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.

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.

Benjamin & Cherie Gubin Scholarship

The Benjamin and Cherie Gubin Scholarship was established in 2005 through a bequest from the Benjamin Gubin estate to provide funding for graduate education. This one-time, non-renewable scholarship award provides $2,500 or more to support graduate students who have a connection to Kalamazoo County. The scholarship is designed to assist current graduate students pursuing graduate degrees who demonstrate financial need and academic excellence with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Scholarship funds may be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance (COA), including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. Payments are sent directly to the institution and distributed across the academic year.

Mildred McConkey Memorial Scholarship

The Mildred McConkey Memorial Scholarship provides financial support to a senior from Kalamazoo Central or Loy Norrix High School and is intended to recognize noteworthy improvement during the student's three to four years of high school coursework in English composition. Additional application materials are required for this scholarship. Friends and family of Mildred McConkey, an English teacher at Kalamazoo Central High School from 1926 to 1958, established this scholarship as a tribute to her in 1983. The scholarship is a one-time, non-renewable award that can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance (COA), including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. Scholarship payments are sent directly to the student's institution and distributed across fall and spring semesters.

Teddick Family Fund Scholarship

The Teddick Family Fund Scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating senior from one of four designated high schools in northeastern Pennsylvania. This scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate academic achievement, good citizenship and service to others, leadership, and community service. The scholarship is administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation and is designed to support graduating seniors from Mountain View High School, Montrose High School, Elk Lake High School, or Lackawanna Trail High School as they pursue higher education. Recipients are selected based on their demonstrated commitment to academic excellence, their contributions to their school and local community, and their leadership qualities.

Portal Technology Research Grant

Aperture Science is offering funding for researchers pushing the boundaries of interdimensional transport technology. We seek proposals addressing quantum tunneling at macroscopic scales, stable wormhole generation, and momentum conservation in non-Euclidean transit systems. "Now you're thinking with portals!" — This grant supports exactly that kind of thinking. Previous recipients have achieved breakthroughs in spatial displacement, though companion cube preservation rates remain a challenge.

Stipend for Children without Glasses

The Stipend for Children without Glasses (SCWG) is a charitable foundation established in 2012 dedicated to supporting youth who have maintained natural visual acuity throughout their developmental years. Founded by optometrist Dr. Helena Brightwell, the organization awards annual grants of $500–$2,000 to children ages 8–17 who demonstrate both exceptional uncorrected vision and academic achievement. The foundation's somewhat tongue-in-cheek mission arose from Dr. Brightwell's observation that while numerous programs exist to provide corrective eyewear to those in need, no recognition existed for children whose genetic fortune and eye-care habits preserved their natural sight. Recipients must submit proof of 20/20 vision or better from a licensed eye care professional, along with a short essay on eye health awareness. The SCWG distributes approximately $150,000 annually across 200 grants and has funded vision health education programs in over 40 schools nationwide.