Discover Funding Opportunities

Brady & Patrick Gallagher Memorial Scholarship

The Brady and Patrick Gallagher Memorial Scholarship was established by their family to provide financial assistance to a Loy Norrix High School graduating senior who has demonstrated ability and interest in the area of creative arts (band, orchestra, choral, drama, fine arts, or creative writing). This is a multiyear scholarship that is eligible to repeat annually up to 4 times. The scholarship requires students to demonstrate financial need and can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. Scholarship payments are sent directly to the student's institution with one check for the full academic year, split evenly between fall and spring semesters. Students apply through the all-in-one online application system managed by Kalamazoo Community Foundation, with applications opening December 1 and due by March 1 each year.

Love Where You Live: Scholarship Fund

The Love Where You Live: Scholarship Fund was established by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation's board of trustees to invest in the educational aspirations of Kalamazoo County residents. The scholarship supports students committed to continuing their education through various degree and certificate programs, including associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, and vocational/trade certifications. This multiyear scholarship is renewable annually for up to 4 times and can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. Applicants must be residents of Kalamazoo County or graduating/graduated from a high school within Kalamazoo County and demonstrate financial need. The scholarship is available for both full-time and part-time students, including high school seniors and current undergraduates. Payments are sent directly to the educational institution and split between fall and spring semesters. The application process runs through an all-in-one online application system, with submissions due March 1 annually, notifications from April-June, and payments sent by mid-July to August.

Mary Roe Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship was established for graduating Comstock High School seniors pursuing a degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics). The scholarship is a multiyear award that renews annually up to 4 times, providing financial assistance of $1,000 or more per year. Eligible students must be graduating seniors from Comstock High School with a minimum 3.0 GPA who demonstrate financial need and plan to pursue an undergraduate bachelor's degree in a STEM field. The scholarship can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. Scholarship payments are sent directly to the student's institution and split between fall and spring semesters. Recipients are selected through an all-in-one online application process managed by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, with applications opening December 1 and due March 1 each year. Award notifications are sent between April and June, and payments are distributed to institutions by mid-July through August.

Myra P. Whalen Scholarship

The Myra P. Whalen Scholarship was established at Kalamazoo Community Foundation in memory of Myra P. Whalen, a native of Kalamazoo, graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School, and long-time employee of the Upjohn Company. This scholarship provides financial assistance to current graduate students who are residents of Kalamazoo County or graduated from a high school within Kalamazoo County. The scholarship is renewable annually and supports students pursuing full-time graduate degrees who demonstrate financial need. Award amounts vary and are not disclosed publicly. The scholarship is administered through an all-in-one application process that opens December 1 each year, with a deadline of March 1. Recipients are notified between April and June, and payments are sent directly to educational institutions by mid-July through August. KZCF scholarships can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. This multiyear scholarship is eligible to repeat annually up to 4 times and can be used alongside other scholarships or funding sources.

Nancy C. Niles Donovan Scholarship

The Nancy C. Niles Donovan Scholarship was established in 2003 in honor of Nancy C. Niles Donovan's love of animals. The scholarship is designed to assist students who plan a career in the field of veterinary medicine. This scholarship provides financial assistance to graduate students pursuing veterinary medicine degrees at Michigan State University. It is a one-time, non-renewable award of at least $1,000 that can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. Scholarship recipients must be residents of Kalamazoo or St. Joseph Counties in Michigan or have graduated from a high school in these counties. Financial need is a key criterion for selection. The scholarship is administered by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation as part of their all-in-one scholarship application process, with applications accepted from December 1 through March 1 each year.

Kalamazoo Junior Golf Association Scholarship

The Kalamazoo Junior Golf Association Scholarship was established to assist students who have taken part in the Kalamazoo Junior Golf Association program. This one-time scholarship award of $1,500 is designed to support high school seniors pursuing a bachelor's degree (4-year) at an accredited institution. The scholarship specifically recognizes students who have demonstrated superior character, sportsmanship, and good citizenship through their participation in the Kalamazoo Junior Golf Association program. Applicants must be enrolled full-time and maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA while demonstrating financial need. The scholarship funds may be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance (COA), including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, health insurance, and other educational expenses. Payments are sent directly to the recipient's institution and are typically split evenly between fall and spring semesters. The application process is streamlined through an all-in-one online application system administered by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. Students can apply starting December 1st, with submissions due by March 1st. Applicants are notified of award decisions between April and June, with scholarship payments sent directly to institutions by mid-July through August. This is a non-renewable, one-time award that can be combined with other scholarships or funding sources.

