News Flash

This marks the 22nd consecutive year the Foundation has awarded scholarships to area youth pursuing degrees in higher education or vocational training. The Foundation began awarding scholarships in 1999 and has awarded scholarships to 461 area students totaling $411,000, including the 2020 awards.

This year, the Sterling Heights Area Community Foundation welcomed the creation and addition of the Vibe Credit Union Scholarship as well as the Ronald Himmler Science Scholarship Endowment. This brings the total number of endowment funds the Foundation manages to 26.

The organizations awarding scholarships in 2020 include BAE Systems, General Dynamics Land Systems, Macomb County Chiropractic Association, former Mayor Richard J. Notte endowment for government public service, Ronald Himmler Science Scholarship, Rotary Club of Sterling Heights, the Selfridge Air National Guard Base Community Council, Sterling Heights Area Community Foundation and Vibe Credit Union. 

2020 Scholarships

BAE Systems – The Company awarded two $1,000 scholarships to Sterling Heights area students pursuing undergraduate degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Mathematics curriculums.

The 2020 BAE System scholarship recipients are Tyler Amato and Allyson O’Grady.

Tyler Amato lives in Sterling Heights and graduated from Stevenson High School with a 4.01 GPA. He was active in band, the National Honor Society and as a church volunteer. He is pursuing a mechanical engineering degree at Oakland University, and he looks forward to starting his career in the area upon graduation.
Allyson O’Grady lives in Clinton Township and is graduating from Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center with a 4.3 GPA while maintaining a busy extracurricular schedule.  O’Grady will attend Central Michigan University to prepare to serve in the medical field as a physician assistant.

General Dynamics Land Systems - The Company awarded three $1,000 scholarships to Sterling Heights area students pursuing undergraduate degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Mathematics disciplines.

General Dynamics 2020 scholarship awardees are Alexander Calmi, Alayna Celestini and Caitlin Tremucha.

Alexander Calmi lives in Sterling Heights and is graduating from Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center with a 4.2 GPA. He will be attending Kettering University, pursuing a mechanical engineering degree and is looking forward to the co-op program to identify companies where he can gain hands-on engineering experience. Calmi also intends to continue his First Robotics relationships through mentoring.
Alayna Celestini lives in Macomb and is graduating from Dakota High School with a 4.1 GPA. At Dakota, she was active in the National Honor Society, Student Government, sports and as a volunteer. Celestini will be attending Michigan State University to pursue an engineering degree toward a career in the automotive industry or with NASA.

Caitlin Tremucha lives in Sterling Heights and is graduating from the International Academy of Macomb with a 4.4 GPA, especially notable considering her busy extracurricular and volunteer schedule. Tremucha plans to attend Wayne State University to prepare for medical school and grow her fluency in several languages.

Macomb County Chiropractic Association - The Association awarded four $1,000 scholarships to students pursuing a career in chiropractic health care. 2020 MCCA scholarship award winners are Steele Butzin, Kaylee Chan, Mark Hess and Chloe Whalen.

Steele Butzin graduated from Lutheran High North in 2019 and currently attends Tiffin University in Ohio, where he holds a 4.0 GPA. He plans to graduate with his Bachelor of Science degree in 2023 and pursue a graduate school program to become a Doctor of Chiropractic, like his father. 

Kaylee Chan attends the Utica Academy for International Studies and will graduate this June. She has a 4.23 GPA while involved in many extracurricular activities including National Honor Society, Debate team, Health Occupations Students of America, Medical Club, Wayne State Warrior’s College Experience Residential Camp, Language Club and Key Club. Chan is also a volunteer at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital.

Mark Hess graduated from Parkway Christian School in 2016 and is currently a student at Wayne State University, plannning to graduate in 2020 when he will pursue his Doctorate in Chiropractic from Logan University in Chesterfield, Missouri, wih plans to graduate in 2024. Hess maintains a high grade point average while also working part-time and serving as president of a student organization and volunteering at a hospital and at church.

Chloe Whalen graduated from Anchor Bay High School in 2016 and will graduate from Michigan State University May 2020 where she was president of M.S.U.’s Pre-Chiropractic Association. She will begin her graduate studies at Palmer College of Chiropractic this fall and plans to graduate as a Doctor of Chiropractic in 2023. Whalen is passionate about natural health care, and she is eager to establish a future practice focused on family and pediatric care. 

Mayor Richard J. Notte Scholarship for Public Service – The Mayor Notte endowment awarded one $1,000 scholarship to a Sterling Heights area college student pursuing a college degree in government public service.

This year’s Mayor Notte scholarship for Public Service awardee is Miranda Davis.

Miranda Davis resides in Sterling Heights and is graduating this June from Utica Academy for International Studies with a 4.04 GPA. She will attend the University of Groningen in The Netherlands this fall to pursue a degree in liberal arts and sciences with a major in social and political sciences with an anticipated graduation in 2023. She is vice chair for the Sterling Heights Youth Advisory Board and a member of National Honor Society and Amnesty International. Davis plans to experience the world to broaden her global knowledge in preparation for her career goals involving the political and social sciences and public office. 

