Discover Funding Opportunities

High on Heroes Scholarship

The High on Heroes Scholarship was established in 1993 by High on Heroes Inc. (a local air show) to provide scholarship assistance for post-high school education for family members of law enforcement, firefighters, public safety, and emergency personnel employed in Kalamazoo County. Special consideration will be given to applicants who are related to persons who died while employed by a qualifying agency. Even greater consideration may be given to applicants related to an employee who died in the line of duty. This is a multiyear scholarship that is eligible to repeat annually up to 4 times. The scholarship funds can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance (COA) such as tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. Scholarship payments are sent directly to the educational institution and split evenly between fall and spring semesters.

Clarence L. Remynse Scholarship

This scholarship fund was established in honor of Clarence L. Remynse, a Kalamazoo native and successful business owner, to support Kalamazoo County residents pursuing a bachelor's degree. His legacy of hard work, community involvement, and commitment to education continues through this fund, which aims to help students achieve their academic and professional goals. The scholarship is a multiyear award, renewable annually for up to 4 years. The scholarship may be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance (COA), including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, health insurance, etc. Scholarship payments are sent directly to the student's institution in one check for the full academic year and split evenly between fall and spring semesters.

William R. Steers Kalamazoo Community Foundation Scholarship

The William R. Steers Kalamazoo Community Foundation Scholarship was established to assist high school seniors from Kalamazoo County who plan to attend Albion College. This one-time award of $1,500 is designed to support students with demonstrated financial need and strong academic performance. William Steers began his college education in 1939 at Albion College, but left during World War II to attend the United States Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1945. He commanded a minesweeper during the Korean War and was awarded the Bronze Star. William Steers served as the president of Kalamazoo Creamery Company for 20 years and was an active member of American Business Clubs. The scholarship can be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. While the initial KZCF award is one-time, the scholarship is eligible to repeat annually up to 4 years with the last 3 years funded through Albion College.

Mary Ruth Robinson Scholarship

This scholarship fund was established to provide financial assistance for higher education to Kalamazoo Central students who have demonstrated a genuine excitement about, and enthusiasm for, education. The scholarship is designed to support students pursuing bachelor's degrees (4-year programs) at accredited institutions. Recipients must be Kalamazoo Central High School graduating seniors or graduates who maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA and demonstrate financial need. The scholarship emphasizes supporting students who show genuine passion and enthusiasm for their educational pursuits. This multiyear scholarship can be renewed annually for up to 5 years, with awards of $2,000 or more per year. Scholarship funds may be applied to any items under the school's cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance.

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.

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.

Peter & Inez Schonveld Scholarship

This scholarship was established through a bequest from the estate of Inez Schonveld to provide scholarship assistance to graduating high school seniors and graduates of the Kalamazoo Public School District. The scholarship provides financial support of $1000 or more as a one-time, non-renewable award to help students pursue their educational goals. Students must demonstrate financial need, determination, and good citizenship. The scholarship can be used for any items under the school's cost of attendance including tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, and health insurance. It is open to students pursuing various educational paths including associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, graduate degrees, and vocational/trade certifications at any institution. Both full-time and part-time enrollment is acceptable.

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.

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.

Jack & Helen Benjamin Scholarship

The Jack & Helen Benjamin Scholarship is awarded to graduating seniors at Mishawaka High School who plan to pursue full-time undergraduate studies at accredited colleges or universities in Indiana. This renewable scholarship is designed to support students who demonstrate solid academic performance but are not necessarily in the top tier of their graduating class, with preference given to candidates not in the top 5% of their class. The scholarship provides financial support for tuition and fees, recognizing students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. Four new awards are given each year through the Mishawaka Senior Award Principal's Committee, and recipients can renew their scholarships for up to four years, providing sustained support throughout their undergraduate education.

Russell J. O'Malley and James E. O'Brien Memorial Scholarship

The Russell J. O'Malley and James E. O'Brien Memorial Scholarship Award honors the memory of Russell J. O'Malley and James E. O'Brien who were long term, active and revered members of the Country Club of Scranton. This scholarship is awarded to a qualified Country Club of Scranton employee who is attending a secondary or post-secondary educational institution. The scholarship provides financial support to help employees of the Country Club of Scranton pursue their educational goals at secondary or post-secondary levels.

Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company Scholarship Fund

This scholarship fund was established in December 2024 to support educational expenses for customers or the children/dependents of customers of Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company who intend to pursue secondary education. The fund supports ten $1,000 scholarships awarded annually to graduating high school seniors who are customers of Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company, or who have a parent or guardian who is a customer, and who plan to pursue postsecondary education. Recipients must be customers or children/dependents of customers of the bank and must plan to pursue secondary education.

Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company Scholarship Award

The Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company Scholarship Award consists of ten $1,000 scholarships awarded annually to graduating high school seniors who are customers of Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company, or who have a parent or guardian who is a customer, and who plan to pursue postsecondary education. This scholarship is administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation and provides financial support to help students transition to college or other postsecondary educational programs. The award is designed to support students in the Scranton area community who have a banking relationship with Peoples Security Bank and Trust Company, helping to make higher education more accessible to local families.

Pay-It-Forward Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to a sophomore, junior, or senior attending Penn State University as a full-time student who is a permanent resident of Lackawanna county, who is employed full-time at Penn State through work-study or an outside employer and continues working as a full time student, and who has maintained a GPA of 2.5 or higher. The scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate a commitment to both their education and work responsibilities. A unique aspect of this scholarship is the pay-it-forward commitment: when the recipient is in a position to do so in the future, he or she must commit to offering a similar scholarship opportunity to others. This creates a legacy of giving that extends beyond the initial award and helps support future generations of students facing similar circumstances.