With the scholarship application deadline rapidly approaching on March 1, Robin Cowles, our senior scholarship and technology officer, offered a few tips for students working on completing their applications. As always, feel free to contact us any time with questions about the scholarship process!

  • The application will ask for your email address—be sure to use a personal email, not your school email address. We may need to contact you after you graduate and no longer have access to the school email account.
  • Don’t wait until the last minute! Give yourself plenty of time to complete a quality application.
  • Check your essay for appropriate spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Think of it more like an essay you’re writing for English class and not a quick text message to a friend. Find more essay tips HERE.
  • Take enough time to read all questions carefully. For questions with answer options to select, be sure to read through all the options carefully as well to choose the one that best describes your situation or plans.
  • Scholarships can be used for trade schools and apprenticeship programs. In fact, we have several scholarships specifically for students pursuing careers in areas like skilled trades.

Scholarship applications for high school seniors and medical school students are completed online and due March 1. The application for adult students is open year-round; for more information on adult student scholarships, click here.

The deadline for high school seniors to apply for scholarships from Fremont Area Community Foundation is March 1.

Each year, the Community Foundation awards hundreds of scholarships to Newaygo County students seeking to continue their educations. In 2022, the Community Foundation awarded more than $644,000 in scholarships. These scholarships are all created by generous donors and are tailored to address a wide variety of experiences and circumstances, from planned fields of study to community involvement and extracurricular activities.

In addition to scholarships for students planning to attend college or university, the Community Foundation has multiple scholarships created specifically to support students interested in apprenticeships, trade school, certification programs, or other job training programs. Scholarships are available for students pursuing careers in HVAC, building trades, machining, automotive services, and much more.

To apply for scholarships, students complete just one general application online. They are then automatically matched for review for any eligible scholarships.

For more information or to apply, visit facommunityfoundation.org/scholarships. Applications must be submitted no later than March 1.

As summer closes and the crisp air begins, we are delighted at the Community Foundation to see many exciting endeavors taking place. Thank you to the many individuals who gave us feedback as we engage in strategic planning. The trustees and staff are hard at work listening to the community and finding innovative ways to enhance our philanthropy. The Community Foundation belongs to Newaygo County, and we are very cognizant of the legacy we hold and how our work can impact the future. Stay tuned as we will share what we’ve learned and what we have planned as the trustees approve new goals by year’s end.

One another note, it is once again time for College and Career Night Out coming up on September 29. Our scholarship application will open just a few days later on October 1. The Community Foundation trustees and staff are so proud of our commitment to educational success. To learn more about our scholarships, please visit facommunityfoundation.org/scholarships or call us today at 231.924.5350.

And now for a moment of gratitude: “Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”-Voltaire. My first year as president and CEO is nearly complete, and it has been the most rewarding of my career. My family has fallen in love with Newaygo County. Thank you for making us feel welcomed as community members, and for the joy and privilege of serving as president and CEO.

Fremont Area Community Foundation recently created two new awards to help recent graduates overcome barriers to employment: the Graduation Award and the Ready2Work Award .

The Ready2Work Award is designed to help minimize the impact of barriers by providing a one-time award of $250 to students who recently obtained a certificate, credential, or college degree. To be eligible, students must have received a scholarship from the Fremont Area Community Foundation from 2010 to present, live in West Michigan, and must have earned a degree or higher credential. A copy of the certificate or diploma will be required.

“In 2011 the Community Foundation launched Goal 2025 to help local residents obtain career credentials ranging from trade certificates to college degrees,” said Carla Roberts, FACF President and CEO. “To reach this goal we have partnered with our local school districts, NC RESA, and WE CAN! Newaygo County as well as significantly increased the amount of scholarships for adult students returning to school.”

“What we are discovering is that after people finish their program or graduate, there remain basic barriers to getting employment,” added Lindsay Hager, chair of the FACF Board of Trustees. “The needs vary from having the proper tools or attire for their new trade to purchasing clothing to wear to an interview.”

Former scholarship recipients who have achieved their higher education goals but do not live in West Michigan are eligible to apply only for the $50 Graduation Award. Applications for the Ready2Work Award and Graduation Award can be completed online.

“We look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of our graduates,” said Roberts. “The completion of a skilled trade program, certificate program, or college degree is a tremendous investment in oneself. These awards will also allow the Community Foundation to learn about barriers graduates face as they enter the workforce as well as allow us to collect data on the impact of our scholarship program as our county works together to reach Goal 2025.”

More information about both awards can be found here.