Where Are They Now?

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It’s that time of year, and a few Cook Family Foundation scholars have shared their recent graduation (and other) updates with us:

Daniel Frechtling – Dan graduated from medical school at Tulane University in the spring of 2022 AND has become engaged. He was a Perry High School graduate in 2007, and was the Bruce and Jacqueline Cook Scholarship winner. After earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Cellular and Molecular Biology in 2011 from the University of Michigan, Dan served in the Peace Corps in Liberia for two years.  He then returned to Ann Arbor and gained a Masters in Public Health at UM’s School of Public Health in 2016.

   

Valarie (Foster) Micol – Val recently gave her dissertation defense in Clinical Psychology on the way to earning her PhD from the University of Michigan. As if that wasn’t enough, she recently got married. Her future plans include staying on at UM for a post-doc fellowship, which will be jointly with the medical school. Congratulations on all counts to the soon-to-be Dr. Micol, the new Mrs. Trever Hines!

Val attended Byron High School and was the Bruce and Jacqueline Cook Scholarship winner in 2010.  She graduated from UM in 2014 with a Bachelor’s of Art in Psychology, spent two years as full-time research staff at Michigan Medicine, and earned a Master’s Degree in Psychology in 2018.  

 

Jaiden Sowash – In early 2022 he earned a Masters of Finance at Temple University in Philadelphia.  Jaiden was a 2015 Owosso High School graduate with plans originally in the medical field.  He soon found an interest in economics and business, and transferred from UM’s School of Nursing to the School of Literature, Sciences and the Arts (LSA).  Jaiden later graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and also completed a Master of Management in the Ross Business School. He was also in one of the early cohorts of the Owosso Fellows, doing some top notch work for the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership. 

Sean Walser – This April the Michigan Legislature honored Sean with a special tribute for Exemplary Service.  Sean, who graduated from Owosso High School in 2009, was admitted to UM’s School of Engineering. He later transferred to LSA once he discovered a passion for politics and public service.  Sean made this discovery and transition while working for us here at the Cook Family Foundation as an intern.  On school breaks and summers he helped build our student database and improved our use of technology. We knew then he was going places, and he later confirmed it.  

He graduated with a Bachelor’s in Political Science in 2013 and began working for then State Representative, Jim Ananich, during his special election campaign for State Senate. In 2015, Senator Ananich was elevated to the position of Senate Minority Leader and Sean served as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff until April 2022.  He has recently taken on a new job in the nonprofit sector (hurrah!) as Director of Operations at the Michigan Environmental Council. 

 

The Cook Family Foundation is proud to have helped start these leaders and best on their higher-education pathways.  To learn more about our work to support talented youth from the Shiawassee County region, go to our scholarship page. We love it when we receive updates from our area’s scholars, so please send us news.  

Foundation Awards Scholarships to Twenty-two Students

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The Cook Family Foundation continues to support the best and brightest students to attend the University of Michigan. From eight high schools in the greater Shiawassee area, 22 students have been awarded scholarships to the University of Michigan. This year, the scholarships awarded by the Foundation, the University of Michigan, and others totaled $898,000.

“It is great to get to celebrate in-person with these outstanding students, and give them some recognition for maneuvering through this pandemic so successfully academically–they certainly deserve it!”  said Foundation President, Bruce Cook at the annual scholarship banquet held May 10 at the Owosso Country Club.   “We are confident all of these students will go on to great things.”

Bruce Cook, President of the Foundation, and Dillan Morell of New Lothrop High School and winner of the Bruce and Jackqueline Cook four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the University of Michigan.

Dillan Morell of New Lothrop was awarded the Bruce and Jacqueline Cook Scholarship, one of the highest accolades in the greater Shiawassee County region. This scholarship, funded separately by Bruce and Jacqueline Cook, provides four years of tuition to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, with a value of about $65,000.  An additional 20 students have received scholarships from the Cook Family Foundation, ranging from $3,000 to $10,000.

Dillan is the son of Jay and Imagene Morell. Dillan is the co-valedictorian of his class at New Lothrop High School.  He is a Shiawassee Scholar and the recipient of a  Regents Merit Scholarship from the University of Michigan. Last year he earned the Eagle Scout Award. Dillan is enrolled in the college of Literature, Science and the Arts (LS&A) with plans to major in computer science, looking toward a career in software development or artificial intelligence.  

From left: Thomas Cook, Executive Director; Ella Coulter of Byron High School, and the Donald Cook Scholarship recipient; and Carrie Throm, Assistant Vice President, Leadership and Major Gift Programs, of the University of Michigan.

In recognition of the Foundation’s benefactor, the Donald Cook Scholarship was awarded to Ella Coulter of Byron. The Donald Cook Scholarship, endowed by the Cook Family Foundation, is awarded by the University of Michigan to a student attending the College of LS&A and is worth $40,000.  Donald Cook was a 1924 graduate of the University of Michigan who established the Foundation with his wife Florence-etta in 1978.  

