregoricka Scholarship Fund- Agriculture Scholarship
Gabrielle Koehler
Cyril C. and Ella M. Gregoricka Scholarship Fund- Environmental Scholarship
Bryce Kuchar
Phyllis Lundie Gruver Memorial Scholarship Fund
Megan Dear-Marme Kaydence Cooper
Harold J. Haas Memorial Scholarship Fund
Madelyn Miller
Coach Tom Harkema Athletic Scholarship Fund
Ryan Dahl Tegan Passinault Libby Summerland Skotti Ball-Duley
Ellane I. Hogan Memorial Scholarship Fund
Abigail Harrison
C.S. Hood Memorial Scholarship Fund
Elizabeth Poirier Madeline Bias Maryn Kisser Madeline Eustace
Baylie Villani Emma Hawkins Sydney Leydig Hannah Sebenick
Meghan Morrow
Cheryl L. Hrcka Memorial Scholarship Fund
Sara Dammann Kaitlyn Kingsbury Kayla Brunner
Harold V. and Ima B. Johns Memorial Scholarship Fund
Rorie Babcock
Donald A. Knieper Memorial Scholarship Fund
Colton Symons Allie Richardson
Knights of Columbus St. Mary Council 7955 Scholarship
Bradyn Kleimola
Knights of Columbus St. Mary Council 7955 Scholarship – Dr. Jean and Peter Sloan Memorial Scholarship
Gina O’Brien
Kris Marie Kulhanek Memorial Fund
Emma Challender Sara Dammann
LaJoye-Shenk Scholarship Fund
Paige McPherson
Walter E. Lawrence Jr. Cross Country/Track Memorial Fund
Joe Marcotte
Jackie Leone Memorial Scholarship Fund
Katlyn Cunningham
Jill Malzahn Health Fund
Raegan Taylor Jeana Travis
Dr. Mark Miller Memorial Scholarship Fund
Logan Vowell Jorja Napier
Eugene and Joyce Moiles Memorial Scholarship Fund
Evan Livingston
Vicki Joan Musser Fund
Olivia Krejci Lauren Gaskin
JoAnn (Butcher) Nelson Memorial Scholarship Fund
Braden Andrejack Brevin Boilore
New Lothrop Schools Endowment Fund
Liliana Bruff
Nathan Nover Memorial Scholarship Fund
Ethan Brunner
Nover Owosso High School Sparkplug Award Fund
Hayden Smith
Martin and Leona O’Brien Scholarship Fund
Brock Holek
Owosso Education Association’s Mary E. Harper Scholarship Fund
Allyson LaMay Elijah Whiteside Tyler Dewley Zane Elkins
Owosso High School Leadership Scholarship Fund
Sydney Wing
Andrew Osika Endowed Agricultural Scholarship Fund
Emma Challender
Paul Penjaska Family Scholarship Fund
Alexis Bruff Emma Warren Ellie Feldpausch Ashlee Napier Jillian Klaver Delaney Gross Emma Johnson Emma Bishop Jaedyn Kline Makayla Lienau Anya Wasilenski Emily Daley Savanah Hewitt Taylor Munro Quentin Goodwill Blake Princinsky Taylor Muzer Madeline Eustace Karissa Potter
Shirley (1936) and Joseph Poirier Scholarship Fund
Camden Yerrick Rajvinder Kaur
Kyler Raffaelli Memorial Scholarship Fund
Brayden Bukovick Alex Rust
David A. Reed Agricultural Fund
Allison Zdunic
Evan James Reed Memorial Scholarship Fund
Klara Mulcahy
Andrew Rehmann Memorial Fund
Kaitlyn Kingsbury
Owen A. and D. Arlene Rood Journalism Scholarship Fund
Katlyn Cunningham
Erwin Ryckman Scholarship Fund
Braeden Tokar
Bill and Kay Scarlett Family Memorial Scholarship Fund
Rian Kirby
Margaret Scoutten and Raymond O. Nash Memorial Scholarship Fund
Brynn Wilson Jaylei Kramer
Ronald K. Seelhoff Memorial Scholarship Fund
Madison Salander Emma Johnson
Shiawassee County Bar Association’s Patricia Carmody Memorial Scholarship
Madelyn Wright
Joseph T. Sierzenga, III Memorial Scholarship Fund
Madelyn Wright
Robert G. Skinner Memorial Scholarship Fund
Mason Stark
Stephen and Pauline Smith Family Scholarship Fund
Sydney Spaulding Emma Hawkins Noah Fryer
John and Joan Spindler Family Scholarship Fund In Memory of John, Jennifer & Jeri Spindler
Elizabeth White
Devin Allen Swatman Memorial Scholarship Fund
Robbyn Walters Alex Rust Gavin Holmes
Roger and Marian Talbot Family Scholarship Fund
Claire Chrisinske
Irene Turk Memorial Scholarship Fund
Maryn Kisser
Iris (Turk) Lott Memorial Scholarship Fund
Isabelle Cooper
Brad A. VanPelt Memorial Scholarship Fund
Olivia Shell Paul Hrncharik IV Ella Haddix
Carson James Vincent Memorial Fund
Braeden Tokar
Troy A. Vincke Memorial Scholarship Fund
Colton Symons Klara Mulcahy
Carl E. Voorhies & Kathryn D. Voorhies Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund
Kierra Conlen
Mary Bea deBoom Wasper Scholarship Fund
Zoie Brandt
Carl R. Woodbury Memorial Scholarship Fund
Evan Livingston Wyatt Shetter
Kevin A. Zmitko Agricultural Scholarship Fund
Brock Holek Gabrielle Koehler
Zonta Club of Owosso Scholarship Fund
Tatiana Vyshegorodtsev