Cook Family Foundation

The Cook Family Foundations wants success for both our best nonprofits and for our best students. We support community organizations through the NonProfit Capacity Building program, and we provide scholarships to the University of Michigan for graduates of ten area high schools.  We also strive to bring these two program efforts together by supporting internships in Shiawassee County.

Our goal is to bring talented young people back to our community for a summer’s employment.  This helps nonprofits by providing them with the best and the brightest to help with a definable project. This helps students by giving them an opportunity put their skills to work, learn more about their community from a new perspective, and gain additional financial support for their continued education. Here are accounts from recent internships:

Hunter Glew – helping out with the Children’s Summer Adventure Camp at the Shiawassee Arts Center.

Shiawassee Arts Center Welcomed Intern, Hunter Glew

University of Michigan Sophomore and 2017 Corunna High School Graduate, Hunter Glew, spent her summer helping the Shiawassee Arts Center’s Arts Education Director, Linda Ruehle, to plan and implement classes for both the senior’s and children’s art program. Hunter is studying Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. She intends to eventually attain a doctoral degree to work as a professor and researcher with a focus on deaf culture, or her new-found interest–art therapy. Hunter noted, “I’ve now been able to see firsthand how the various art programs can take students away from outside stresses, and how it can create an outlet for all those participating.  I am so thankful to have helped create that for so many people this summer.

Here’s Anna Clarizio (in pink) – during The Arc Summer Camp with (from L-R) Jesse McGuire, Allison Grubb, and Jonathan Hannifan at Junction of Hope Restaurant in Chesaning.

Summer Camp Help at the Arc Shiawassee from Intern, Anna Clarizio

Anna Clarizio, a Senior at Central Michigan University working toward a career in Special Education, interned with The Arc Shiawassee–assisting with the planning and execution of every aspect of the camp program.  “Anna was a vital part of our six-week day camp for teens and adults with developmental disabilities this summer,” announced Executive Director, Lynn Grubb.  “Without Anna, our program would not have been as successful.  We are hopeful she will come back next summer and take over as Camp Program Director.”

Madison Van Epps (R) and Terry Horton (L) working the HepA outreach booth for the Shiawassee County Health Department.

 Madison Van Epps – Shiawassee County Health Department Intern

University of Michigan Senior and Owosso High School graduate, Madison Van Epps, got involved in many aspects of the Shiawassee County Health Department this summer.  Madison was responsible for the social media campaign in the county’s quest to raise awareness about Hepatitis A, as well as the data entry.  In addition, she also handled the department’s “How did you hear about us” family planning survey, and enhanced the department’s social media and community presence by creating an Instagram account, as well as posters and videos, and even some give-aways.   Another key duty involved interviewing local community stakeholders in order to conduct a needs assessment regarding what the Health Department could help with in the ongoing county problem of obesity.  And lastly, Madison designed a new poster and rack card to give away at outreach events with the local SafeCenter called, Smart 911. “She did it all!” notes Larry Johnson, Shiawassee County Health Department Director. 

Harrison Miller (Center) with Justin Horvath, SEDP President/CEO (L) and Brent Jones (R), Vice President at the newly refurbished Armory.

Meet Harrison Miller, Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership Summer Intern

Harrison Miller, a rising Junior at the University of Michigan studying Business Administration with an emphasis in marketing, got a chance to put some of his learning experience to work with the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership (SEDP) throughout the summer. His projects included a major update of the organization’s website, and Harrison also provided research development for the organization in support of upcoming programming.  President/CEO, Justin Horvath, shared, “Thanks to Harrison Miller for being part of the SEDP team this summer. We enjoyed having him as our intern, and are grateful for his contributions to our program.”

Tyson Moore with Bruce and Jacqueline Cook

Once again, the Cook Family Foundation is providing a scholarship to every high school senior from the greater Shiawassee County region attending the University of Michigan.  This fall, twenty young men and women from nine area high schools will enroll at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

The future Wolverines were recognized at a dinner on May 10.  Special guest at the event was Dr. Martin Philbert, Provost and Executive Vice President of the University of Michigan.  Philbert, the former dean of the U-M School of Public Health was educated in Great Britain, earning a bachelor of science degree from the University of Cambridge and medical degree from the London Royal Medical School.  He began his academic career at Rutgers University and joined the U-M faculty in 1995. Dr. Martin’s message to students: “The most important reason for coming (to U-M) is the way you’ll be challenged to think hard, to ask critical questions, analyze from many perspectives and develop complex solutions to problems.”

At the reception, Tyson Moore, senior of Corunna High School, was awarded the Bruce & Jacqueline Cook Scholarship. This four-year, full tuition scholarship is funded separately from the Foundation by its namesakes. Tyson is the son of Michael and Jennifer Moore, and plans to pursue a major in biochemistry with the goal of becoming a medical researcher. At CHS, he is a member of the concert and marching bands, and was a drum major for two years. He is an accomplished member of the swim team, and has served as captain and lifeguard, and is a proud member of the National Honor Society. Accepting the award, Moore shared, “I’m extremely grateful. I can’t fathom the generosity of someone who wants to pay for me to learn and someday help others.”

Brendan Dewley of Owosso, Dr. Martin Philbert, Provost & Vice President of U-M, and Tom Cook

Brendan Dewley, Owosso High School senior, is the recipient of the Donald Cook Scholarship. He has been the vice president of the student government at OHS for two years, and is a member of the quiz bowl team and National Honor Society.  He has played tennis and worked on the robotics team, and is employed at Bob Evans restaurant. He is the son of Josh and Lynnette Dewley and the interests he intends to pursue at U-M include communications, political science and social change, leading to a career as a television writer, journalist or possibly a lawyer. “I am very grateful for everything the Cooks have done,” said Dewley.  “It’s going to put me at ease knowing I have their support.”

The Donald Cook Scholarship is awarded by the University of Michigan to a student attending the College of Literature, Science and the Arts and provides $5,000 per year for four years at U-M. It has been financially supported by the Cook Family Foundation in recognition of the Foundation’s founder.  In 2017, the Foundation entered a multi-year funding agreement to endow the scholarship in perpetuity at the University.

Of the twenty scholarship recipients, in addition to the Bruce and Jackie Scholarship winner, Tyson Moore from Corunna High School and Brendan Dewley of Owosso High School there are students from nine area high schools, with three valedictorians (Kathryn Beeman of Ovid-Elsie, Ryan Kingsbury of Laingsburg, and Nicholas Mazarra of Durand) and two salutatorians (Christopher Mars of Corunna and Spencer Wood of Morrice). Other scholarship winners were: from Byron, Olivia Howard and Ian Wilsdon; from Corunna, Ramneet Chauhan, and Michael Miller, Jr.; from Laingsburg, Matthew Nickols and Emma Smith; from New Lothrop, Michael Kieffer and Rebekah Riley; from Owosso, Jake Bacigal, Abigail Brainerd, Daniel Clevenger and Damien Moore, Jr.; and from Perry, Trent Ivey.

For more information on the Foundation’s scholarships, visit this page.