MRA’s annual scholarship competition is awarding 19 scholarships totaling $30,000 for the 2018-19 academic year.
The awards are funded by the Michigan Retailers Foundation and contributions from MRA members and other donors.
There are 14 $1,500 scholarships and one $1,000 scholarship this year. The $1,500 scholarships go to students attending four-year colleges and universities and the $1,000 scholarship goes to a student attending a community colleges or approved institutions. In addition, four $2,000 scholarships came over when the Michigan Grocers Association joined MRA in early January.
Those four scholarships are called the Paul M. Felice Memorial Scholarship awards, in honor of the former MGA chairman and director.
Another new award is the Jean L. Sarasin Legacy Scholarship, named after and created by the former MRA executive vice president and chief operating officer. Sarasin retired from MRA in July 2014.
To be eligible, recipients must be an employee of a MRA member business or the dependent of an owner or employee of a member business. Students apply between January 1 and April 1 each year for the scholarships.
The program’s totals have now reached $514,500 awarded to 530 recipients since 1999, when the current program format began.
Scholarship recipients were chosen by a third-party administrator – International Scholarship and Tuition Services. Here are their choices, listed by name, hometown, scholarship award, MRA connection, higher education institution, major, student status and high school.
Campbell Bortel, Midland: Mark Schrag Legacy Scholarship; his father is David T. Bortel, MD, PC, in Midland, an MRA member. Cedarville University in Ohio, geology, senior; H.H. Dow High School.
Quinton Bortel, Midland: Nathan Rosenfeld Legacy Scholarship; also a son of MRA member David T. Bortel, MD, PC, Midland; Alma College, physiology, sophomore; H.H. Dow High School.
Dakota Birr, Oxford: Paul M. Felice Memorial Scholarship; Meijer, Oxford; Michigan State University, mechanical engineering, freshman; Oxford High School.
Mariah Claremont, Portage: James P. Hallan MRA President and CEO Legacy Scholarship; Nelson Hardware, Portage; Kalamazoo Valley Community College, respiratory therapy, junior.
Jakob Disbrow, Kalkaska: Jean L. Sarasin Legacy Scholarship; McLean’s Hardware, Kalkaska; University of Michigan, engineering, freshman; Kalkaska High School.
Michael Flickinger, Grand Rapids: Walsh Family Legacy Scholarship; Meijer, Grand Rapids; Aquinas College, biology, sophomore; home-schooled.
Paul Flickinger, Grand Rapids: Paul M. Felice Memorial Scholarship; Meijer, Grand Rapids; Benedictine College, finance, senior; home-schooled.
Calvin Habba, Waterford: Raymond A. and Mildred C. Sobelton Platinum Legacy Scholarship; Pearle Vision, Waterford; Wayne State University, optometry, freshman; Waterford Kettering High School.
Alex Ieuter, Midland: Target Corporation Platinum Legacy Scholarship; Ieuter Insurance Group, Midland; Michigan State University, business management, freshman; H.H. Dow High School.
Alicia Kasper, Hessel: Joseph Swanson Platinum Legacy Scholarship; Richard B. Morrison, D.D.S. P.C., Pickford; Ferris State University, pharmacy, sophomore; Cedarville High School.
Aaron Kofsky, Ann Arbor: Kenneth A. and Margaret Schwark Legacy Scholarship; Bank of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor; University of Michigan, computer programming, freshman; Pioneer High School.
Eden Langlois, Marquette: Thomas Ungrodt Legacy Scholarship; Blackrocks Brewery, Marquette; Northern Michigan University, education, freshman; Marquette High School.
Isabella Licavoli, Macomb: Paul M. Felice Memorial Scholarship; Kroger, Shelby Charter Township; University of Michigan, biology, sophomore; Eisenhower High School.
Ricky Matthews, Grand Rapids: Helen McCurry Legacy Scholarship; Meijer, Grand Rapids; Western Michigan University, physical therapy, sophomore; Ottawa Hills High School.
Brooke Mehney, DeWitt: Linda Mayleben Legacy Scholarship; Michigan Police Equipment Company, Charlotte; Ferris State University, architecture, freshman; St. Johns High School.
Ishaan Sabnis, Canton: Fred and Lillian Sherman Legacy Scholarship; Broaching Machine Specialties, Novi; University of Michigan, computer science, sophomore; Salem High School.
Madison Skop, Boyne Falls: Barb Stein Legacy Scholarship; Country Casuals, Petoskey; Central Michigan University, graphic design, junior; Boyne City High School.
Abigail Sykes, Twin Lake: Paul M. Felice Memorial Scholarship; Meijer, Grand Rapids; Alma College, political science, sophomore; Reeths-Puffer High School.
Megan Taylor, Ann Arbor: D. Larry Sherman Legacy Scholarship; Fourth Avenue Birkenstock, Ann Arbor; University of Michigan, cognitive science, freshman; Skyline High School.
