One of the most successful scholarship programs in Leelanau County last week distributed $14,000, monies that will help advance the careers of five graduating seniors, one college upperclassman and a county resident studying as an adult to become a nurse practitioner.
The Leelanau County Prospectors Club has written checks totaling $172,500 since 1989 to help county residents pay for classes or tools needed for their chosen trades.
“We’re a small club with members who care about their community,” said Alan Campbell, a long-time member of the Prospectors scholarship committee. “We’ve set up a system by which retired educators interview applicants and decide who receives scholarships. The former teachers, the folks who donate toward scholarships, and the people who take the time to apply and participate make the program a success.”
The selection committee consists of Don Miller, Laurie List, Sarah Christensen and Sander Scott. The awards were presented at a dinner meeting of the club, which has been meeting monthly at various restaurants in the county since 1946, at the Villagers Restaurant. Family members of recipients were in attendance.
High school recipients are:
• Dylan Cundiff of Maple City carried a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) at Glen Lake and is enrolled in pre-med classes at Notre Dame University, where he plans to minor in Spanish and business. He was a captain on football and basketball teams, ran track, and volunteered for community events including Blessings in a Backpack, Cedar Polka Fest and the Glen Arbor Art Fest.
• Ella Rose Flores of Cedar carried a 3.43 GPA at Glen Lake and is enrolled at Northwestern Michigan College. She plans to enter the medical field. Flores started the Rotary International Interact Club, is president of the National Honors Society, and volunteered for Special Olympics, the Brian Nachazel Annual Softball Tournament and the Rotary-affiliated group through which she helped build houses in El Salvador.
• Olive Louise Landry Ryder of Leland carried a 3.75 GPA at Leland Public Schools and plans to attend Kalamazoo College to study psychology and fine arts. Ryder was an all-state volleyball player and plans to continue playing for the Hornets; she was also captain of her soccer team. She has received the Leland Women’s Artist Award, and volunteered for Blessings in a Backpack, Lunch Aid for Carmella Valentine and Kids Clinic Volleyball.
• Mallory Lowe of Lake Leelanau carried a 3.98 GPA at Leland Public Schools and has been accepted by the University of Michigan, where she plans to study diabetes education. Lowe was captain of Leland volleyball, basketball and soccer teams. She has been a youth volunteer coach in basketball and volleyball and a Blessings in a Backpack volunteer.
• Daniel Ryan Lint is recipient of the Glen Noonan Memorial Scholarship. Lint of Bingham Township carried a 3.58 GPA and plans to study marine technology at Northwestern Michigan College. He played soccer and track, was active in Robotics, and volunteered as a youth soccer referee and to build soccer fields at Herman Park.
Recipients of Prospector posthigh school scholarships are:
• Elizabeth Stachnik is the recipient of the Sally Guzowski Memorial Scholarship. Through a previous Prospectors scholarship, she earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She is currently attending the University of Michigan-Flint studying toward a nurse practitioner degree while working full-time as a nurse at Munson Medical Center.
• Braydon Opie is pursuing a degree that will blend his interest in the arts, psychology, and advertising at Michigan State University. Headed into his junior year, Opie is involved in numerous campus activities and was nominated by his professors for a prestigious ADDY award in advertising.