Ronald Himmler Science Scholarship – A new scholarship sponsor this year awarded three $1,000 scholarships to Sterling Heights high school students pursuing a college or vocational degree in a science related field. The Ronald Himmler Science Scholarship inaugural award winners are Emily Breton, Danielle Hopfinger and Miranda VanArman.

Emily Breton attends Stevenson High School in Sterling Heights and will graduate in 2021. She intends to pursue a career in biomedical engineering at Michigan Tech University. Breton has a 3.88 grade point average, and she is actively involved in Science Olympiad, HOSA, Youth Advisory Board, Varsity Swim, Coding Club and Future Doctors. 

Danielle Hopfinger attends Utica Academy for International Studies ands will graduate in June with a 4.20 GPA.  She intends to study biology/pre-med and become a pediatrician. Hopfinger is active in a variety of extracurricular activities including the Spanish Club, National Honor Society, Health Occupations Students of America, Medical Club, Key Club, as well as playing high school soccer.  

Miranda VanArman attends Sterling Heights High School and will graduate this June with a 3.92 GPA. She intends to join a science/pre-dentistry program at Central Michigan University majoring in biochemistry and microbiology with a future career as an orthodontist in mind. VanArman is active in Varsity Volleyball, Varsity Soccer, National Honor Society, Freshman Mentoring Program, H.O.S.A., and also serves as a math and chemistry tutor.

Rotary Club of Sterling Heights - Awarded two $1,000 scholarships to Sterling Heights residents who are either high school seniors or college students. The 2020 Rotary Club of Sterling Heights scholarship winners are Simon Momeyer and Sarah Scopas.

Simon Momeyer attends Sterling Heights High School and will graduate with a 3.99 GPA in June 2020. He will study biology at Michigan State University and plans to attend dental school after completing his bachelor’s degree.  Momeyer has been extremely active and involved in many voluntary efforts like Gleaners Food Bank in addition to National Honor Society, Future Health Professionals, Varsity Baseball, Varsity Tennis, Marching Band and church-related activities.

Sarah Scopas is a senior at the Utica Academy for International Studies and will graduate in June 2020 with a 4.26 GPA. She will attend University of Detroit Mercy studying biology and physician assistant courses, planning to practice in orthopedics after graduation. Scopas has been active in many extracurricular activities including Varsity tennis, Medical Club, HOSA, Key Club, Spanish Club, National Honor Society, Society of Women Engineers and as a volunteer at local hospitals, elementary schools and senior centers, churches and charitable organizations such as MCREST, the public library, Blessings in a Backpack and the Macomb Humane Society.

Selfridge ANG/Base Community - The council awarded one $1,000 scholarship to a high school student pursuing a college degree or vocational training who is the son or daughter of a military member assigned to Selfridge Air National Guard Base. The SANG Base Council 2020 scholarship awardee is Ellie Marie Peruski.

Ellie Peruski will graduate from Ubly Community High School in Ubly, Michigan this June with a 3.7 GPA. She was a four-year member of her school’s basketball team and also an active band member. Peruski will be attending Saginaw Valley State University where she will study early childhood education. Upon graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in preschool education. 

Sterling Heights Area Community Foundation – Awarded three $1,000 scholarships to Sterling Heights area students pursuing college degrees or vocational training. 2020 SHACF scholarship winners are Celine Matway, Aarushi Parmar and Faheed Shafou.

Celine Matway attends Eisenhower High School and is graduating this June with a 3.91 GPA. Matway was active in extracurricular activities and plans to attend Oakland University to become a physician assistant. 

Aarushi Parmar is graduating this June from the International Academy with a 4.30 GPA. She is the founder of the ‘Mold Me Like Clay’ startup and the Make-a-Wish Club at her school. Parmar plans to pursue a Doctorate of Physical Therapy at a yet to be decided university. 

Faheed Shafou attends Cousino High School and is graduating this June with a 4.20 GPA. He plans to attend Central Michigan University to pursue a degree in biomedical sciences before going on to medical school. Shafou was involved in many extracurricular activities including National Honor Society, Student Advisory Committee and Peer-to-Peer which mentors fellow classmates who have Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

Vibe Credit Union – Another new scholarship sponsor this year, Vibe Credit Union awarded one $1,000 scholarship to a Sterling Heights area student graduating high school and pursuing an education at a university, college, or technical school. The inaugural scholarship awardee is Madison Detloff.

Madison Dettloff is a Fraser High School senior graduating with with a 3.97 GPA. She plans to attend the University of Michigan Flint Nursing program to prepare to serve as a registered nurse in a neonatal intensive care unit.

“The Foundation applauds each of its scholarship program partners for their encouragement and support of Sterling Heights area high school seniors pursuing a college or vocational degree,” said Foundation Executive Director Karl G. Oskoian. “Community leaders, like our scholarship partners, make a difference in the lives of not only the students they help but the community at large. We are fortunate to have companies and businesses like our scholarship partners come forward and make a difference in the lives of these deserving young students.”