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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.

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.

Jim Strehlow Scholarship

The Jim Strehlow Scholarship was established by William James Strehlow to provide financial assistance for graduating Parchment High School seniors who have demonstrated personal growth throughout their high school years and plan to attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College. The scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate improvement in motivation and achievement in high school, along with responsibility, a positive attitude, and strong work ethic. This multiyear scholarship awards $500 or more annually and can renew for up to 2 times. Recipients must demonstrate financial need and be residents of the Parchment School District. The scholarship can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance.

Coquillard Family Scholarship

The Coquillard Family Scholarship provides financial assistance to students from St. Joseph County who are attending Ivy Tech State College at the South Bend campus. This scholarship is designed to support both full-time and part-time students who are 35 years old or younger. The scholarship may only be used for South Bend campus coursework and helps reduce the financial burden of pursuing higher education at a community college level. Awards are distributed on a semester basis, with amounts varying based on enrollment status. The number of scholarships awarded each year depends on available funds, and interested students must complete the Ivy Tech Scholarship Application by the April 1 deadline.

Chas W. Cole Scholarship

The Chas W. Cole Scholarship provides financial assistance to undergraduate students from St. Joseph County, Indiana or adjacent Indiana counties who rank below the top 10% of their graduating high school class and demonstrate financial need. The scholarship is administered through the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County and is available to students attending IU South Bend and Purdue Polytechnic South Bend. Award amounts vary based on the determined need of the chosen applicants and the number of credit hours enrolled. Funds may be used for tuition and fees, books, and parking. IU South Bend students may request additional funds for childcare expenses, and all recipients may apply for additional funding for summer school enrollment. The scholarship is renewable upon successful completion of coursework, requiring recipients to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and complete at least 80% of classes enrolled in. The number of awards granted each year depends on available funds. Applications are accepted twice annually with deadlines of April 1st and November 1st, and applicants must complete the FAFSA to demonstrate financial need.