Bruce & Jackie Cook Scholarship Nominees Announced

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The Shiawassee County region’s top academically accomplished high school seniors have been nominated for scholarships to the University of Michigan by the Cook Family Foundation.  One of these 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, thirty-two 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.

“We want to make sure the leaders and the best among local high school students seriously consider the University of Michigan for the next level of education,” said Foundation President Bruce Cook.  “We are committed to the academic success of local students, and are committed to building partnerships with our public schools and our oldest public university.”

Each of the nominees will receive at least a $3,000 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.  

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: Samantha Franzmeier, Lillian Keesler, TJ Marvin, and Danielle Wolanin; from Chesaning:  Katelyn Ferry, Jordan Goward, Brooke Miller, and Weston Wendling; from Corunna: Charlie Bruckman, Katelyn Feldpausch, Jacquelyn Giordano, Ben Jacobs, Jacob Johnson, Ryan Lavery, and Aiden McMaster; from Durand: Carolyn Fairchild and Jessica Fureigh; from Laingsburg:  Malinda Barbario, Olivia Graham, Zach Koonter, and Autumn Zwiernik; from Morrice: Robert London and Rhianna Lucas; from New Lothrop: Garrett Birchmeier, Katie Bitterman, Caitlyn Bruff, Janelle Kline, Abigail Lange, and Charles Weber; from Ovid-Elsie: Conner Brown, Henry Gruber, Haley Hilgendorf, Jakob Loynes, and Anna Wilkinson; from Owosso:  Abby Christian, Morgan Louch, and Lucy Popovitch; and from Perry: Emma Fisher.

Past recipients of the Bruce and Jackie Cook Scholarship have included Tyson Moore from Corunna in 2018, Elizabeth Hoornstra from Chesaning in 2017, 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.

Summer Interns Support Shiawassee Area Nonprofits

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The Cook Family Foundations wants success for both our best nonprofits and for our best students. We support community organizations through the NonProfit Capacity Building program, and we provide scholarships to the University of Michigan for graduates of ten area high schools.  We also strive to bring these two program efforts together by supporting internships in Shiawassee County.

Our goal is to bring talented young people back to our community for a summer’s employment.  This helps nonprofits by providing them with the best and the brightest to help with a definable project. This helps students by giving them an opportunity put their skills to work, learn more about their community from a new perspective, and gain additional financial support for their continued education. Here are accounts from recent internships:

Hunter Glew – helping out with the Children’s Summer Adventure Camp at the Shiawassee Arts Center.

Shiawassee Arts Center Welcomed Intern, Hunter Glew

University of Michigan Sophomore and 2017 Corunna High School Graduate, Hunter Glew, spent her summer helping the Shiawassee Arts Center’s Arts Education Director, Linda Ruehle, to plan and implement classes for both the senior’s and children’s art program. Hunter is studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. She intends to eventually attain a doctoral degree to work as a professor and researcher with a focus on deaf culture, or her new-found interest–art therapy. Hunter noted, “I’ve now been able to see firsthand how the various art programs can take students away from outside stresses, and how it can create an outlet for all those participating.  I am so thankful to have helped create that for so many people this summer.

Here’s Anna Clarizio (in pink) – during The Arc Summer Camp with (from L-R) Jesse McGuire, Allison Grubb, and Jonathan Hannifan at Junction of Hope Restaurant in Chesaning.

Summer Camp Help at the Arc Shiawassee from Intern, Anna Clarizio

Anna Clarizio, a Senior at Central Michigan University working toward a career in Special Education, interned with The Arc Shiawassee–assisting with the planning and execution of every aspect of the camp program.  “Anna was a vital part of our six-week day camp for teens and adults with developmental disabilities this summer,” announced Executive Director, Lynn Grubb.  “Without Anna, our program would not have been as successful.  We are hopeful she will come back next summer and take over as Camp Program Director.”

Madison Van Epps (R) and Terry Horton (L) working the HepA outreach booth for the Shiawassee County Health Department.

