We are proud to announce the 2014 Building A Better World Scholarship Winners. Each of the three Oakridge Seniors above have earned a $1750 scholarship. Please go here for information on how to donate or to learn more about the history of our Scholarship.
Dominique Jessen won the 2014 Community Involvement Scholarship. Dominique won a $1750 scholarship for her past efforts and future plans for Community Involvement. She was involved in everything at Oakridge High School over the course of her four year career. 6th in her class, she served as a member of National Honor Society and Student Council and played for the 2014 Oakridge Softball Regional Championship team. She was a member of the OHS Marching Band for four years and served as drum major her junior and senior years. She went to Washington D.C. with Close Up in 2014. Dominique will be attending Western Michigan University in the Fall and majoring in business. She has already been selected for membership in the WMU Marching Band and will begin marching in August. Congratulations Dominique. Please go here to read highlights of Dominique’s winning essay.
Travis Simmons is the 2014 Independent Travel Award winner. Travis won a stipend of $1750 to help pay for his December 2014 trip to the Philippines with his grandma. Travis’ mother and grandmother are Philippine by birth. This will be his first trip outside of the United States. Travis served as a member of National Honor Society and Student Council. He was a four year participant in the Oakridge Marching Band and went to D.C. with Close UP in 2013. Travis will be attending U of M Flint this Fall where, after two years he will transfer to U of M Ann Arbor’s College of Engineering, and major in computer software engineering. Travis, like Dominique hopes to march for his college as the U of M Marching Band extends to the Flint campus. Good luck Travis. Please go here to read highlights of Travis’ winning essay.
Nicole DePender was selected as the 2014 Global Awareness / Independent Travel Scholarship winner. Nicole’s situation was unique in that she had two winning entries chosen by the selection committee, and won our first ever choice award – Nicole will choose between a $1750 Global Awareness College Scholarship or use the $1750 to travel this summer to the Grand Canyon. Nicole graduated 4th in the Oakridge Class of 2014. She was a member of National Honors Society and Student Council. Nicole carried a 175 average for the OHS bowling team and pitched for the OHS Softball Regional Championship Softball team, for which she was selected All-State as a senior. Nicole will apply to the MCC Nursing Program in the Fall. She will bowl and play softball for MCC. After completion of the MCC Nursing Program, she plans to transfer to GVSU and study to become a Physician’s Assistant. Please go here to read highlights of Nicole’s winning Global Awareness essay. Please go here to read highlights of Nicole’s Independent Travel essay.
Thank you to Sheryl Swainston, Pat Schroeder, Alicia Parker, Kim Nelski, Jeff Lohman, Bob Wood, TeAnna Friday (2013 winner), Lyndsey Gibson (2004 winner) for serving on the 2014 Building A Better World Scholarship selection committee.
