Michigan Retailers Association is awarding 12 college students with scholarships totaling $42,000 for the 2022-23 academic year. The awards are funded by the Michigan Retailers Foundation, the mission of which has always been to support the educational advancement of retail employees.
Earlier this year, the Michigan Retailers Association board voted to increase individual scholarship amounts to $3,500 and award 12 legacy scholarships in 2022. Last year, 26 scholarships were awarded ranging from $1,000-$1,500.
The following scholarships were awarded:
- MRA Legacy Scholarship (6)
- Paul M. Felice and Al Kessel Platinum Legacy Scholarship
- Helen McCurry Platinum Legacy Scholarship
- D. Larry Sherman Platinum Legacy Scholarship
- Raymond A. and Mildred C. Sobelton Platinum Legacy Scholarship
- Joseph Swanson Platinum Legacy Scholarship
- Walsh Family Platinum Legacy Scholarship
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 $657,250 awarded to 613 recipients since 1999, when the current program format began. Scholarship recipients were chosen by a third-party administrator – International Scholarship and Tuition Services.
Contributions to the MRA Foundation come from MRA members, directors and employees, and other donors.
MRA Legacy Scholarship donors include:
- Nathan Rosenfeld
- Mark Schrag and Friends
- Schwark Family, including brothers James, Tom and Michael
- Barb Stein
- Tom Ungrodt
- John Mayleben, in honor of Linda Mayleben
- Jean and Thomas Sarasin
- Dan Marshall, in honor of Willis W. and Mary Jane Marshall
- Orin and Tina Mazzoni and Family
- Bo Brines and Family
- Judy and Rodney Phillips
- W. Bruce and Joyce M. Rogers
- Bill Golden
- Becky Beauchine Kulka
- Jeff and Doreen Joyce
- Larry and Gail Meyer
Information for each student is listed in this order: high school; hometown; award name; business where the student or parent works; business location; college or university; major; and class status.
Joseph Clark
Portage Northern High School, Portage
MRA Legacy Scholarship
Centrica Care Navigators, Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Communications, Freshman
Karlin Decker 
Alpena High School, Alpena
MRA Legacy Scholarship
Alpena High School Campus Closet, Alpena
Northern Michigan University, Biology, Freshman
Luke Douglass
Ravenna High School, Ravenna
MRA Legacy Scholarship
Ravenna Lumber Company, Ravenna
Cornerstone University, Education, Freshman
Jordyn Disbrow
Kalkaska High School, Kalkaska
Larry Sherman Platinum Legacy Scholarship
McLean’s Hardware, Kalkaska
University of Michigan, Biochemistry, Sophomore
Jacob Fetrow
Allendale High School, Allendale
Paul M. Felice and Al Kessel Memorial Platinum Legacy Scholarship
SpartanNash – D & W Fresh Market, Grand Haven
Adrian College, Business Management, Freshman
Jacob Flickinger
Home-schooled, Grand Rapids
Walsh Family Platinum Legacy Scholarship
Meijer, Grand Rapids
Grand Valley State University, Accounting, Junior
Ayah Habhab
Fordson High School, Dearborn
Raymond A. and Mildred C. Sobelton Platinum Legacy Scholarship
Rite Aid Corp., Allen Park
Wayne State University, Pharmacy, Senior
Carter Harris
Saline High School, Saline
Joseph Swanson Platinum Legacy Scholarship
Milan Ace Hardware, Milan
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Computer Engineering, Freshman
Gabriel Maday
St. Francis High School, Traverse City
Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools, Traverse City
MRA Legacy Scholarship
University of Notre Dame, Science Education, Freshman
Adam Rasmussen
Traverse City Christian High School, Traverse City
Alpena Marc, Alpena
MRA Legacy Scholarship
Cornerstone University, Education, Sophomore
Joel TenHaaf
Home-schooled, Caledonia
MRA Legacy Scholarship
Enwork, Caledonia
Kettering University, Mechanical Engineering, Senior
Ethan Tennant
Bedford High School, Temperance
Helen McCurry Platinum Legacy Scholarship
Kroger Co., Monroe
Aquinas College, Political Science, Freshman
For more information, email MRA’s Rachel Schrauben at rschrauben@retailers.com.
