Twenty-seven students win scholarship awards

A record 27 Michigan students will head to college this fall with a total of $26,000 in financial assistance from the Michigan Retailers Association.

They’ll each receive a scholarship funded by the Michigan Retailers Foundation, a nonprofit educational organization established by MRA. The awards are designed to benefit MRA members and their employees and families. Twenty-five will receive $1,000 for one year at a public or private college or university and two will receive $500 for one year at a community college.

Last year, 22 scholarships were awarded. This year’s greater number is the result of the foundation’s increased assets; interest income from foundation assets provides the funds for the scholarships.

“We’re delighted to see the continued growth in the foundation and in the number of scholarships we can offer,” said MRA Chairman and CEO Larry Meyer. “Our scholarship program is a top priority for the Board of Directors because it is an excellent way to assist young people in the retail community with their education.”

MRA’s scholarship program is managed by Scholarship Program Administrators, Inc., in Nashville, Tennessee. A panel of educators selects the recipients based on above-average academic achievement and extracurricular involvement, which can include part-time employment. Financial need is not a consideration.

MRA scholarship recipients for the 2005-06 school year are:

Nicholas Baran, of Rochester Hills, an employee at Target in Rochester Hills. He is a graduate of Rochester High School and will be a freshman at Wayne State University in Detroit in the fall.

Baran received the Target Corporation Scholarship, funded by contributions from Target and MRA board member Joe Swanson, Target’s district team leader for north metro Detroit.

Nicole Braun, of Hudsonville, daughter of Diane Brown, an employee at Enertemp, Inc. in Grand Rapids. She is a graduate of Unity Christian High School and will be a freshman at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, in the fall.

Cassandra Britten, of Greenville, daughter of Joseph Schrader, an employee at Vogue Services in Belding. She is a graduate of Greenville High School and will be a freshman at Michigan State University in East Lansing in the fall.

Christopher Buckley, of Caro, an employee with his father, Robert, at the family business, Buckley Shoes, in Bad Axe. He is a graduate of Caro High School and will be a sophomore at Hope College in Holland in the fall.

Buckley received the D. Larry Sherman Scholarship, named for MRA board member and former chairman D. Larry Sherman.

Heather Buerger, of Grand Rapids, daughter of Debra Buerger, an employee at CareLinc Medical Equipment and Supply in Grandville. She is a graduate of South Christian High School and will be a freshman at Michigan State University in the fall.

Amanda Cheney, of Eagle, daughter of Ruth Cheney, an employee at Enerco Corporation in Grand Ledge. She is a graduate of Grand Ledge High School and will be a junior at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo in the fall.

Sarah Clarke, of Adrian, daughter of Eric Clarke, an employee at Running with E’s in Adrian. She is a graduate of Adrian High School and will be a freshman at Siena Heights University in Adrian in the fall.

Andrea Dias, of Clinton Township, daughter of Lou Dias, an employee at Mr. Alan’s Men’s Bootery in Southfield. She is a graduate of Clintondale High School and will be a junior at Michigan State University in the fall.

Dias received the Fred E. and Lillian Sherman Scholarship, a new scholarship also funded by MRA board member Sherman in honor of his parents, founders of Sherman Shoes.

Nicholas Elhart, of Holland, son of Timothy Elhart, an employee at Elite Active Wear in Holland. He is a graduate of Black River Public School and will be a freshman at Western Michigan University in the fall.

Trevor Friedeberg, of Bay City, son of Harald Friedeberg, an employee at Herter Music Center in Bay City. He is a graduate of Bangor John Glenn High School and will be a sophomore at Michigan State University in the fall.

Joshua Ghiringhelli, of Elk Rapids, who works with his father, Louis, owner of River Pharmacy in Elk Rapids. He is a graduate of Elk Rapids High School and will be a sophomore at Ferris State University in Big Rapids in the fall. He received an MRA scholarship last year as well.

