Building a Better World

07/15/2012 · 3:39 pm

Jacob Barnard – Global Awareness ($1000)

Jacob Barnard – University of Michigan / Fall 2012

Jacob Barnard is enrolled as a 2012 freshman at University of Michigan in Political Science . After his undergraduate studies, he intends to pursue a JD law degree from University of Michigan Law School. He also is auditioning for the University Marching Band and plans to be on the football field at the Big House this Fall.

From Jacob’s winning scholarship essay...

“…if you’re not globally aware, you will be ignorant of the struggles that people are facing. Ignorance may be bliss for the ignorant, but ignorance of peoples’ troubles is definitely not bliss for them. However, you don’t need to know people on an individual level in order to care about things like starving children or human trafficking; you just need to know that it is happening and natural human compassion will make you care. Whether you care enough to act or not is a different matter. If you didn’t know those things were happening at all, however, how could you possibly be concerned about them or do anything to make things better?

…Global awareness, therefore, pushes us to care about and want to help people we may never meet, which is exactly why it helps build a better world. Also, in order to change the world for the better, we must be thinking about everybody, not just ourselves, because, despite what we often like to often think, we as individuals are not the world.”

Comments Off on Jacob Barnard – Global Awareness ($1000)

Filed under Building A Better World Scholarship, Uncategorized

07/13/2012 · 9:18 pm

Rich McCarthy and the Foundation Scholarship in his memory

Go here for a copy of the Rich McCarthy scholarship application. Due Friday May 9.

Richard (Rich) McCarthy – (April 10, 1947 to May 26, 2003)

Mr. McCarthy was a graduate of Northern Michigan University where he was an outstanding football player. He taught Physical Education here at Oakridge for 32 years and he not only loved every day of teaching, he also loved every student that crossed his path. He tried to make learning fun and always tried to incorporate important life lessons, like the importance of respect for one another, honesty, integrity and humor.

Sports were always an important part of Mr. McCarthy’s life. Known to his players as “Coach Mac”, he coached football at Oakridge, Orchard View and Reeths-Puffer. He also coached girls track for Reeths-Puffer where it was his greatest joy to be able to coach all three of his daughters, Kristin, Kelly and Erin. Mr. McCarthy battled chronic illness (kidney failure) for most of his life and through it all, his courage, good humor and wisdom were an inspiration to those who knew him.

He was married to his wife, Nancy for 33 years. He was a master at living his life “one day at a time” and enjoying every moment and every person that crossed his path. If he were here today, he would tell you to laugh often, always try your best, be kind to everyone and “never, ever, ever” give up.

Rich would be proud to know that his legacy lives on through scholarships to deserving Oakridge students.

Tribute above written by Nancy McCarthy

Please go here to find the winner of the 2012 Rich McCarthy Scholarship

Comments Off on Rich McCarthy and the Foundation Scholarship in his memory

Filed under Muskegon Community Foundation

05/10/2012 · 9:10 pm

Please join with us…in building a better world – with an online donation

Go here for everything you need to know about the OEA Building A Better World Scholarship.

Comments Off on Please join with us…in building a better world – with an online donation

Filed under Building A Better World Scholarship, Uncategorized

04/29/2012 · 9:36 am

No Pell, No T.I.P. No worries…try WESCO

OK…so you’re going to college next Fall and you got a financial aid package back from your school and its not so good. No Pell. No T.I.P. No Grants or Scholarships. Just loans. Don’t jump yet. Try applying for a job at WESCO. They have a great tuition reimbursement program.

Here’s how it works. You must average at least 25 hours a week during the time that you are enrolled in college to qualify. At the end of the semester if you have worked the minimum of 25 hours you receive the following reimbursement for your grades in the form of a bonus.

For A’s – 100% tuition reimbursement
For B’s – 75% tuition reimbursement
For C’s – 50% tuition reimbursement
Maximum reimbursement semester $1500 – full school year $3000.

The reimbursement only counts for money that YOU spent. So if your tuition is being paid for by a grant or a scholarship or financial aid, that portion won’t come back to you. However, if you are taking out loans to go to school, or paying out of pocket you qualify.

Since you may not work 25 hours a week at WESCO if you are under 18 years of age, you must be 18 to qualify for this reimbursement program. However, if you’d like to get the jump on the program and you are 17 you can apply to WESCO as a shelf stocker and qualify for tuition reimbursement when you turn 18. If you are junior think ahead and apply NOW!

Go online for immediate available WESCO job openings or you can apply at the individual stores in your area. If you’re interested in a particular stor and their are no immediate openings – go anyhow…you never know when jobs will become available. There are quite a few Oakridge graduates managing WESCO stores and working at WESCO in the Muskegon area. Give it a shot if you’re looking for ways to pay for college…it’s a nice option.

Comments Off on No Pell, No T.I.P. No worries…try WESCO

Filed under NEWS on College & College Funding

04/25/2012 · 5:39 pm

DO NOT BE AFRAID – of taking out College Loans?

Don’t panic on this College Loan thing…

The only thing worse than signing any and every single loan application that comes across your plate – without knowing the long term implications, is to sign nothing. You cannot be afraid of all loans. You cannot procrastinate the situation, refuse to look at taking on some debt, and not go to college because you may have to face a reasonable monthly bill for getting an education. Be smart. Do your homework. Weigh the pros and cons of the price tag of various college and do a little comparison shopping here.

look at it this way…

Think of all of those high school seniors who go straight from school into the workforce…most likely into an underpaid and dead end service sector job, with bad or non existent health care benefits. Many of those kids use their new found wealth to buy a new car. Well, lets look at some of the comparisons.

2012 Toyota Camry – costs $22,500 + $1,350 (tax) title and extras = $25,000
$25,000 loan for 63 months at 3.67% interest – $440.44 month – total loan $27,747

So here’s your opportunity cost:

COLLEGE
$25,500 average debt for a college grad in 2010
$293 a month loan repayments for ten years
Total Loan – $35,214

CAR
$25,000 – 2012 Camry (title, tax, license)
$440 a month loan repayments for five 1/2 years
Total Loan – $27,747

And once you have a degree according to 2008 statistics:

The avg earnings of full-time worker with a bachelors degree $55,700
The avg earnings of full-time worker with a high school diploma $33,800

...just do the math. Plus going to college can be an exciting and life changing experience. Don’t you dare give in to fear…not with so much on the line.

Comments Off on DO NOT BE AFRAID – of taking out College Loans?

Filed under LOANS & GRANTS - What YOU need to know, Uncategorized