Whitmore Lake Community Scholarship Fund

02/08/2024

WL Community Members,

We're thrilled to announce that letters are en route to your mailboxes, inviting your generous contributions to the WL Community Scholarship Fund. 📬 For those who may not have received a letter, no stress! You can donate to the fund below!

https://www.facebook.com/donate/420819583730958/

Your support is invaluable in nurturing the academic pursuits of aspiring scholars within our community. Thus, we kindly invite everyone to join us in playing a part in our student's next steps.

Together, let's pave the way for a brighter future for our deserving students. 💫

And a shoutout to our board members who joined us in the Barb Huang Library for the letter-stuffing fun! Thank you!

12/02/2023

Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far! With just a few days left, let's rally together to reach our goal of 50 donations and keep the Trojan Pride shining bright!! So tag your friends and family in the comments and share to your feed 🙌

Event Link Here: https://fb.me/e/1embEAeWO

11/30/2023

The Battle isn't over yet - our senior cheerleaders have a special rendition of the fight song just for you! Now let's show some school spirit Trojans!!!

"It's the school with THE BEST ALUMNI, hey watch them go! Yeah, WHITMORE GRADUATES, hit them high, hit them low!" 👏

Event Link: https://fb.me/e/1embEAeWO

11/30/2023

Trojans, it is the the start of Day #3 for the Battle of The Decades. There is still plenty of time left, so tag your friends and share! It's comeback time 😎

Event Link Here: https://fb.me/e/1embEAeWO

11/30/2023

Thank you for all who have donated so far! Please enjoy this video from our senior students. Keep up the work Trojans!!!

Event Link Here: https://fb.me/e/1embEAeWO

11/29/2023

It's Day One of the Battle of the Decades!!! Please enjoy this throwback of our WL Teachers taking us through the decades 😄

Which decade had the best dance? Donate now to your favorite decade💃🕺

Event Link Here: https://fb.me/e/1embEAeWO

11/27/2023

It's challenge time!!! This is called the Triple5Challenge:

👉 Step 1: Share this post with 5 of your friends

🌟 Step 2: Challenge them to donate $5 toward our cause. Every donation counts and brings us closer to our goal!

💡 Step 3: Encourage those 5 friends to continue the chain by sharing with 5 more friends each. Let's spread the word and the spirit of giving!

1960s/1970s Fundraiser Link:
https://www.facebook.com/donate/666960465573385/
1980s Fundraiser Link: https://www.facebook.com/donate/336665242310982/
1990s Fundraiser Link: https://www.facebook.com/donate/258044703936745/
2000s Fundraiser Link: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1457137504864049/
2010s/2020s Fundraiser Link: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1155505685854402/

11/22/2023

This Friendsgiving, it's time to rally your friends and gear up for The Battle of the Decades! It isn't just a feast; it's the debut team meeting with your decade. So gather 'round, discuss strategy, and share stories as we prep for the ultimate showdown.

Mark your calendars: The Battle Starts November 28th!

11/14/2023

BOARD UPDATE: We are excited to announce the election of new board members and officers to the Community Scholarship Fund. Join us in welcoming them to the CSF Board.

President: Kelly Henning
Vice President: Shelli Kritzman

Board Members:
Eveliina Taylor
Stacy Tiburzi

The following members have resigned from the board. We thank them for their support and dedication over the years:
-Maria Carter-Ewald (President)
-Angie Wagner (Vice President)
-Natalie Miller
-Jim Preston

07/25/2023

We are sad to share the news of the passing of a beloved member of the Whitmore Lake Public Schools community and long-time Community Scholarship Fund supporter Bill Schongalla. The family has asked in lieu of flowers, those desiring may direct memorial contributions to the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, or the Whitmore Lake Community Scholarship Program.

View William Schongalla III's obituary, send flowers andfind service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/30/2023

The 2000s were victorious once more and Class of 2002 graduate and CSF President, Maria Carter-Ewald, represented the Trojan Pride Battle of the Decades 2023 winners well at this year's award ceremony. Congratulation to scholarship recipients Dalton Bachman, David Patterson and Erin Carr. Thanks to ALL the alumni who participated. We can't wait to see which decade we will be honoring next year!

