Discover Funding Opportunities

William T. Nuyen Scholarship

The William T. Nuyen Scholarship was established to provide financial assistance to students planning to pursue a degree in aviation or engineering at Western Michigan University. This multiyear scholarship award of up to $2,000 is renewable annually for up to 2 additional years. The scholarship is administered by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation and is available to high school seniors and current undergraduate students who are residents of Kalamazoo County or graduated/graduating from a high school within Kalamazoo County. Recipients must demonstrate financial need and be enrolled full-time in a bachelor's degree program in aviation at Western Michigan University. Scholarship payments are sent directly to the institution and can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance.

Phyllis A. Nuyen Scholarship

This scholarship fund was established to provide financial support to students planning to pursue a degree in nursing or occupational therapy at Western Michigan University. The scholarship provides up to $2,000 annually and is a multiyear award that renews annually up to 2 times. Recipients must be residents of Kalamazoo County or have graduated from a high school within Kalamazoo County, maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA, demonstrate financial need, and be studying nursing or occupational therapy at Western Michigan University. The scholarship is available to high school seniors enrolling full-time in a bachelor's degree program. Scholarship payments are sent directly to the institution and can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance.

Welch's/National Grape Cooperative Scholarship

This company-sponsored scholarship offers financial support for higher education for students with a connection to Welch's or the National Grape Cooperative. The scholarship was established by Welch's to provide financial support for higher education to children or grandchildren of employees of the Welch's plant in Lawton, Michigan; or children or grandchildren of members of the National Grape Cooperative who reside in Allegan, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, Kent or Van Buren County. This is a multiyear scholarship that is eligible to repeat annually up to 2 times. The scholarship award is $1,000 and can be applied to any items under your school's cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. Payments are sent directly to the institution and split between fall and spring semesters.

Glen C. Smith Jr./KCC Caddie Scholarship

The Glen C. Smith Jr./KCC Caddie Scholarship was established at the Kalamazoo Community Foundation in 1985 by the Kalamazoo Country Club Caddie Committee in honor of Glen Smith, Jr. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide scholarship assistance to young people in qualified caddie programs at member clubs of the Golf Association of Michigan and the Western Golf Association. This multiyear scholarship provides financial assistance to students pursuing associates degrees, bachelor's degrees, or vocational/trade certifications. Awards are renewable annually 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. Scholarship payments are sent directly to the recipient's educational institution and split between fall and spring semesters.

Dr. Jack & Charlene Sauer Scholarship

This scholarship was established by Dr. Jack and Charlene Sauer to support scholarships for higher education for graduating high school seniors from Schoolcraft High School who plan to enroll in a Michigan vocational or technical school or a two- or four-year college or university. The scholarship provides up to $1,000 annually and is renewable for up to four years. Recipients must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, demonstrate financial need, and attend a college or program in Michigan. The scholarship can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance.

Aldrich Focus on Science Scholarship

The Aldrich Focus on Science Scholarship was established in honor and memory of D. Scott Aldrich, supporting students from Kalamazoo County pursuing studies in science. This scholarship provides $3,000 in financial assistance to students majoring in science fields, with a preference for those studying Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Pharmaceutical Science. Scott Aldrich was a Western Michigan University graduate who pursued a career in microscopy and trace analysis techniques with pharmaceutical companies including Upjohn, Pharmacia, and Pfizer. He was passionate about advancing pharmaceutical quality standards and solving scientific problems. This scholarship honors his legacy by supporting the next generation of science students who demonstrate financial need and are residents of or graduates from Kalamazoo County. 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.

Ronald C. Cavanaugh Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship honors the legacy of Ronald C. Cavanaugh by supporting current undergrads from Kalamazoo County attending Haworth College of Business at Western Michigan University. Established in 1994 by the family of Ronald Cavanaugh, this scholarship commemorates his memory. A Kalamazoo native, Cavanaugh earned a degree in business administration from Western Michigan University in 1967 and enjoyed a successful career in the paper industry, culminating in the ownership of The Spartan Paperboard Company. The scholarship provides financial assistance to students who are residents of Kalamazoo County or graduated from a high school within Kalamazoo County, maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA, demonstrate financial need, and are attending Haworth College of Business at Western Michigan University. This is a one-time, non-renewable award of $1,500 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.

Roy G. Walters Memorial Scholarship

The Roy G. Walters Memorial Scholarship was established in 1995 to provide financial support for higher education to students who have participated in athletics as well as school and community activities. This scholarship honors Roy G. Walters, a celebrated coach, athlete, and 1992 inductee into the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame. The scholarship supports high school seniors from Kalamazoo County who demonstrate involvement in athletics and school and community activities, with financial need taken into consideration. This 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.

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.

Frank & Hildegrade Goodrich Family Scholarship

The Frank and Hildegarde Goodrich Family Scholarship Fund was established through gifts from Frank, Jr.; Walter; and Elizabeth; the children of Frank and Hildegarde Goodrich. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide meaningful financial support to incoming junior and senior undergraduate students and incoming or current graduate students enrolled at Western Michigan University, Michigan State University, the University of Colorado, and the University of Wisconsin. These are universities from which the family members received degrees. The scholarship aims to support students who are residents of Kalamazoo County or graduated from a high school within Kalamazoo County, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, demonstrate financial need, and show participation in college and community activities with work experience. This is a one-time, non-renewable award that provides $2,500 or more in financial assistance to help students cover their school's cost of attendance.

