Discover Funding Opportunities

E. Earl Wright Scholarship

The E. Earl Wright Scholarship supports students with work experience pursuing a 2-year degree or vocational/trade certification. This award was originally established by friends and family of Dr. E. Earl Wright as the E. Earl Wright Community Achievement Award Fund to honor community activist Dr. Wright. The award recognized someone who had contributed to improved quality of life in areas such as education, community service, community management, research and evaluation and problem-solving in Kalamazoo County. In 2002, the Steering Committee of the E. Earl Wright Community Achievement Award voted to change the fund to a scholarship fund named the E. Earl Wright Scholarship Fund. This is a multiyear scholarship eligible to repeat annually up to 2 times for students enrolled full-time in associate's degree programs or vocational/trade certifications. Students must be residents of Kalamazoo County or graduated from a high school within Kalamazoo County, have a minimum 2.0 GPA, demonstrate financial need, and have work experience.

George L. Disborough Trout Unlimited Research Grant

This research grant was established by the Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited for the purpose of recognizing and supporting studies of trout habitat or other projects consistent with the goals and objectives of Trout Unlimited. The grant is administered by the Kalamazoo Community Foundation and provides up to $3,000 for graduate students conducting research on trout habitat or related conservation projects. The goals of the sponsoring organization include preserving wild rivers, cleaning up polluted waters, maintaining early warning Water Quality Surveillance programs, educating the public through workshops and seminars, and speaking for the concerns of all anglers and conservationists. This is a one-time, non-renewable award that can be applied to any items under the recipient's school's cost of attendance.

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.