Twenty-nine of the most academically accomplished high school seniors from the Shiawassee County area recently made a trip to Ann Arbor. (See below for the full listing of all forty-four nominees, which includes those nominees unable to attend the trip.)

Forty-four of 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.  One of these students will be selected to receive a four-year, full-tuition, scholarship from Bruce and Jacqueline Cook.

In order to assist them with their college selection, thirty-one of the nominees recently attended an overnight trip to the University of Michigan. There they had the opportunity to meet with admission officers, to take a tour of the campus and stadium, to hear a presentation from a professor, and to spend time with students from the Shiawassee County area presently enrolled at the University of Michigan.

“We want to make sure the leaders and the best among local high school students seriously consider the University of Michigan for the next level of education,” said Foundation President Bruce Cook.  “We are committed to the academic success of local students, and are committed to building partnerships with our public schools and our oldest public university.”

Each of the nominees will receive at least a $3,000 scholarship to the University of Michigan from the Cook Family Foundation.  The Cook Family Foundation annually provides a scholarship to any student from the greater Shiawassee region admitted to the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.  

If they apply and are admitted to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, the following students will be considered for the Bruce and Jacqueline Cook scholarship: from Byron: Olivia Chapman, Julia Slackta, Kelsea Strzelecki-Davis; from Chesaning: Hannah Cooper, Dominick Hernandez,, Breeanna Schlicker, Kathrine Shelton, Joshua Sicard, Emily Smith, and Eric Waswick; from Corunna:  Haley Kennedy, Isaiah Shook, Kaylee Siddens, Peyton TerMeer; from Durand:  Zachary David, Jillian Reddy, Hannah Sharkey, and Jaxon Smith; from Laingsburg:  Kathryn Magyar, Sydney Morrill, Casmir Palazzolo, and Ian Smith; from Morrice:  Payton Gutting, from New Lothrop:  Hayden Andres and Tyler Kohlmann; from Ovid-Elsie: Brooklyn Belill, Austin Darling, Ryan Gavenda, Breckin Kirby, Ella Powell, Austin Smith, Alexis Spitzley, and Gabrielle Steele; from Owosso:  Claire Agnew, Amanda Brainerd, Tanner Cummings, Abigail Dryer, Tyler Hufnagel, Liam McGraw, Marisa Rose, and John (Jay) Tuttle; and from Perry:  Cassidy Flick, Jonah Smith, and David Zheng.

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

In addition to scholarships to help students attend the University of MIchigan in Ann Arbor, the Foundation recently announced The University of Michigan Shiawassee Advantage.  Now any graduating senior with a GPA of 3.5 or higher from any of the ten high schools in the greater Shiawassee region will receive a $3,000 Cook Family Foundation Scholarship if they enroll at any one of the three University of Michigan campuses (Ann Arbor, Dearborn or Flint).  Additionally, these students will then become eligible for many of the substantial U of M merit-based scholarships, as well as the full-tuition Go Blue Guarantee if they have demonstrated financial need.

For assistance applying to UM, or for more information on scholarships, contact the Foundation.