Michigan Retailers Foundation Announces Winners of $49,000 in Scholarships for 2025-26 School Year

Michigan Retailers Association is awarding 14 college students with scholarships totaling $49,000 for the 2025-26 academic year. The awards are funded by the Michigan Retailers Foundation, the mission of which has always been to support the educational advancement of retail employees.

The following $3,500 scholarships were awarded:

• (7) Michigan Retailers Association Legacy Scholarship
• Paul M. Felice and Al Kessel Platinum Legacy Scholarship
• Helen McCurry Platinum Legacy Scholarship
• Jean L. Sarasin Platinum Legacy Scholarship
• D. Larry Sherman Platinum Legacy Scholarship
• Raymond A. and Mildred C. Sobelton Platinum Legacy Scholarship
• Joseph Swanson Platinum Legacy Scholarship
• Walsh Family Platinum Legacy Scholarship

To be eligible, recipients must be an employee of a MRA member business or the dependent of an owner or employee of a member business. Students apply between January 1 and April 1 each year for the scholarships.

The program’s totals have now reached $793,750 awarded to 652 recipients since 1999, when the current program format began. Scholarship recipients were chosen by a third-party administrator – Kaleidoscope.

Contributions to the MRA Foundation come from MRA members, directors and employees, and other donors.  

Information for each student is listed in this order: hometown; business where the student or parent works; business location; college or university; major; and class status; award name; donors:

Margaret Clark, Portage
Centric Care Navigators/Hospice of SW Michigan, Kalamazoo
Wayne State University, Nursing, Sophomore
Raymond A. and Mildred C. Sobelton Platinum Legacy Scholarship

• Established by Peter Sobelton and family, Barbara and Douglas Stranahan. Peter is former owner of Sundries Plus and Churchill’s Ltd. tobacco and gift stores in Birmingham. Peter currently serves as Treasurer of the MRA Board, and Director of the RIC Board.

Elizabeth Davis, Traverse City
Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools, Traverse City
Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, TX), Secondary Education, Freshman
Jean L. Sarasin Platinum Legacy Scholarship

• Jean is retired Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Michigan Retailers Association and Retailers Insurance Company (RIC) and currently serves as Chair on the RIC Board of Directors. She was first elected in 1997.

Lily Deja, Mount Pleasant
Scotland Oil, Alma
Western Michigan University, Supply Chain Management, Sophomore
Larry Sherman Platinum Legacy Scholarship (Also won in 2023, 2024)

• D. Larry Sherman is retired president of the former Sherman Shoes, Inc., Birmingham. He served as Chair of the MRA Board from 1987-1988.

Emily Falker, Houghton
Swift’s Hardware, Houghton
Northern Michigan University, Elementary Education, Sophomore
Michigan Retailers Association Legacy Scholarship
Made possible by donations from: 

• Bo Brines and Family; Bo is president and owner of Little Forks Outfitters, an Orvis shop and retailer of quality fly fishing equipment and outdoor clothing, located in downtown Midland. He currently serves on the MRA Board of Directors.
• Thomas Ungrodt, President of TDU Consulting, LLC. Tom serves on the MRA and Retailers Insurance Company boards. He was first elected in 2007.

Emmitt Felter, Charlevoix
Country Casuals, Petoskey
Michigan State University, Engineering, Freshman
Michigan Retailers Association Legacy Scholarship
Made possible by donations from: 

• Rodney and Judy Phillips; Rod owns Country Casuals, in Petoskey, a women’s apparel store. Rod also serves on the Retailers Insurance Company Board of Directors. He was first elected in 1999.
• W. Bruce and Joyce M. Rogers, a long-time retail advocate and community business leader in Traverse City. He served as Chair of the MRA Board of Directors from 1997-1998.
• Kenneth A. and Margaret Schwark, established by their sons James, Tom, and Michael. Kenneth founded Schwark Furniture and the Sycamore Hills Golf Course in Macomb County.

Schaeffer Ott, Stevensville
Ott Insurance, Baroda
Taylor University (Upland, IN), Theater/English Education, Senior
Michigan Retailers Association Legacy Scholarship
Made possible by donations from: 

• James Hallan; Jim is the retired president and CEO of Michigan Retailers Association and currently serves on the Retailers Insurance Company Board of Directors.
• Dan Marshall, in honor of his parents Willis W. and Mary Jane Marshall. Dan Marshall is president of Marshall Music Company, one of the largest full-line music retailers in the country. He currently serves as Director on the MRA and Retailers Insurance Company Boards of Directors. He was first elected in 1998.

