Investing in the future: Grand Haven Community Foundation awards $1.1M to 234 students
More than 200 local students are heading into the upcoming school year with a major financial boost, thanks to a record-setting wave of support from local donors.
GRAND HAVEN — More than 200 local students are heading into the upcoming school year with a major financial boost, thanks to a record-setting wave of support from local donors.
The Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, alongside its affiliates in Allendale and Coopersville, announced it awarded over $1.1 million in scholarships to 234 students across the region this spring. Recipients, their families, and donors gathered recently to celebrate the awards at the foundation’s annual Scholarship Ice Cream Social.
The funding supports a wide range of post-secondary paths, including traditional four-year universities, community colleges, trade schools, and professional certification programs. Selection criteria varied, weighing factors such as academic merit, financial need, career track, leadership, and community service.
This year's cohort includes 50 first-generation college students, 47 two-year award winners, and three students receiving four-year commitments. Several previous recipients receiving renewal funds were also honored at the event.
"This is one of our favorite events of the year because it brings together students, families, and donors to celebrate the impact of education and philanthropy," said GHACF President and CEO Hadley Streng.
"Each scholarship represents someone in our community choosing to invest in a student's future, and it is inspiring to see the opportunities that investment creates."
Streng emphasized that the financial aid carries a broader message for local youth. "When students receive a scholarship from the Foundation, they are receiving more than financial assistance," she said. "They are receiving encouragement from a community that believes in their potential and wants to see them succeed."
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Established in 1971, the GHACF serves Northern Ottawa County and ranks as the eighth-largest community foundation in Michigan. Together with its Allendale and Coopersville branches, the foundation manages charitable funds created by local families, businesses, and organizations aimed at removing financial barriers to higher education.
— Submitted by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation. To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