05/30/2023

Join us in congratulating this year's CSF Scholarship recipients from the Whitmore Lake Public Schools Class of 2023!

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters we awarded $46,000 in scholarships to this year's graduates. Local community groups joined us to award an additional $9,000 in scholarships. We are so proud of this year's recipients and wish them the very best as they pursue their post-secondary plans whether at a university, in the trades, or in the military. A HUGE thank you to our donors who help make this all possible.

04/23/2023

Our final scholarships to feature are our Top Trojan: Above & Beyond scholarships. These are $1,000 awarded traditionally to our top scorers from the blind-judged applications. All tax-deductible donations not made to a specific scholarship are awarded through these scholarships. The number we award is based on the funds we raise. They are a powerful way to reward our students for their dedication to growth and achievement in academics, extracurriculars and personal goals. They are not possible without the continued support of our donors. Thank you very much to all who help make a difference in the lives of WLHS graduates!

We hope you have enjoyed learning more about the specific Scholarships we award with your support. We cannot way to celebrate the Class of 2023 as we give this year's scholarships.

04/23/2023

This Trojan Pride Scholarship is different from the rest in that it is not a $1,000 one-time scholarship. It is a two-year full-ride to Washtenaw Community College scholarship valued at $6,000.

The Trojans Rise Up Scholarship was created in 2021 by WLHS Class of 2007 graduate, Lawrence Savoy, and is awarded every other year. It seeks to award one WLHS graduate who has exceptional talent and natural intellectual potential but faces barriers that could prevent them from realizing their potential and preclude them from pursuing higher education (i.e. lack of funds to pay for school, low self-belief, or low GPA.) Candidates for this scholarship are nominated by their educators. The top three students who receive the most nominations are invited to apply. The WL Community Scholarship Fund Board, WLHS administration, and scholarship founder, Lawrence Savoy, choose the recipient based on their applications. The recipient will receive a two-year full-ride scholarship to Washtenaw Community College (valued at $6,000/year). The second-year will be awarded pending a GPA of 3.25 or higher.

"​I’ve decided to create this scholarship to give back to the institution that made the most impact on my life and shaped the way I have become an adult. When attending WLHS, I acted out, got into trouble with the staff, tried to be a class clown at times, and did what I could to pass the class with the least amount of work as possible. In doing so, the one thing I accomplished correctly was listening. I listened to the teachers speak on advice, life lessons, the laughter and encouragement of what I could become, and even some that told me what I would never be if I didn't make a change." --Lawrence Savoy

We are grateful for Lawrence sharing his story and for his support.

04/23/2023

Our final scholarship category is the Trojan Pride Scholarships. The intangible quality that unites all WLPS students, staff, alumni, parents and Whitmore Lake community members together can be broadly described as Trojan Pride. Some students say it means family. Some staff members say it mean supporting one another in every way possible. We just know it is a powerful force that binds us together for life, inspiring everyone who is a part of the Whitmore Lake community to do what they can to help fellow Trojans succeed. These scholarships are set up to celebrate and honor all things Trojan Pride. First up is the Trojan Pride Battle of the Decades scholarship.

Starting in fall of 2020 during the COVID-pandemic, we challenged each decade of alumni to raise as much money as they could in one week to be crowned the Trojan Pride Battle of the Decades winner. By winning, that decade would have a scholarship awarded in their honor, get their name of a trophy and have bragging rights for an entire year. These scholarships are traditionally awarded to a student who exemplifies Trojan Pride--whether that is demonstrated with how they contribute to their community, if they come from a multi-generational Trojan family, and the list goes on.
2020 Battle of the Decades Winner: 1980s
2021 Battle of the Decades Winner: 2000s
2022 Battle of the Decades Winner: 2000s

04/22/2023

Another dedicated local business funds our next Build Your Future scholarship. ​​Griffith Veterinary Hospital has been serving the community of Whitmore Lake for decades. Griffith's is family owned and operated by Dr. Barb Griffith-Watkins, who is very active in our community and has been a long-time supporter of the Community Scholarship Fund. Their scholarship invests in a student that is focused on the sciences, and we are so grateful for their continued support.

