Current U of M students from Shiawassee County at the Annual Fall Pizza Party with the Cook Family Foundation.

The Cook Family Foundation is deepening its commitment to supporting Shiawassee area students gain a world-class education at the University of Michigan. We are pleased to announce a new effort in Ann Arbor to increase our scholarship recipients’ access to Resource Navigators, an existing program of peer advisors who connect students with the many support services available on campus.

With new three-year funding from the Cook Family Foundation, a dedicated staff member will guide scholarship recipients to specific help for any of their individual needs.

“The University of Michigan can feel overwhelming at times, especially for students from rural areas like Shiawassee County,” said Yvette Collard, the Foundation’s Director of Scholarships. “There are tremendous resources available to a student at the University of Michigan, but they have to reach out for assistance. Having a staff member and peer Resource Navigators as the point of contact will help our students access the resources they need.”

Yvette Collard, Director of Scholarships, with two current Shiawassee Students attending the University of Michigan

Launched in 2021, the U-M Resource Navigator program began in response to students’ needs during the pandemic and continues to support students today. Building on the success of the Resource Navigator support, our new program will use this framework to support students from Shiawassee County. A Student Life staff member will assist Shiawassee students in navigating campus and help build a network of trust for student throughout their time at Michigan.

The University of Michigan promotes the well-being of all students, and this new program helps students access on-campus resources such as getting connected to Counseling and Psychological Services, finding undergraduate research opportunities or other job opportunities, connecting to academic support resources, and joining student organizations. These represent common needs for University of Michigan students, and a Resource Navigator can guide them to these resources.

“We are so proud of the students that are admitted to the University of Michigan” said co-Executive Director Anna Owens. “Having a dedicated staff person will help our scholarship recipients find support when needed, make it through their classes, and graduate from the University of Michigan.”

Any current U-M student looking to gain the help of a Resource Navigator can make an appointment using the online form: https://campusinfo.umich.edu/resource-navigators.

Shiawassee Students at the CFF’s Annual Fall Pizza Party at the Pizza House.

Also new this year in Ann Arbor is a student-run group called “Shiawassee Scholars at the University of Michigan.” This group, initiated by current Shiawassee students on campus, has as its mission “to create an environment fostering new communities, outreach, and giving back to the community from which we came. Through events and participation in outreach, we aim to foster new communities here on campus. Through outreach and giving back, we can further support the Shiawassee Scholars and Cook Family’s mission of seeing students from Shiawassee County succeed in secondary education.” To join the group, or to learn more, visit https://maizepages.umich.edu/organization/shiawasseescholarsum.