Kreager Family Scholarship

The Kreager Family Scholarship was established in 2001 by the Kreager family to provide financial assistance to college-bound graduating high school seniors that have suffered the loss of a parent or parents through death or abandonment after infancy. This one-time, non-renewable award of $2,000 or more is designed to support students from Kalamazoo County who demonstrate financial need and are pursuing higher education. The scholarship can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. Eligible students may be pursuing associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees, or vocational/trade certifications on either a full-time or part-time basis. Scholarship payments are sent directly to the educational institution and distributed evenly between fall and spring semesters. Students must be residents of Kalamazoo County or graduating from a high school within Kalamazoo County or from South Haven High School. Applications are accepted through the all-in-one online application process, with submissions due by March 1 each year, and recipients are notified between April and June, with payments sent to institutions by mid-July through August.

S. Rudolph Light Medical Education Scholarship

The S. Rudolph Light Medical Education Scholarship provides financial assistance to medical students, dental students, and master's of nursing students. This scholarship is designed to support graduate students pursuing healthcare careers who have connections to Kalamazoo County, Michigan. The award is a one-time, non-renewable scholarship of at least $2,500 that can be applied to any items under the recipient's school's cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. Eligible applicants must be residents of Kalamazoo County or have graduated from a high school within Kalamazoo County, and must demonstrate financial need. The scholarship is part of the Kalamazoo Community Foundation's all-in-one application process, with applications opening December 1 and closing March 1 annually.

Danial & Joeanna Smith Education Scholarship

The Danial & Joeanna Smith Education Scholarship was established through a bequest from the estate of Danial and Joeanna Smith for the purpose of providing educational scholarships to permanent residents of Van Buren County who are planning to pursue a bachelor's degree at a four-year college or university. This one-time, non-renewable scholarship supports full-time students who demonstrate strong academic achievement, financial need, and participation in extracurricular activities. The scholarship amount varies and is not disclosed. Recipients must maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA for high school seniors or 3.0 GPA for current undergraduates. Scholarship payments are sent directly to the educational institution and can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. The application process is streamlined through an all-in-one online application available from December 1 through March 1 each year, with award notifications sent between April and June, and payments disbursed by mid-July through August.

Wade & Clio Van Valkenburg Scholarship

The Wade & Clio Van Valkenburg Scholarship was established in 2004 through the Wade Van Valkenburg Trust to provide educational scholarships for Kalamazoo County students facing financial hardship or challenges in their education due to past legal issues or accusations. The scholarship honors Circuit Court Judge Wade Van Valkenburg, who served in Kalamazoo for six years and was deeply concerned about youth in the community, especially those who have had to overcome circumstances or obstacles that may otherwise hinder them from seeking training or higher education. This one-time, non-renewable scholarship provides a minimum of $1,000 to help students pursue associates degrees, bachelor's degrees, or vocational/trade certifications. The scholarship is specifically designed for students who have been found guilty of a criminal offense and demonstrate financial need. It can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. Applications are submitted through the Kalamazoo Community Foundation's all-in-one online application system, with a March 1 deadline each year. Recipients are notified between April and June, and scholarship payments are sent directly to educational institutions by mid-July to August. This scholarship represents a unique opportunity for students with past legal challenges to access higher education and transform their lives.

Woodruff Memorial Scholarship

The Woodruff Memorial Scholarship was established in 1982 by the family of Edmond B. Woodruff and Beth Woodruff Shipman in their memory. This scholarship provides financial assistance of $1,000 or more to current college freshmen pursuing a bachelor's degree on a full-time basis. The scholarship is administered by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation and is designed to support students from Kalamazoo County who demonstrate financial need. The scholarship is a one-time, non-renewable award that can be applied to any items under the student's school cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. Payments are sent directly to the recipient's educational institution and are typically distributed evenly between fall and spring semesters. Applications are accepted through an all-in-one online application process from December 1 through March 1 each year, with award notifications sent between April and June, and payments disbursed by mid-July through August.

