Forty-seven of the most academically accomplished high school seniors from all ten high schools in the Shiawassee County area recently made a trip to Ann Arbor. (See below for the full listing of all nominees.) Photo Credit: Michael D-L Jordan/David Lorne Photographic

It’s the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year in the Shiawassee region and that means it’s also time for the best and brightest high schoolers from the area to learn about becoming a Wolverine!

Forty-eight of the Shiawassee County region’s most academically accomplished high school seniors have been nominated for scholarships to the University of Michigan by the Cook Family Foundation. Students were nominated based on their academic achievements: grade point average, class rank, and SAT scores. One of these nominees will be selected to receive a four-year, full-tuition scholarship from the Bruce and Jacqueline Cook Scholarship endowment administered by the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

In order to assist them with their college selection, 47 of the nominees recently attended an overnight trip to the University of Michigan. There they had the opportunity to meet with admission officers, take a tour of the campus and football stadium, sit in on an actual U-M class, and spend time with current students from the Shiawassee County area enrolled at the University of Michigan.

“By visiting Ann Arbor each year, high schoolers get a genuine look at university life and can learn from current U-M undergrads who once walked in their shoes,” noted Tom Cook, Co-Executive Director of the Foundation. “The greater Shiawassee region is full of exceptional young talent. Our mission is to inspire them to envision themselves thriving at Michigan.”

Each of the nominees that is admitted and then chooses to attend will receive at least a $5,000 scholarship to the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. In addition to the Bruce and Jacqueline Cook scholarship process, the Cook Family Foundation provides at least a $3,000 scholarship to any student from the greater Shiawassee region with a 3.5 GPA or higher who attends any of the three campuses of the University of Michigan (Flint, Dearborn, or Ann Arbor). 

One of the following students will be selected to receive the four-year, full-tuition scholarship as mentioned above: from Byron: Jonah Spencer; from Chesaning: Jordyn Butcher, Autumn Cicinelli, Law Danek, Hailia Jewell, Oliver Keck, Alaina Knoellinger, Parker Kohagen, Gavin Moore, and Luke Skaryd; from Corunna: Kayla Hook, Ezra Nellis, Evan Warner, Kaminee Auge, Karionna Graham, Thomas Brooks, Elliott Carr, Joshua Siddock, Austin Sweet, and Micah Yates; from Durand: Elise Drauch, Jacob O’Bryant, and Nathaniel Schaefer; from Laingsburg: Nathaniel Davis, Samantha Gutzman, Collin Logghe, Ethan Platte, Grant Sprague, and Payge Woodworth; from Morrice: Maxwell Horvatin and Kane McLean; from New Lothrop: Chloe Czymbor, Logan Frost, Makenna Gemalsky, and Sophia Henige; from Ovid-Elsie: Belle Cooper, Micah Ladiski, and Reid Roberts; from Owosso: Alistair Andres, Rylie Burcher, Julia Ciarlino, and Adeline Mahoney; and from Perry: Collin Nolkemper, Calhoun Place, Lucas Rodgers, Leah Schneider, Riley Smith, and Emma Thielen.

This is the 21st year of the Bruce and Jacqueline Cook scholarship, which is funded entirely by its namesakes’ endowment.  Past recipients of the Bruce and Jackie Cook Scholarship have included:  Madison Dennis from Durand – 2026, Emily Rathka from Laingsburg – 2025, Quinn Skarich from Owosso – 2024, Emily Smith from Chesaning – 2023, Dillan Morell from New Lothrop – 2022, Elizabeth Tolrud from Owosso – 2021, Mason Collard from Owosso and Kyah Ribble from Perry – 2020, Autumn Zwiernik from Laingsburg – 2019, Tyson Moore from Corunna – 2018, Elizabeth Hoornstra from Chesaning – 2017, Mitchell Lawrence from Byron – 2016, Nick Miller from Laingsburg – 2015, Nolan Wendling from New Lothrop – 2014, Emily Feuka from Perry – 2013, Sam Whaley from Perry – 2012, Adam Stewart from Laingsburg – 2011, Valerie Micol from Byron – 2010, Adam Dingens from Corunna – 2009, Randy Piper from Owosso – 2008, Dan Frechtling from Perry – 2007 and Kendra Frye from Owosso – 2006.

For assistance applying to U-M, or for more information on scholarships available for U-M Flint, U-M Dearborn, or U-M Ann Arbor, email Rachel at the Cook Family Foundation at rachel@cookfamilyfoundation.org.