Discover Funding Opportunities

Kalamazoo Public Library Amanda Green Scholarship

The goal of this scholarship, named after a longtime library assistant in Teen Services, is to promote the library profession to people of color. By providing monetary assistance to individuals, KPL hopes to promote the hiring of more librarians of color either at home or in other communities. Amanda Green worked at KPL for 23 years, from 1998 to 2012. Many of those years she spent in Teen Services, working to give all teens the opportunity to improve their lives. Her passion for KPL's mission to support and mentor teens has been passed on for years. In 2016, the Kalamazoo Public Library board passed a resolution that reaffirms the library's commitment to address equal justice under the law, racial justice, and institutional racism, social-economic divisions in the community and human dignity for all through programs, services, policies, practices and the empowerment of staff. This multiyear scholarship is eligible to repeat annually up to 2 years if enrolled full-time or up to 4 years if enrolled part-time.

Duane Roberts Scholarship

The Duane Roberts Scholarship was established in memory of Duane Roberts, a Kalamazoo Public Schools graduate, community activist, and KPS Board of Education member, to provide scholarship support to KPS minority students. This scholarship provides financial assistance of $1000 or more to Kalamazoo Public Schools graduating seniors who are minorities, demonstrate financial need, and show a commitment to social justice. The scholarship 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, and health insurance. Scholarship payments are sent directly to the student's institution and can be used alongside other scholarships or funding the student may receive.

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.

Officer Paul R. Deguch Memorial Scholarship

The Officer Paul R. Deguch Memorial Scholarship is an annual scholarship program offered through the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County to support students pursuing undergraduate degrees in Criminal Justice at Indiana University South Bend. This memorial scholarship honors the legacy of Officer Paul R. Deguch by providing financial assistance to qualifying students from St. Joseph County who are committed to the study of criminal justice. The scholarship provides $1,500 per year to help cover tuition and required fees for eligible students who demonstrate academic achievement with a minimum 2.5 GPA. One award is granted annually to a resident of St. Joseph County enrolled in the Criminal Justice program at IU South Bend. Applicants must complete the Indiana University South Bend Scholarship Application and may obtain additional information from the IU South Bend College of Liberal Arts and Sciences office or the Department of Criminal Justice.