Lainey Pavlov, St. Clair
Marysville Truck Equipment, Kimball
Grand Valley State University, Nursing, Junior
Michigan Retailers Association Legacy Scholarship
Made possible by donations from: 

• Andrew Gemmen, co-owner of Gemmen’s Ace Hardware in Hudsonville. Andrew serves on the Retailers Insurance Company Board as Director.
• Jeff and Doreen Joyce; Jeff is president and co-owner of Mieras Family Shoes in Grand Rapids. Jeff served as Retailers Insurance Company Board Chair from 2014-2020. He was first elected to the RIC board in 2010.
• Barb Stein, retired owner of Great Northern Trading Co. in Rockford. Barb served as Chair on the MRA Board of Directors from 2011-12.

Donovan Payne, Traverse City
Meijer, Williamsburg
Grand Valley State University, Hospitality/Tourism Management, Sophomore
Walsh Family Platinum Legacy Scholarship (Also won in 2024)

• Established by Jim and Kathy Walsh. Jim is retired Chief Financial Officer of Meijer, Inc. and former member of the MRA Board of Directors.

Isabella Pickett, Iron Mountain
Iron Mountain Public Schools, Iron Mountain
Bellin College (Green Bay, WI), Nursing, Freshman
Michigan Retailers Association Legacy Scholarship
Made possible by donations from: 

• Bill Golden, co-president of Golden Shoes in Traverse City. Bill currently serves as past Chair of the MRA Board of Directors.
• Nathan Rosenfeld, an owner of the long-time Jacobson Stores Inc. in Jackson.

Callais Schafer, Monroe
Schafer Insurance Agency, Monroe
Louisiana State University, Speech-Language Pathology, Freshman
Michigan Retailers Association Legacy Scholarship
Made possible by donations from: 

• Orin and Tina Mazzoni and Family; Orin is President of Orin Jewelers, Inc., a family-owned business located in Northville. Orin currently serves on the MRA Board of Directors.
• John Mayleben, in honor of his late wife, Linda. John is an expert on credit card processing and retired as Senior VP, Technology and Product Development at MRA in 2016.

Olivia Seif, Grand Rapids
Seif Chiropractic PC, Caledonia
Christendom College (Front Royal, VA), Natural Science, Freshman
Helen McCurry Platinum Legacy Scholarship 

• Established by Joseph McCurry in honor of his late wife. Joe served as store general manager for Sears. He currently serves as Director on the MRA Board of Directors.

Elizabeth Sterling, Farmington Hills
Busch’s Fresh Food Market, West Bloomfield
University of Notre Dame, Marketing/Psychology, Sophomore
Paul M. Felice and Al Kessel Platinum Legacy Scholarship (Also won in 2024)

• Paul M. Felice is former Michigan Grocers Association (MGA) Chairman and Director
• Albert “Al” Kessel, Jr. is the former MGA Director, who founded the Flint-based Kessel Food Market chain.

Lexie Stump, Camden
Stump’s Trucking, Camden
Lansing Community College, General Studies, Freshman
Michigan Retailers Association Legacy Scholarship

Made possible by donations from: 

• Becky Beauchine Kulka, founder and CEO of Becky Beauchine Kulka Diamonds and Fine Jewelry located in Okemos. Becky was first elected to the MRA board in 2011 and served as Board Chair from 2019-2020.
• Larry and Gail Meyer; Larry served as MRA Chairman and CEO from 1972-1989 and again from 1992-2007, following a position as the Director of the State of Michigan Department of Commerce 1989-1990, appointed by Governor James. J. Blanchard. He was named Board Member Emeritus on the MRA Board in 2022.
• Mark Schrag and friends; Mark served on the MRA Board of Directors from 2003-2004. He also owned a home furnishings store, Seasons, located in Okemos.

Kaylie VanderElzen, Saginaw
Kessel Enterprises/Save-A-Lot, Grand Blanc
Saginaw Valley State University, Professional Accounting, Sophomore
Joseph Swanson Platinum Legacy Scholarship

• Joseph Swanson is a retired District Team Leader for Target Corp. He is a Past Chair of the MRA board and was first elected to the MRA Board in 2001. He currently serves on the Michigan Retailers Services, Inc. Board of Directors.

For more information, or to request photos of students, email rschrauben@retailers.com.