Jean Hunse Scholarship

The Jean Hunse Scholarship was established in honor of Jean Hunse, who became a certified public accountant in 1943, started and later served as president of the American Association of Women CPA's, and opened her own accounting firm in Kalamazoo in 1977. This scholarship provides financial assistance to students studying business at Western Michigan University. The award is a one-time, non-renewable scholarship of $1,000 or more that is sent directly to the institution. Students must be residents of Kalamazoo County or have graduated from a high school within Kalamazoo County, maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA, demonstrate financial need, be a business major (with preference for accounting), and be a college junior, senior, or fifth-year senior. The scholarship can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance.

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.

David & Priscilla Morris Scholarship

The David and Priscilla Morris Scholarship was established to provide tuition support for Black or African American students attending Western Michigan University. This scholarship provides financial assistance for students enrolled in bachelor's or graduate degree programs at WMU. Eligible students must be residents of Kalamazoo County or graduates of a high school within Kalamazoo County and demonstrate financial need. The scholarship is a one-time, non-renewable award of $4,500 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 institution and typically split evenly between fall and spring semesters.

Matthew VanderSalm Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship was established by John and Cathryn VanderSalm in memory of their son Matthew, a 1988 graduate of Gull Lake High School. The award is intended to recognize an outstanding senior defenseman in the South Central High School Hockey League who displays the highest degree of sportsmanship, skill, and team play during his high school career. The scholarship provides a one-time award of $2,500 to high school seniors who are defensemen on a Southwest Michigan High School Hockey League team and demonstrate financial need. Recipients must be pursuing an Associate's or Bachelor's degree at an accredited institution. This non-renewable scholarship may be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. Payments are sent directly to the recipient's institution and split evenly between fall and spring semesters.

Weber Specialties Company Scholarship

This scholarship was established by the Weber Specialties Company located in Schoolcraft, Michigan to support students pursuing a certificate or two-year or four-year degree in a manufacturing curriculum. The scholarship provides financial assistance of $500 or more to students pursuing manufacturing-related fields such as Manufacturing Technology, Manufacturing Engineering, Integrated Supply Management, or Engineering Graphics and Design Technology. Applicants must be residents of Kalamazoo County or graduating from or graduated from a high school within Kalamazoo County and demonstrate financial need. This is 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, health insurance, and other educational expenses. Scholarship payments are sent directly to the educational institution and distributed between fall and spring semesters.

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.

Brian Thiele Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship, established by family and friends in memory of Brian Thiele, provides financial assistance to students who exhibit characteristics similar to those for which Brian is so fondly remembered. This includes playing varsity and/or club soccer, achievement of personal and academic goals, overcoming obstacles to meet his goals, competitive spirit, leadership and a special caring for community. The scholarship is available to students pursuing associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, or vocational/trade certifications. Recipients must be residents of Kalamazoo County or graduates from a high school within Kalamazoo County, demonstrate financial need, have four years of participation on a soccer team during high school, and demonstrate competitive spirit, leadership, and a desire to give back to others. Brian Arthur Thiele was born September 16, 1971 in Kalamazoo, MI. He was finishing a degree in Logistics Management at Western Michigan University when, at the age of 22, his life was cut short as a result of an in-line skating accident while interning in Isny, Germany. Brian, a 1990 graduate of Portage Northern High School, spent four years on the varsary soccer team. Although he loved to play the game, he found just as much, if not more, excitement and pleasure on the sideline coaching. This scholarship honors his legacy of dedication to soccer, leadership, and community service.

Ronald F. Shepard Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship was established to provide financial assistance to students pursuing an undergraduate degree in engineering who exhibit the following characteristics for which 'Shep' is so fondly remembered: a relentless curiosity, a spirit of collaboration, a drive for innovation, and a commitment to learning, creating and growing alongside others. The scholarship is a multiyear award that renews annually for $1,000 and is available to high school seniors, current undergraduates, and graduate students enrolled in engineering programs. Applicants must be residents of or graduates from Kalamazoo County or Van Buren County in Michigan, maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, and demonstrate financial need. The scholarship payments are sent directly to the student's institution and can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance.

Anita F. Boorda Scholarship for the Performing Arts

The Anita F. Boorda Scholarship for the Performing Arts provides financial support to high school seniors who plan to pursue a degree in Performing Arts, Music, Theatre, Dance, or Production. The scholarship offers up to $2,500 annually and is renewable for up to four years, making it a valuable long-term investment in students' performing arts education. Applicants must be residents of specific counties in Indiana or Michigan, graduate with a minimum 2.5 GPA, and plan to attend an accredited college or university for full-time study in the performing arts. Preference is given to students who have been actively engaged in the performing arts during their high school career. The scholarship is administered through the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County's centralized application process, which provides access to over 20 scholarship opportunities through a single application.