College Scholarships
For those who are interested in pursuing higher education, there are a number of scholarship opportunities available to West Catholic students. Explore the links below for more information.
Outside Scholarships
ROTARY CLUB OF GRAND RAPIDS
The Rotary Club of Grand Rapids Charities Foundation is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the David V. & Nancy A. Huhn Scholarship/Grant for the 2023-24 Academic Year.
The scholarship/grant is focused on the donor intent that the program/degree of the student should be in the area(s) of mechanical, technical, engineering, information technology, areas that are in high career demand.
The 2023/2024 scholarship/grant amount available is $4,500.
The application with all supporting materials will be due by the end of the day on May 1, 2023, and decision(s) will be finalized by June 23, 2023.
You may also refer students to the application on the website of the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids at https://grrotary.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/HuhnScholarship_Application-2023.pdf
The Polish Heritage Society Scholarship is funded to provide financial assistance to students from West Michigan who are of Polish descent. Scholarships will be awarded based on the following criteria: Must be a full-time student with a minimum 2.75 GPA, All recipients must be of Polish descent and must provide a brief statement (signed and dated) delineating their heritage, financial need is taken into consideration. Deadline is March 15. Applications are available in the School Counseling Office.
The Robotics Challenge Scholarship is a $30,000 scholarship ($7,500 per year, for up to four years) award for a graduating high school senior participates as part of a FIRST® Robotics, National Robotics League, or VEX Robotics Competition Team and uses pneumatics in their robot. One merit-based award is available for the 2023-24 academic year. The deadline to apply is May 1, 2023, at 11:59 PM CST.
A minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, 1,000-word essay, and one letter of recommendation are required from each applicant. The goal of the NFPA Robotics Challenge Scholarship is to bring an awareness of pneumatic options in robotics to high school students and to stimulate increased use of fluid power products in these competitions.
AMERICAN LEGION POST 459 DIXIE VINCENT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
This is a $1,000 scholarship that is being presented in honor of Dixie Vincent, American Legion Post 459’s Club Manager, Friend and True Patriot. Criteria: Any high school senior enrolled in a Kent County High school and is a descendant of a U.S. Veteran OR any senior who is in a high school military-related training program such as JROTC, Sea Cadets, Young Marines or similar programs. Application is available in the School Counseling Office. Deadline is May 6, 2023.
THE CARDINAL NEWMAN ESSAY CONTEST
The Cardinal Newman Society recently released a 7-minute video on the advantages of choosing a faithful Catholic college. Pick a key point or theme from the video and explain why attending a Newman Guide college will have special value for you.
Essays will be judged by how well they demonstrate appreciation for faithful Catholic education, as well as the quality of the writing. Essays must be uploaded and submitted electronically using the online contest application form no later than 11:59 p.m. (E.D.T.) on February 20, 2023. No essays or applications will be accepted by email, postal mail, fax, or any other form of communication. Click HERE for more information.
Yale Center for the Study of Race Indigeneity and Transnational Migration (RITM)’s Bassett Award for Community Engagement for high school juniors. The deadline to apply is February 1, 2023. Recipients of the Yale Bassett Award for Community Engagement will demonstrate a record of creative leadership and public service, academic distinction, interdisciplinary problem solving, and experience addressing societal issues that might include, but need not be limited to, race and racism. Students with non-traditional leadership experiences or significant work experiences are also encouraged to apply.
To be considered for the Yale Bassett Award, interested students in the Class of 2024 should submit an application that will include an account of their relevant experiences and aspirations, academic record, extracurricular commitments and leadership positions. Students will also be asked to identify a teacher, mentor, coach, religious leader, community-based non-profit leader, or community member who can provide them a letter of recommendation. For more information go to: ritm.yale.edu/yale-bassett-award-community-engagement-application
CALVIN UNIVERSITY ENTRADA SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Calvin University Entrada Scholars Program – for high school juniors or seniors who are racial ethnic minority students. For more information please click HERE
MICHIGAN RETAILERS ASSOCIATION
The Michigan Retailers Association has launched its scholarship competition for the 2023-24 school year. To be eligible, the student or his/her parent must be employed at a business that is a member of MRA. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2023. To find out if a particular business is an MRA member, students or parents should check with their employer or complete the form at Retailers.com/member-benefits/scholarship-program
ARBOR FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION
Arbor Financial Credit Union is excited to announce its 2023 Scholarship Program. Ten $2,000 scholarships will be awarded this Spring. Criteria: Graduating high school or home school seniors; current member in good standing at Arbor Financial and applicants must be accepted into an accredited post-secondary school. For more information go to arborfcu.org/scholarships
THE GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS
- List of awards and volunteer/employment/extracurricular activities/family responsibilities
- Academic transcript from your most recent semester. High school seniors must include first-semester senior year.