Wright Coating Company Scholarship

Wright Coating Company established this scholarship fund in 1991 for the purpose of providing financial assistance to college-bound youth residing on the north side of Kalamazoo. This one-time, non-renewable scholarship provides $1,000 to high school seniors pursuing full-time associate or bachelor's degree programs. The scholarship requires applicants to be residents of Kalamazoo County or graduating from a high school within Kalamazoo County, have lived in the northside neighborhood of Kalamazoo for at least one year, maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA, and demonstrate financial need. The scholarship is administered through the Kalamazoo Community Foundation's all-in-one application process, with applications opening December 1 and closing March 1 each year. Recipients are notified between April and June, with scholarship payments sent directly to their educational institutions by mid-July through August. The scholarship funds may be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance.

Melissa Wroblewski Scholarship

The Melissa Wroblewski Memorial Scholarship was established in loving memory of Melissa Wroblewski, a graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School. This award is presented annually to a graduating senior from Kalamazoo Central or Loy Norrix High School who desires to pursue studies in the visual arts. The scholarship is a one-time, non-renewable award of $500 or more that can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. Scholarship payments are sent directly to the student's institution and split evenly between fall and spring semesters. Eligible students must be Kalamazoo Public Schools graduating seniors who demonstrate financial need and are majoring in visual arts. Applications are submitted through an all-in-one online application process with a deadline of March 1 each year, and recipients are notified between April and June, with payments sent to institutions by mid-July through August.

Curtis & Dorothy Young Scholarship

Duane Young, a graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School and Michigan State University as well as a professional football player, established this fund in 1994 to provide scholarship assistance to student athletes who have the desire and the skills necessary to participate in athletics while attending a college/university. This scholarship supports high school seniors who are residents of Kalamazoo County or graduating from a high school within Kalamazoo County. Recipients must demonstrate financial need and have participated in high school varsity sports with the possibility of continuing participation in college. The scholarship provides up to $1,000 as a one-time, non-renewable award that can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. Applications are submitted through an all-in-one online application system, with submissions due by March 1 each year. Scholarship payments are sent directly to the student's institution, typically by mid-July through August.

LPEA Lineworker Scholarship

LPEA is giving away two scholarships for high school graduating students interested in becoming lineworkers. Each winner receives $12,000 for tuition, fees, and books for up to one year at an electrical lineworker school. Any overages following payment of tuition and fees can be used to pay for required and necessary tools and supplies. Applicants must be members of LPEA and high school graduates from schools within LPEA's service territory, including Durango, Bayfield, Pagosa Springs, and Ignacio. Recipients must enroll as first-year students at an accredited vocational school, technical school, junior college, or university in the U.S. and major in an electric lineworker program. The scholarship application is available from December 1 to March 1, with winners notified in April. Applicants must submit an essay or video explaining their interest in becoming a lineworker, a high school transcript, and two letters of recommendation.

Katie McCloskey Memorial Scholarship

The Katie McCloskey Memorial Scholarship is a renewable scholarship program administered by the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County. This scholarship is designed to support graduating seniors from John Adams High School who have demonstrated involvement in athletic activities during their high school career. The scholarship recognizes student-athletes who maintain academic performance while participating in sports. This award provides $3,500 per year for tuition and fees, and is renewable for up to four years, making the total potential award value $14,000. One new scholarship is awarded each year to a qualifying senior who meets the minimum cumulative grade point average requirement of 2.5. The scholarship aims to support students as they transition from high school athletics to higher education. Applicants must be senior students at John Adams High School in South Bend, Indiana, with demonstrated athletic involvement and academic achievement. The scholarship application process is coordinated through the Adams High School Guidance Office, with applications typically due in March each year. This memorial scholarship honors the legacy of Katie McCloskey by supporting student-athletes in pursuing their educational goals.