Cook Family Foundation

Twenty-seven of the most academically accomplished high school seniors from the Shiawassee County region have been nominated for scholarships to the University of Michigan by the Cook Family Foundation.  One of the students will be selected to receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship from Bruce and Jacqueline Cook.

In order to assist them with their college selection, a number of the nominees recently attended an overnight trip to the University of Michigan where they met with admission officers, took a tour of the campus and stadium, attended a class, and had the opportunity to spend time with students from the Shiawassee County area presently enrolled at the University of Michigan.

The students from eight area school districts were nominated because of their high grade point average and test scores; all are outstanding students.  Based on their academic records, the promise of future academic success, and demonstrated leadership capabilities, one of these nominees will be selected to receive the Bruce and Jacqueline Cook Scholarship, which covers all tuition for an undergraduate education at the University of Michigan.

Each of the nominees will receive at least a $2,500 scholarship to the University of Michigan from the Cook Family Foundation.  In addition to these nominees, the Cook Family Foundation provides a scholarship to every local student who applies to the University of Michigan, is admitted, and then enrolls.  

The Cook Family Foundation was started in 1978 by Donald and Florence-etta Cook.  Bruce and Jackie Cook of Owosso have followed the lead of Bruce’s parents by making a legacy gift to the University of Michigan to establish an annual scholarship for an academically talented student from Shiawassee County.  

2016 CFF UM Overnight Trip

If they apply and are admitted to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, the following students will be considered for the Bruce and Jacqueline Cook scholarship: from Byron, Rachel Dvorak, Shane Geiser, Hannah Hooley, Amanda Magnan, and Madison Montgomery; from Chesaning, Jozalynn Boucher, Elizabeth Hoornstra, Sarah Minnis, and Noah Moeggenborg; from Corunna, Noah Aurand, Kaylynn Crawford, Kaylee Euler, Hunter Glew, Noah Jacobs, Courtney List and Tyler Quirk; from Laingsburg, Paden Graham; from New Lothrop, Paige Alkire, Natalie Delemeester, Brandon Kline, and Tyler Ruddy; from Ovid-Elsie, Kayla Duckert; from Owosso, Dalton Brown, Usman Kahn, Sarah Landes, and Olivia Reale; and from Perry, Bradley Cronk.

Past recipients of the Bruce and Jackie Cook Scholarship have included Mitchell Lawrence from Byron in 2016, Nick Miller from Laingsburg in 2015, Nolan Wendling from New Lothrop in 2014, Emily Feuka from Perry in 2013, Sam Whaley from Perry in 2012, Adam Stewart from Laingsburg in 2011, Valerie Foster from Byron in 2010, Adam Dingens from Corunna in 2009, Randy Piper from Owosso in 2008, Dan Frechtling from Perry in 2007 and Kendra Frye of Owosso in 2006.

To learn more about our scholarship program, follow this link.

Manufacturing made Owosso, just like many towns in Michigan that were settled in the 19th century and boomed in the 20th century.  This important history is the subject of a current exhibit being put on by the Owosso Historical Commission and the Shiawassee Arts Council.  Major financial support for the exhibit comes from the Cook Family Foundation.

In four different venues along the Shiawassee River, the exhibit showcases photographs, historic documents, and actual products from a number of companies that made furniture, food stuffs, records, sleighs, printing supplies, automotive components, and a range of other goods.  Most of these items can be found in the Shiawassee Arts Center and Curwood Castle.  Comstock Cabin, an historic early structure, contains information about the people who participated in the founding of Owosso in 1836.  The Woodard Paymaster Building tells the story of Lyman Woodard, who established the furniture company that still bears the family name.

The exhibit will be on display and open to the public free of charge through September 16.  A series of events will be held throughout the summer that highlight the historical and cultural assets of several partner organizations.  A calendar, along with background information, can be found at the exhibit’s website www.madeinowosso.org

Many of the businesses that were started in the previous century are now gone from Owosso.  However, the influence they had on the design, growth, and development of Owosso are still felt.  So too, the charity of individuals and families that started businesses has shaped the lives of many in the community and has served as a legacy to these entrepreneurs.  Wolverine Sign Works, founded 100 years ago, generated the wealth that led to the creation of the Cook Family Foundation. We are proud to be part of the history, and future, of Owosso.  (Go here to see a video about the benefactor of the Foundation).