 Madison Van Epps – Shiawassee County Health Department Intern

University of Michigan Senior and Owosso High School graduate, Madison Van Epps, got involved in many aspects of the Shiawassee County Health Department this summer.  Madison was responsible for the social media campaign in the county’s quest to raise awareness about Hepatitis A, as well as the data entry.  In addition, she also handled the department’s “How did you hear about us” family planning survey, and enhanced the department’s social media and community presence by creating an Instagram account, as well as posters and videos, and even some give-aways.   Another key duty involved interviewing local community stakeholders in order to conduct a needs assessment regarding what the Health Department could help with in the ongoing county problem of obesity.  And lastly, Madison designed a new poster and rack card to give away at outreach events with the local SafeCenter called, Smart 911. “She did it all!” notes Larry Johnson, Shiawassee County Health Department Director. 

Harrison Miller (Center) with Justin Horvath, SEDP President/CEO (L) and Brent Jones (R), Vice President at the newly refurbished Armory.

Meet Harrison Miller, Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership Summer Intern

Harrison Miller, a rising Junior at the University of Michigan studying Business Administration with an emphasis in marketing, got a chance to put some of his learning experience to work with the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership (SEDP) throughout the summer. His projects included a major update of the organization’s website, and Harrison also provided research development for the organization in support of upcoming programming.  President/CEO, Justin Horvath, shared, “Thanks to Harrison Miller for being part of the SEDP team this summer. We enjoyed having him as our intern, and are grateful for his contributions to our program.”

 

Gearing Up: 2018 #GivingTuesday Community Campaign

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In the simplest of terms, the #GivingTuesday global movement encourages people, as part of their holiday shopping and traditions with family, to think about making a donation (of time, talent or treasure) to help others.  Last year the Cook Family Foundation matched online gifts of up to $50 to nine participating local nonprofit organizations. Together, over $18,000 was raised through 237 givers.  

Over 70 Community Campaign leaders from Canada, Puerto Rico and all over the U.S., came together to share ideas and learn from each other at the recent #GivingTuesday Summit in Dallas, Texas.

Returning from a recent #GivingTuesday Community Leaders Summit in Dallas, Lorraine Austin and Yvette Collard (co-chairs of the local #GivingTuesday effort), have been energized by new friends, fresh ideas and renewed inspiration for #GivingTuesday 2018 – now just 175 days away! (November 27, 2018)  

“Attending the summit certainly has inspired us, and really has us thinking about how we can best use what we’ve learned to invigorate our team’s efforts this year,” said Collard.
“The official kickoff for the Shiawassee #GivingTuesday 2018 campaign will be held June 14th at the Memorial HealthCare Cancer Center’s conference room at 10am with this year’s nonprofit participants–currently numbering seventeen organizations!”

Sharing “Big Ideas” at the #GT Summit

Summing-up  what they’ve learned, Austin and Collard identified the following “10-step” highlights:

  1. #GivingTuesday is NOT just about giving, it’s about ENGAGEMENT
  2. Action plan should be developed by consensus of group
  3. ImpACT – it’s #GivingTuesday, not #FundraisingTuesday, which means you want to accept all forms of giving:  time,skills, voices, money, and local impact–as part of a global movement
  4. Start with a clear, unified, measurable goal:  think about what you are trying to accomplish and set individual goals (both action and financial) and the key–the goal must be directly related to the organization’s story
  5. Come up with, “borrow”, USE new ideas  (see “ideas” google document for specifics)
  6. Bring in business/governmental leaders for support
  7. Reach/Engage/Include younger supporters (HS students and other youth groups)
  8. Training – various types (see “ideas” google document for specifics) but realize that technology is changing everything and inspiring individual participation in nonprofits
  9. Plan a kickoff event
  10. Sign up your community campaign on the national #GivingTuesday website

Questions?  Contact Yvette Collard ([email protected]) or Lorraine Austin ([email protected]).

(Note:  A preliminary “ideas” document has been shared with kickoff invitees as well as on social media, and can be accessed here:  2018 #GivingTuesdayShiawassee – Ideas from #GivingTuesday Summit)