Berrien Community Foundation is helping college-bound students start building the foundation of their lives by awarding $368,000 in scholarships this year.
Berrien Community Foundation awarded scholarships at its annual Scholarship Celebration this week at Grand Upton Hall at Lake Michigan College. This year’s theme, “Building Blocks of Life,” celebrates the next step in many students’ lives: going off to college. The foundation awards scholarships to high school seniors, adults returning to the classroom and current college students.
“Many of our scholars are taking the next step in life to create a foundation that will forever shape them,” said Berrien Community Foundation President Lisa Cripps-Downey said. “College is so expensive. Thanks to our generous donors, we can celebrate these students and help them on their journeys.”
Two scholarship programs were added to the family of scholarships Berrien Community Foundation offers each year: Steven Marsh and Family Scholarship, and the James and Bernadette McKittrick Agricultural and Environmental Scholarship. To date, more than $3.8 million has been awarded in scholarships since the scholarship program began.
BCF scholarships are established by donors to support students who excel in academics, community service, the arts, or are pursuing a particular career path.
“Each year, we receive hundreds of scholarship applications from graduating seniors, current college students and adults looking to return to the classroom,” said BCF Program Director Susan Matheny. “This year, there were over 1,000 applications! We’re so appreciative of our community volunteers who sit on committees, review applications, and make award recommendations. They help because they know the value these scholarships bring to students.”
For a listing of scholarship winners, visit www.berriencommunity.org