Twenty-seven of the leaders and best from the greater Shiawassee area have been awarded scholarships to attend the University of Michigan.  While all of the students have outstanding academic records, two students received special scholarships.  Mitchell Lawrence, valedictorian of Byron High School was awarded the Bruce & Jacqueline Cook Scholarship and Mary Basso, valedictorian of Owosso High School, was awarded the Donald Cook scholarship.

Mitchell Lawrence, son of Jon and Christina Lawrence, has been admitted to the Taubman College of Architecture and the College of Literature, Science and the Arts. Mitchell is the president of the student council and national honor society at Byron High School, and he has been dual-enrolled this past year at Lansing Community College taking upper level classes in Japanese, calculus and other subjects.  The Bruce & Jacqueline Cook Scholarship, funded by the namesakes, is four-year full tuition scholarship.

Mary Basso, daughter of Daniel and Tamara Basso, will be attending the Residential College at the University of Michigan studying French and looking for opportunities in international studies.  Mary serves as the president of several organizations: key club, environmental club, quiz bowl, and the student body.  She has taken an impressive 13 AP classes in her high school career.  The Donald Cook Scholarship, named after the founder of the Cook Family Foundation, provides $5,000 a year for four years. 

Are you a board member, volunteer or staff member of a Shiawassee nonprofit organization?  Then the upcoming workshops offered through the NonProfit Capacity Building program are for you.  Designed to improve the effectiveness of your organization, the workshops will provide helpful ideas and advice about volunteer management, fundraising on-line, grant-writing and leadership at both the board and staff level. Workshops are three-hours long, offered at a variety of times, and include a meal.  A schedule and description of workshops can be found on our “events” page.  There is no charge for members of the Shiawassee Nonprofit Capacity Building Program to attend these workshops.  This page describes the program and its eligibility requirements. Existing members are listed here.

Executive Directors of Shiawassee-based nonprofits (l to r): Helen Howard, Respite Volunteers; Tonya Avery, SafeCenter; Lynn Grubb, the Arc Shiawassee; Lauri Elbing, Friends of the Shiawassee River; Tom Cook, Cook Family Foundation; Kathy Brooks, Owosso Community Players; Piper Brewer, Shiawassee Arts Center; Mary Warner-Stone, Durand Union Station Incorporated; and Marlene Webster, Shiawassee Hope

Eight Shiawassee-based nonprofit organizations have achieved Partner status in the Cook Family Foundation’s NonProfit Capacity Building program.  In recognition of this accomplishment, each community group has been awarded $5,000 in a special year-end grant.

“These nonprofits have demonstrated a commitment to improve their governance, their programs, and their capacity” said Foundation Executive Director Tom Cook.  “We are proud to call them Partners”

The organizations now recognized as Partners are the Arc Shiawassee, Durand Union Station Incorporated, the Friends of the Shiawassee River, the Intersection of Owosso (Shiawassee Hope Project), Owosso Community Players, Respite Volunteers of Shiawassee, SafeCenter and the Shiawassee Arts Center.

The NonProfit Capacity Building program provides training and technical assistance to over 20 Shiawassee-based organizations (click here for more information).  To achieve Partner status, over half of the board members of an organization attended one or more workshops on nonprofit governance, executive directors participated in bi-monthly peer learning sessions, and both staff and volunteers took part in coaching sessions with an expert from the Nonprofit Network, a Michigan consulting firm.  Several of the organizations have also updated their strategic plan, made technology investments, or otherwise added capacity.

“We make services available to all Shiawassee-based nonprofits that have paid staff” said Tom Cook, “and we are confident that several more will achieve Partner status in 2016.”  The NonProfit Capacity Building Program is currently being updated for 2016. Program revisions will be announced on this page in January.

“When our nonprofit groups are strong, our communities are healthier,” said Cook. “Nonprofits care for those most in need in Shiawassee County, promote our natural and cultural resources, and help us all be engaged citizens.”