Twenty-two students win
scholarship awards

A record 22 Michigan students will head to college this fall with a total of $22,000 in financial assistance from the Michigan Retailers Association.

They’ll each receive a $1,000 scholarship 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.

Last year, 15 scholarships were awarded, many of them for $750. The greater number and higher award amounts are the result of the foundation’s “Links to a Legacy” fundraising campaign.

“We’re pleased to be meeting our goal of giving larger awards to more students,” said Larry Meyer, MRA chairman and CEO. “As this program continues to grow, it becomes an even more valuable benefit of MRA membership.”

MRA scholarship recipients for the 2004-05 school year are:

Caroline Baas, of Holland, daughter of Paul Anderson, an employee at Hope College in Holland. She is a graduate of Holland High School and will be a sophomore at Michigan State University in East Lansing in the fall.

Carolyn Commer, of Grosse Pointe Park, daughter of Kent Commer, an employee at The Little Book Shoppe in Plymouth. She is a graduate of Grosse Pointe South High School and will be a sophomore at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. She received an MRA scholarship last year as well.

Jacob Cook, of Grandville, son of Gary Cook, an employee at Stamm Equipment Co. in Wayland. He is a graduate of Grandville High School and will be a sophomore at Michigan State University in East Lansing in the fall.

Cook received the Foundation’s Raymond A. and Mildred C. Sobelton Scholarship, named for the founders of Churchills Ltd.

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 junior at Hope College in Holland. She won MRA scholarships in 2002 and 2003 as well.

Darrow received the Michigan Retailers Services, Inc., Scholarship, funded by contributions from the wholly owned subsidiary of MRA that delivers services to the membership.

Nina Duflo, of Carson City, an employee at Carson City Apothecary Shoppe. She is a graduate of Carson City-Crystal High School and will be a freshman at Michigan State University in East Lansing in the fall.

Duflo received the new Target Corporation Scholarship, funded by contributions from Target and MRA board member Joe Swanson, Target’s district team leader for north metro Detroit.

Joshua Ghiringhelli, of Elk Rapids, son of Louis Ghiringhelli, owner of River Pharmacy in Elk Rapids. He is a graduate of Elk Rapids High School and will be a freshman at Ferris State University in Big Rapids in the fall.

Lauren Green, of Canton, daughter of Michael Green, an employee at Newton Furniture in Livonia. She is a graduate of Canton High School and will be a sophomore at Madonna University in Livonia in the fall.

Green received the Retailers Fund Scholarship, funded by contributions from MRA’s self-funded workers’ compensation insurance program.

Laura Gulker, of Holland, an employee at Bumble Bea’s in Holland. She is a graduate of Black River Public School in Holland and will be a freshman at North Park University in Chicago, Illinois, in the fall.

Christopher Harkness, of Middleville, son of Linda Harkness, an employee at Grand Rapids Store Fixture in Grand Rapids. He is a graduate of Thornapple Kellogg High School and will be a freshman at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant in the fall.

Joshua Hoag, of Holland, son of Denise Beyer, an employee at Berends Hendricks Stuit in Grandville. He is valedictorian for the class of 2004 at Holland High School and will be a freshman at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in the fall.

Lance Jones, of Saranac, son of Lee Jones, owner of Jones Farm Market in Saranac. He is a graduate of Saranac High School and will be a sophomore at Wayne State University in Detroit in the fall.

Katherine Mason, of Grand Rapids, daughter of Paula Mason, an employee at Papers Plus in Grand Rapids. She is a graduate of East Grand Rapids High School and will be a sophomore at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor this fall.

David (DJ) Mocini II, of Saugatuck, son of Kimberly Bell-Mocini, an employee at Bell Furniture & Appliance in Rockford. He is a graduate of Saugatuck High School and will be a freshman in the fall; he will decide between two colleges in late June.

Mocini received the Nathan Rosenfeld Scholarship, named for the founder of Jacobson Stores, Inc.

Trevor Paull, of Grand Rapids, son of Christine Paull, an employee at National Personnel Associates in Kentwood. He is a graduate of City High School in Grand Rapids and will be a freshman at Michigan Technological University in Houghton.

Brian Rozema, of Zeeland, son of Chuck Rozema, owner of Northgate Furniture & Appliance in Holland. He is a graduate of Holland Christian High School and will be a junior at Calvin College in Grand Rapids in the fall.

Christina Sadler, of Clare, daughter of Diane Sadler, owner of Apple Tree Lane in Clare. She is a graduate of Clare High School and will be a freshmen at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in the fall.

Kimberly Sams, of Davison, an employee at Rite Aid in Davison. She is a graduate of Davison High School and will be a freshman at Ferris State University in Big Rapids in the fall.

Kelli Scharphorn, of Wyoming, an employee at Crossroads Bible Institute in Grandville. She is a graduate of Calvin Christian High School and will be a freshman at Grand Valley State University in Allendale in the fall.

Miller Tinkerhess, of Ann Arbor, son of Paul Tinkerhess, owner of Fourth Ave Birkenstock in Ann Arbor. He is a graduate of Community High School in Ann Arbor and will be a freshman at Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio in the fall.

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 senior at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in the fall.

Tucker received the D. Larry Sherman Scholarship, named for MRA Board of Directors member and former chairman D. Larry Sherman. This is her fourth year to receive the scholarship.

Jennifer Tuttle, of Essexville, an employee at Cherubs, Inc., in Bay City. She is a graduate of Garber High School in Essexville and will be a freshman at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in the fall.

Danielle VanHouten, of Marion, daughter of Daniel VanHouten, an employee at Steve’s Tire Service in Marion. She is valedictorian of the class of 2004 at McBain Rural Agricultural High School in McBain and will be a freshman at Northwood University in Midland in the fall.

MRA’s scholarship program is managed by Scholarship Program Administrators, Inc., in Nashville, Tennessee. A panel of educators selects the recipients based on above-average academic achievement and extracurricular involvement, which can include part-time employment. Financial need is not a consideration.

Links to a Legacy builds Foundation

In late 2002, the MRA Board of Directors kicked off a fundraising strategy to boost giving to Michigan Retailers Foundation. The golf-themed “Links to a Legacy” campaign advances the Association’s goal of more than doubling the foundation’s assets to $1 million in order to continue aggressive growth in the scholarship program.

To date, the campaign has reached 65 percent of its goal. Foundation assets have grown to more than $800,000.

The “Links to a Legacy” campaign encourages sustained, cumulative giving to the foundation by rewarding contributors with increased levels of recognition as contributors move up through the various giving levels.

Levels range from Medalists (under $1000) to the Legacy Club ($10,000 or more in cumulative gifts). Contributors at the Legacy Club level will have an annual scholarship named for them or their business and earn a spot on a “Wall of Fame” at MRA’s Lansing headquarters.

Michigan Retailers Foundation is a nonprofit organization, so contributions are tax-deductible. To contribute, contact MRA’s Retha Lachance at 800.366.3699 or rlachance@retailers.com.

MRA thanks all the individuals and businesses who supported Michigan Retailers Foundation with contributions in the past year.