If you would like to set up a Build Your Own Future scholarship, complete this online form and a member of our board will be in touch with you for next steps. https://bit.ly/3r5lTRK

04/22/2023

We are very excited to award the very first Grit & Lavender Community Scholarship this year.

After growing up in Ann Arbor, Tim Greenough moved his family to Whitmore Lake in 1986. His children, Natalie (03), Nathan (04) & Tyler (06), attended Whitmore Lake Public Schools from kindergarten through graduation in the mid-2000s. The Greenough’s have always valued hard work, perseverance and following your dreams.
This scholarship was started to honor our family members & loved ones that inspired us; taught us to be good people; challenged us to learn & think outside the box; pushed us out of our comfort zone and to always trust our gut. They taught us to love hard; experience life; and to stop long enough to enjoy the little moments. They taught us the value of a hard day’s work; the importance of sharing a meal around the dinner table; to relentlessly pursue our dreams, even in spite of failure; and that creating authentic connections can lead to some amazing collaborations and experiences; take advantage of them whenever possible.

Our loved ones have also reminded us that our time on this earth is a gift, and every day must be cherished and that even when they are gone, we still carry them with us; and their love and influence shines through in every interaction we have. It is in their honor that we have established the Grit & Lavender Community Scholarship as our way of paying it forward to the next generation of WLHS graduates and we hope this small act of kindness will also inspire them to positively impact the lives of others around them.

With the scholarship, we hope to support those students who may not be the best academically but have demonstrated significant growth & perseverance throughout their high school career. Focusing our support on those students entering a non-traditional educational path such as pursuing a skilled trade apprenticeship; a female pursuing a career in the financial industry, or someone willing to take the risks to build their career in entrepreneurship. Special consideration will be given to those students who have also faced some extreme challenges throughout their high school career and may not qualify for traditional scholarships or assistance otherwise.

After spending nearly a decade working in Private Banking & Investment Management, Natalie (Greenough) Miller established Grit & Lavender Financial Planning and Grit & Lavender Meeting Rooms in downtown Brighton in 2019. Natalie’s financial planning work specializes in working with families tied to the blue collar and skilled trade industries, helping them gain clarity and confidence in finances and their life. The Grit & Lavender Community has become essential to many start-ups, entrepreneurs, and other small businesses in creating an authentic, professional connection in a welcoming environment that still allows you conduct business & build relationships & grow.

If you would like to set up a Build Your Own Future scholarship, complete this online form and a member of our board will be in touch with you for next steps. https://bit.ly/3r5lTRK

04/21/2023

Our next group of scholarships are our Build Your Future Scholarships. These scholarships are made up of individuals, businesses and nonprofits wanting to support WLHS graduates as they pursue study in a particular field--as they build their future. We are honored each year as our organization is given the opportunity to help gives our students a solid foundation with the support of the donors we will be featuring from this category.

The Von Voigtlander Family Foundation's stated mission is to make the world a better place by being part of the building and strengthening of those in need of assistance.
The Foundation sponsors an annual scholarship in support of a young person going into the trades.

If you would like to fund a Build Your Future scholarship, complete this online form and a member of our board will be in touch with you for the next steps. https://bit.ly/3r5lTRK

04/21/2023

One of our newer Build Your Future scholarships comes from our friends at People's Express. People’s Express is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located right in Whitmore Lake. We are dedicated to providing or assisting in finding
safe and reliable public transportation to empower individuals to maintain their independence and enhance their quality of life.
​
The People's Express scholarship aims to support graduates of Whitmore Lake High School as they pursue their post-secondary plans.
If you would like to set up a Build Your Own Future scholarship, complete this online form and a member of our board will be in touch with you for next steps. https://bit.ly/3r5lTRK

04/21/2023

Next up in our Build Your Future category is our RheTech Scholarship. RheTech LLC is a Whitmore Lake-based company that sponsors a full $1,000 scholarship each year. The company has been in business for over 50 years and strongly believes in giving back to the local community through supporting scholarships and education in our Whitmore Lake community.