Ella Coulter is the daughter of Christopher Coulter and Julie Cattane-Travis. Ella is a Shiawassee Scholar and is the Salutatorian of her class.  She is the vice-president of the Student Council and the National Honor Society treasurer.  She has participated in both volleyball and softball.  Ella is enrolled in the college of LSA with plans to get a Bachelors, Masters and PhD degree in behavioral science. 

A special event was the awarding of the newly announced $20,000 Kuhlman Family Scholarship, funded by UM alumni, Dr. Paul and Kit Kuhlman.  The first recipient is Anya Wasilenski, the daughter of Keith and Tarah Wasilenski.  She is the valedictorian of the Byron Area High School high school class and a Shiawassee Scholar.  Anya, enrolled in the College of Engineering, is the National Honor Society president, Student Body president, Marching Band drum major and active in robotics.   

From Left: Dr. Paul Kuhlman, Anya Wasilenski of New Lothrop High School, and Kit Kuhlman. Anya is first recipient of the new Kuhlman Family Scholarship, funded by the Kuhlman’s.

The Kuhlman Scholarship is administered by the Cook Family Foundation, but funded by the Kuhlman Family. The benefactors are University of Michigan graduates, as are their children, Matt and Kimberly.  “We decided to fund a scholarship to a local deserving student, and thought who better to help us navigate a scholarship to our alma mater, than my lifelong friend, Bruce Cook,” said Dr. Kuhlman, when asked how the scholarship came about.

Of the 22 scholarship recipients from the eight area high schools honored, four are valedictorians of their class and twelve of them are Shiawassee Scholars. Scholarship winners include, from Byron Area High School:  Ella Coulter, Caleb Joslin, and Anya Wasilenski; from Chesaning Union High School, Hayden Williams; from Corunna High School:  Claire Buckley, Noah Dutcher, Colin Lavery, and Ashlee Napier; from Durand Area High School, Danica Lienemann; from Morrice High School, Adrianna Monear; from New Lothrop High School:  Hannah Beaucamp, Eva Harden, Luke Henige, Haley Vincke and Madison Wheeler; from Ovid-Elsie Area High School, Koralyn (Quin) Bailie; from Owosso High School:  Ellie Feldpausch, Jillian Klaver, Joseph Marcotte, Justin Svarc, and Jack Smith.

With these awards, the Foundation has now helped more than 850 students attend the University of Michigan. Recently, the Foundation has expanded its scholarship support to Shiawassee area students attending the University of Michigan campuses in Flint and Dearborn.  The final list of those scholarship recipients will be announced and honored later this summer.  You can learn more at:  https://www.cookfamilyfoundation.org/scholarships/

Laingsburg Recycles to a Stronger Community

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Terry Link, Co-Chair of Greater Laingsburg Recyclers

A successful, sustainable community needs a recycling program.  Keeping waste materials out of landfills reduces our impact on the environment, minimizes costs for residents, and creates economic opportunities.  This is difficult to accomplish in a small town or rural areas, but the Greater Laingsburg Recyclers (GLR) have developed an approach in its community, and it may be a model for others.

In 2020 the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) awarded a $50,000 grant for the development of a drop-off recycling center in Laingsburg.  GLR led local fundraising throughout 2021 to gain an additional $50,000, and the Cook Family Foundation awarded $15,000.  The new recycling center is on property owned by the Laingsburg School District; and the City of Laingsburg acts as the project fiduciary.

Volunteers provide the muscle for recycling efforts in Laingsburg.  Before recently incorporating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Greater Laingsburg Recyclers was a collection of volunteers who had come together for 33 years.  As part of the Foundation’s NonProfit Capacity Building program, consultants from Nonprofit Network will be working with GLR to determine how best to structure themselves to ensure the long-term viability of the organization and the center.  A volunteer labor force helps reduce the cost of recycling, improves the quality of materials sold, and helps foster a stronger community.

In small towns and townships, the lack of volume and a dispersed population makes recycling challenging.  Most for-profit recyclers will not serve rural areas, and smaller communities find that the complex market for recycled materials makes it very difficult to economically operate a recycling program.  The Greater Laingsburg Recyclers are proving that the nimbleness that comes with a small organization, the ability to pre-sort materials, and committed volunteers can be a formula for success, at least in their corner of the world.  

Some of the organizers of GLR have been working with Michigan State University to identify the components for successful recycling in rural counties and small towns.  A report (find a link to the report here) was recently issued that highlights the project in Laingsburg and other efforts in Michigan.  With support from the Cook Family Foundation, GLR will be sharing some of its lessons learned with other communities in Shiawassee County and beyond.

See the television news coverage of the event here (news story starts at the 2 minute mark, courtesy of News 10 WILX) https://www.vuit.com/publishers/330/wilx#vod:20459974

One of several posters made by local students of all ages recognized with an award by the Greater Laingsburg Recyclers.