Shayna Johnson, of Fremont, daughter of Susan Johnson, an employee at His & Her Hair Care Center in White Cloud. She is a graduate of Fremont High School and will be a freshman at Grand Valley State University in Allendale in the fall.

Johnson received the Retailers Fund Scholarship, funded by contributions from MRA’s self-funded workers’ compensation insurance program.

Kristin Klein, of Metamora, an employee at Design Works Custom Jewelry in Auburn Hills. She is a graduate of Dryden High School in Dryden and will be a freshman at Mott Community College in Flint this fall.

Rachel Lake, of Saginaw, daughter of Richard Lake, an employee of Owosso Graphic Arts in Owosso. She is a graduate of Durand Area High School in Durand and will be a senior at Saginaw Valley State University in Saginaw in the fall.

George Lesko, of Tecumseh, son of George Lesko Sr., an employee at Jem Fluid Power Inc. in West Branch. He is a graduate of Tecumseh High School and will be a freshman at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti in the fall.

Lesko received the Nathan Rosenfeld Scholarship, named for the founder of Jacobson Stores, Inc.

Elizabeth Martin, of Grosse Pointe Park, daughter of Catherine Nordby, an employee at Shore Pointe Dermatology in Roseville. She is a graduate of Grosse Pointe South High School and will be a freshman at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio, in the fall.

Ame Matuzeski, of Muskegon, daughter of Patricia Matuzeski, an employee at Clark Stamp Company in Muskegon. She is a graduate of Reeths-Puffer High School in Muskegon and will be a freshman at Michigan State University in the fall.

Lauren Nest, of West Bloomfield, who works with her father, Jeffrey Nest, owner of The Source Ltd. in Southfield. She is a graduate of West Bloomfield High School and will be a senior at Michigan State University in the fall.

Amber Nykerk, of Holland, daughter of Lonnie Nykerk, owner of Cottage Corner in Holland. She is a graduate of Holland Christian High School and will be a freshman at Grand Valley State University in the fall.

Emily Rietberg, of Jenison, an employee at Hutchins Jewelry in Jenison. She is a graduate of Jenison High School and will be a freshman at Grand Valley State University in the fall.

John Roberts, of Macomb, an employee at Art Van Furniture in Shelby Township. He is a graduate of Henry Ford II High School in Sterling Heights and will be a freshman at Wayne State University in Detroit in the fall.

Roberts received the Foundation’s Raymond A. and Mildred C. Sobelton Scholarship, funded by MRA board member Peter Sobelton and his sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Douglas Stranahan, in honor of the Sobeltons’ parents, founders of Churchills Ltd.

Kristin Schafer, of Mt. Pleasant, daughter of Scott Schafer, an employee at Bear Package & Supply in Mt. Pleasant. She is a graduate of Beal City High School and will be a freshman at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant in the fall.

Kelli Scharphorn, of Wyoming, an employee at Crossroads Bible Institute in Grandville. She is a graduate of Calvin Christian High School and will be a sophomore at Grand Valley State University in the fall. She received an MRA scholarship last year as well.

Kimberly Tansey, of Lansing, daughter of Jon Tansey, an employee at Women’s Golf Academy in Lansing. She is a graduate of Grand Ledge High School in Grand Ledge and will be a junior at Western Michigan University in the fall.

Tansey received the Michigan Retailers Services, Inc., Scholarship, funded by contributions from the wholly owned subsidiary of MRA that delivers services to the membership.

Taylor Usitalo, of Lake Linden, an employee at Rail Dreams Inc. in Lake Linden. He is a graduate of Lake Linden-Hubbell High School and will be a freshman at Michigan Technological University in Houghton in the fall.

Emily Wilk, of Howell, daughter of Anne Wilk, an employee at Designing Women in Howell. She is a graduate of Lansing Catholic Central High School in Lansing and will be a freshman at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois, in the fall.

Felicia Zwier, of Grandville, an employee at Tuxedos Unlimited Inc. in Grandville. She is a graduate of Grandville High School and will be a junior at Grand Rapids Community College in the fall.