RheTech Vice President Jim Preston is a member of the Whitmore Lake Community Scholarship Fund Board and an active member of our community.
If you would like to set up a Build Your Future scholarship, complete this online form and a member of our board will be in touch with you for next steps. https://bit.ly/3r5lTRK

04/20/2023

Our next In Memoriam scholarship is in honor of our own, Carolyn Redies. Carolyn loved being a member of the Whitmore Lake Community. She spent many years as a member of the school board as well as the Whitmore Lake Community Scholarship Fund. She supported her community and education throughout her life and will continue that through this memorial scholarship.

If you would like to create an In Memoriam scholarship in honor of a loved one, complete this online form and a member of our board will be in touch with you for next steps. https://bit.ly/3r5lTRK

04/20/2023

Our final In Memoriam Scholarship we have the honor of awarding is the Mary Tummonds Memorial Scholarship- Prast Family Foundation.

Mary was a long-time resident of Whitmore Lake and a very active community member and volunteer dedicating time to Old St. Patrick Catholic Church of Ann Arbor, the Whitmore Lake Chamber of Commerce and the local chapter of Kiwanis. She had a heart for service and for helping others.

If you would like to create an In Memoriam scholarship in honor of a loved one, complete this online form and a member of our board will be in touch with you for next steps. https://bit.ly/3r5lTRK

04/20/2023

Julianna M. Brown was a strong believer in education. She is fondly remembered by her niece Laura Schwennesen and her family who award two scholarships in Aunt Julianna's memory each year to Whitmore Lake High School graduates. We are grateful and honored they have chosen CSF as a way to honor her life.

If you would like to create an In Memoriam scholarship in honor of a loved one, complete this online form and a member of our board will be in touch with you for next steps. https://bit.ly/3r5lTRK

04/19/2023

Our next In Memoriam scholarship to feature is the Glenn Bachman Memorial Scholarship. Glenn Robert Bachman was a well loved Superintendent of Whitmore Lake Public Schools for many years.

He is remembered as an effective administrator who hired many very effective school teachers and staff who still are with Whitmore Lake Schools today.
Glenn was a kind and thoughtful leader of our school district, who remains fondly remembered by people across the Whitmore Lake Community.

You can donate to the Glenn Bachman Memorial Scholarship through Facebook, online at www.wlcommunityscholarship.org, or by mailing a check made payable to WL Community Scholarship Fund to Whitmore Lake High School, Attn: CSF, 7430 Whitmore Lake Rd. Whitmore Lake, MI 48189.

If you would like to create an In Memoriam scholarship in honor of a loved one, complete this online form and a member of our board will be in touch with you for next steps. https://bit.ly/3r5lTRK

04/19/2023

We have the honor of awarding the John A. Rorabacher (1963) Memorial Scholarship.
Having come from a family who lived in Whitmore Lake since 1906, John was a proud Trojan. This 1963 WLHS graduate had an amazing sense of humor and a lightning speed come-back to any and all subjects. During his time at WLHS he participated in football, track, basketball and wrestling. He starred in school plays, and served as president of the Varsity Club and on Student Council. He went on to be a university professor, published author, husband and father to two sons. His quick wit and ready smile drew people to him. The community of Whitmore Lake and the schools were very important to John. It is only natural that investing in WLHS graduates is part of his legacy.

You can donate to the John A. Rorabacher Memorial Scholarship through Facebook, online at www.wlcommunityscholarship.org, or by mailing a check made payable to WL Community Scholarship Fund to Whitmore Lake High School, Attn: CSF, 7430 Whitmore Lake Rd. Whitmore Lake, MI 48189.
If you would like to create an In Memoriam scholarship in honor of a loved one, complete this online form and a member of our board will be in touch with you for next steps. https://bit.ly/3r5lTRK

04/19/2023

For 27 years Donna Ball taught elementary students in the Whitmore Lake Public Schools. She enjoyed her work there, and is fondly remembered by many of her former students who still kept in touch even though decades have passed since they were in her classroom. One of those students sent this message when he learned she had died: "While she may have left us today, she will always remain with all of us who loved and had our lives touched by her. To this day, I remember the poems she taught me as a child, and keep close to my heart a love and appreciation for words that was nurtured in her small classroom at Spencer Elementary. I know that I would not be where I am today without her guidance and her opening of a new world for me. I will miss her greatly."

