Fifteen students win scholarship awardscontinued from page 1 Fifteen
Michigan students will head to college this fall with financial assistance
from the Michigan Retailers Association.
They’ll receive a total of $12,250 in scholarships funded by the
Michigan Retailers Foundation, a nonprofit educational organization established
by MRA. The awards are designed to benefit MRA members
and their employees and families. “These young people represent MRA members throughout
the state, from Ironwood to Holland to Southfield,” said Larry Meyer,
MRA chairman and CEO. “Some are retail employees themselves, while
others are children of small-business owners or store employees. We’re
excited to be able to help them advance their education.” MRA scholarship recipients for the 2002-03 school year
are: Elizabeth Darrow, of Cheboygan, daughter of Traci
Darrow, owner of Mackinac Boat Company in Mackinaw City. She is a graduate
of Mackinaw City High School and will be a freshman at Hope College this
fall. Tara Dougherty, of Sault Ste. Marie, daughter of
Patrick Dougherty, owner of National Office Products & Printing Co.
in Sault Ste. Marie. She is a graduate of Sault Area High School and will
be a freshman at Indiana Wesleyan University. Chelsea Finco, of Ironwood, daughter of Vicky Finco,
an employee at Elle Stevens Gifts in Ironwood. She is a graduate of Luther
L. Wright High School and will be a junior at University of Wisconsin–Eau
Claire. Catherine Forgacs, of Britton, an employee at Carol’s
Hallmark in Tecumseh. She is a graduate of Britton-Macon High School and
will be a senior at Eastern Michigan University. Amy Handelman, of West Bloomfield, daughter of
Nancy Handelman, an employee at Knit Knit Knit in West Bloomfield. She
is a graduate of West Bloomfield High School and will be a sophomore at
Michigan State University. Antoinette Mazzoni, of Northville, daughter of
Orin Mazzoni Jr., president of Orin Jewelers Inc. in Garden City. She
is a graduate of Mercy High School and will be a junior at Michigan State
University. Mazzoni received the Foundation’s Raymond A. and
Mildred C. Sobelton scholarship, named for the founders of Churchills
Ltd. She also received an MRA scholarship in 2000. Colleen Meganck, of Rochester Hills, daughter of
Noreen Meganck, an employee at J. Thomas Jewelers in Rochester Hills.
She is a graduate of Notre Dame Preparatory High School and will be a
sophomore at Michigan State University. Elizabeth Miller, of Bloomfield Hills, daughter
of Cynthia Miller, an employee at Elizabeth Stone Gallery in Birmingham.
She is a graduate of Cranbrook Kingswood High School and will be a freshman
at the University of Michigan. Miller received the D. Larry Sherman Scholarship, named
for MRA Board of Directors member and former Chairman D. Larry Sherman. Christopher Pierce, of North Muskegon, son of Gregory
Pierce, an employee at Bell’s of Whitehall in Whitehall. He is a
graduate of North Muskegon High School and will be a junior at Eastern
Michigan University. Melissa Powers, of Allen, daughter of Paul Powers,
co-owner of Powers Clothing Inc. in Jonesville. She is a graduate of Jonesville
High School and will be a senior at Hillsdale College. Powers received the Nathan Rosenfeld Scholarship, named
for the founder of Jacobson Stores, Inc. She also received an MRA scholarship
last year. Stephanie Reisner, of Presque Isle, daughter of
Stephen Reisner, owner of Northland Interiors in Alpena. She is a graduate
of Alpena High School and will be a sophomore at Central Michigan University.
She also received an MRA scholarship last year. Erin Russell, of Wyoming, daughter of Kenneth Russell,
co-owner of Russell & Ballard Jewelers in Wyoming. She is a graduate
of Fruitport High School and will be a senior at Grace College. Gwen Trethewey, of Holland, daughter of Lori Trethewey,
an employee at Hope College in Holland. She is a graduate of Holland High
School and will be a sophomore at Michigan State University. Calise Tucker, of Southfield,
daughter of Calvin Tucker, owner of Tee Shirts Galore & More in Detroit.
She is a graduate of Southfield High School and will be a sophomore at
the University of Michigan. She also received an MRA scholarship last
year. Jillian Wingerter, of Commerce Township, daughter
of Jerry Wingerter, vice president of Bon Ton Shoppe in Brighton. She
is a graduate of Lakeland High School and will be a freshman at Saginaw
Valley State University. Wingerter received the Retailers Fund Scholarship, established
by MRA’s self-funded workers’ compensation insurance program. MRA’s scholarship program is managed by Scholarship
Program Administrators, Inc., in Nashville, Tennessee. The recipients
are selected by a panel of educators based on above-average academic achievement
and extracurricular involvement, which can include part-time employment.
Financial need is not a consideration. Public university students receive $750 and private college
students receive $1,000. Despite growth in the foundation’s assets this year,
declining interest rates limited the amount of funds available for awards,
keeping the number and total value of scholarships the same as in 2001.
Still, the program has grown significantly since the MRA
Board of Directors revamped the program in 1999 to focus on assisting
members and their employees. Six scholarships were awarded in 1999 and
eight in 2000, compared to 15 in each of the last two years. “MRA continues to work toward increasing the foundation’s assets to pave the way for future growth in the scholarship program,” said Meyer. |