- An essay about your reasons for your choice of college, chosen course of study, career goals, plans for financing your education, and information on past activities benefiting your community
- Your financial information including family income
CALVIN UNIVERSITY ENTRADA SCHOLARS PROGRAM
If you are a minority student pursuing a college education, Entrada is for you. The Entrada Scholars Program is an exclusive opportunity to experience life as a college student. You’ll spend four summer weeks on camPus getting a head start on your college career. For more information click HERE
MARY JANE DOCKERAY SCHOLARSHIP
Each year, the Mary Jane Dockeray Scholarships are awarded to graduating from high school seniors from public or private schools in the Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa Intermediate School Districts with an interest in pursuing a career in science. Two $2,500 scholarships will be awarded this year to graduating seniors who plan to pursue a career in science. For more information click HERE.
MI FUTURE EDUCATION FELLOWSHIP
The MI Future Educator Fellowship offers aspiring teachers a scholarship to eliminate or lower the cost of tuition while they train to be educators. Awards cover the cost of tuition and fees up to $10,000 and are renewable for up to three years. Students that receive the award commit to teaching in Michigan classroom for at least three years after graduation.
To be eligible, future educators must be working toward their first teacher certification, start training in Fall of 2022 or later, earn at least a 3.0 GPA and be a Michigan resident. You can apply through the MiSSG Portal.
For full eligibility requirements and to apply, visit Michigan.gov/mistudentaid. Scholarship funds are limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Scholarships for WC Graduates
The following scholarships are exclusively offered to West Catholic graduating seniors unless otherwise noted.
Frank & Mary Hernes Scholarship
Deadline: May 6, 2023 (submit to President/CEO)
This scholarship is open to graduating seniors at West Catholic and Catholic Central who will be attending a 2- or 4-year college.
– Financial need will be a primary consideration for this scholarship.
– Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
– Applicants must have completed 40+ hours of community service.
– Applicants must have demonstrated a respect for authority, obeyed school rules and maintained a high attendance record during high school.
To Apply:
– A report card verifying a minimum GPA of 3.0
– Documentation of community service
– Applicants must submit a two-page essay explaining how the Catholic education they received at West Catholic has prepared them for the secular world they will encounter.
Mary Kay VanDriel Future Female Health Care Leaders Scholarship
Deadline: April 30, 2023 (submit to Counseling Office)
Award Amount: $500-$2,500 (based on number of applicants)
The Mary Kay (Kempker ’76) VanDriel Health Care Leadership Scholarship will be awarded to a female West Catholic senior who will be going on to college to study and eventually work in the healthcare field. The goal of the scholarship is to encourage more young women to advance to healthcare leadership positions. The scholarship also aims to help develop a mentorship mentality, both seeking guidance from mentors and also eventually becoming mentors themselves as they advance in their post-graduate professional careers. (Pay it forward.)
NOTE: This scholarship is to be used for college tuition, books, supplies and living expenses. It is good for freshman year in college ONLY and is NOT renewable each year.
The scholarship guidelines are as follows:
1) Must be a West Catholic senior female graduate going on to their freshman year in college
2) Must be identified by the teaching, counseling staff and peers as a leader
3) Must have a desire to study and work in healthcare
4) Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 at the time of application
5) Must complete a 1-2 page message to include all of the following points:
– Understanding that plans and college majors may change as you advance through college, explain why you are interested in healthcare.
– Describe how you see yourself contributing to the advancement of healthcare and how you will use your successes to help with the mentorship of other females interested in healthcare.
– Identify the values instilled by your family and the West Catholic education experience.
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