You can donate to the Donna Ball Memorial Scholarship online below, at http://www.wlcommunityscholarship.org/ or by mailing a check made payable to WL Community Scholarship Fund to Whitmore Lake High School, Attn: CSF, 7430 Whitmore Lake Rd. Whitmore Lake, MI 48189.

If you would like to create an In Memoriam scholarship in honor of a loved one, complete this online form and a member of our board will be in touch with you for next steps. https://bit.ly/3r5lTRK

https://www.facebook.com/donate/896618928073712/

04/18/2023

Another very special annual scholarship we have the honor of awarding is the James B. Monroe Memorial Scholarship. James B. Monroe moved to Whitmore Lake in March of 1988. He was in fifth grade at the time. He was a wonderful young man who developed into a friendly, helpful, goofy guy. He had a little sister 11 years his junior that he adored. Jimmy had a great sense of humor and was helpful in mentoring new students when they came to Whitmore Lake. He loved video games, Detroit Piston basketball, Chicago White Sox baseball and much to his mother’s chagrin, Michigan State.

His death, from an auto accident, just before starting his Junior year in High School left a tremendous void in his mother’s heart. However, the class of 1996 were gracious enough to allow her to participate in float building, chaperoning dances, and assisting with the Senior all night party. The class of 1996 even dedicated the senior slideshow at their commencement to him! Jimmy’s mom, Carol, attempts to pay back a small part of the love and support the community showed her with these scholarships in his memory.

You can donate to the James B. Monroe Memorial Scholarship through Facebook Giving, online at http://www.wlcommunityscholarship.org/ or by mailing a check made payable to WL Community Scholarship Fund to Whitmore Lake High School, Attn: CSF, 7430 Whitmore Lake Rd. Whitmore Lake, MI 48189.

If you would like to create an In Memoriam scholarship in honor of a loved one, complete this online form and a member of our board will be in touch with you for next steps. https://bit.ly/3r5lTRK

04/18/2023

Anna Belle was an amazing person who married young, had children, put herself through school and became a teacher.

​She worked at Whitmore Lake High School for 34 years as a teacher and then a guidance counselor. Anna Belle loved working with her "kids" at Whitmore Lake, even when those kids became the parents of the kids she was currently working with.
​The Whitmore Lake family was an extension of her own family. She loved her time there and the people that she worked with. Anna Belle left a legacy of love that will not be forgotten by anyone whose life she touched.

You can donate to the Anna Belle Hunt Comins Memorial Scholarship through Facebook, online at www.wlcommunityscholarship.org, or by mailing a check made payable to WL Community Scholarship Fund to Whitmore Lake High School, Attn: CSF, 7430 Whitmore Lake Rd. Whitmore Lake, MI 48189.

If you would like to create an In Memoriam scholarship in honor of a loved one, complete this online form and a member of our board will be in touch with you for next steps. https://bit.ly/3r5lTRK

04/18/2023

Today we share with you our Georgene Theresa Dignan Memorial Scholarship. Georgene Theresa Dignan absolutely loved Whitmore Lake, and in her early years in the community she was a preschool teacher at Whitmore Lake Public Schools. Having taught well over 800 children in her tenure, she absolutely loved early childhood development.

That love that she shared with her children was evident every day and was returned to her whenever she would see kids she had in preschool, now in their 20s or 30s. They would come up to her and want a big hug. Her impact on this community and the many families is still felt to this day

Her family could think of no better way to honor her work and her life in Whitmore Lake than to develop a scholarship for a deserving Whitmore Lake graduate, preferably one who is pursuing an education in early childhood development.
You can donate to the Georgene Theresa Dignan Memorial Scholarship online (http://www.wlcommunityscholarship.org/) or by mailing a check made payable to WL Community Scholarship Fund to Whitmore Lake High School, Attn: CSF, 7430 Whitmore Lake Rd. Whitmore Lake, MI 48189.

If you would like to create an In Memoriam scholarship in honor of a loved one, complete this online form and a member of our board will be in touch with you for next steps. https://bit.ly/3r5lTRK