Sturgis Area Community Foundation (SACF) celebrated this year's scholarship recipients on Sunday, April 24th with a luncheon at the Sturges-Young Center for the Arts. In attendance were nearly 150 guests from around St. Joseph County including scholarship fund donors, recipients, and their families. In total, the Sturgis Area Community Foundation awarded $149,000 in educational scholarships.
"This year, the Community Foundation received more scholarship applications than ever before," shared Executive Director Lindsay Richardson. "It was an extremely competitive year, and we are grateful to play a part in helping so many talented local students achieve their educational and career goals."
Together, the Sturgis Area Community Foundation and its affiliate the Constantine Area Community Foundation hold more than 50 permanently endowed scholarship funds. Since 1999, these funds have returned more than $1.2 million dollars to local students through SACF's scholarship program.
"What is truly amazing about our scholarship program is that it provides support for students pursuing just about any type of program after high school. There are scholarships for students pursuing two- and four-year traditional colleges and universities, graduate school, and skilled trades programs," explains Richardson.
Applications for Community Foundation scholarships open online in December each year and are due by March 1. Submitted applications are reviewed by independent committees that evaluate applicants based on a variety of criteria including, but not limited to, academic merit, financial need, community service, work history, and future career plans. Scholarship opportunities are open to students graduating from all St. Joseph County high schools and Bronson High School in Branch County.
For more information on Community Foundation scholarships, or to view a list of this year's recipients, visit www.sturgisfoundation.org.
Through philanthropic services, strategic investments, and community leadership, Sturgis Area Community Foundation helps people support the causes they care about, now and for generations to come. For more information on grants or donor services, email sacf@sturgisfoundation.org.