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/