The Warren Lions Club held its third annual Matt Luck Music Scholarships awards dinner and gave grants to two band musicians from Fitzgerald High School.
“This award is held annually in memory of Matt Luck, owner of Luck’s Music company,” Frank Vogt said. “The dinner was held at Simple Palate Restaurant. Alexa Barba and Zanaya Thomas were both presented with a check from the Warren Lions of $2,500 by Adam Luck, Matt’s son. They were nominated by their music teacher Katrina O’Higgins.
“Matt Luck was a 40-some year member of the Warren Lions,” Vogt said of Luck who died a few years ago. “We let the music teacher pick the two students. Both plan to be in band in college but I don’t think they necessarily are going to major in music. We just want to do anything we can do to help them get into college for whatever field they choose.”
The club raises money mostly through the Warren City Fair. Besides the scholarships, the club supports the Lions Visually Impaired Bear Lake Youth Camp in Lapeer and the Penrickton Center for Blind Children in Taylor. The club provides money for eye exams and glasses for local residents in need. There will be free eye health screening for very young children at the fair that is June 12-17 at Halmich Park, 3001 E. 13 Mile Road, Warren.
Vietnam vets give $250K to foundation
A scholarship fund for the descendants of Vietnam veterans rose by $250,000 recently when Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 9 based in Detroit made a donation to the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.
That brings VVA Chapter 9’s total contributions to $1 million for scholarships. The endowment is managed by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.
“Our chapter is proud to continue to support the families of those who served, and with the additional funds, provide more individuals access to higher learning,” VVA Chapter 9 president Paul Palazzolo, a Clinton Township resident, said.
Since the fund was established in 2019, 16 scholarships have been awarded. The scholarships are for post-secondary students between the ages of 16 and 30 who are the natural or adopted direct lineal descendants of a qualifying Vietnam veteran.
Priority is given to descendants of Vietnam veterans who were or are members of the VVA Chapter 9 in good standing for at least five years. A discharge paper or other documentation for the veteran is required, and academic performance and a family’s ability to pay for higher education are considered.
“Since opening this fund a few short years ago, the organization has awarded almost $50,000 in scholarships, and the fund will continue to grow and provide scholarships in perpetuity,” foundation CEO and president Richard L. DeVore said.
To learn more about the scholarship, go to cfsem.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Vietnam-Veterans-Scholarship-Overview.pdf To learn how to apply, go to cfsem.org/scholarships/scholarship-application. Or call the foundation at 313-961-6675.
Scholarships may be used for tuition and fees, books and supplies, and room and board expenses. For students attending a trade school, tools and other similar items are eligible expenses. For information on VVA Chapter 9 see vva9.org
Kiwanis Club gives to Key Club students
Seventeen Chippewa Valley students who belong to high school Key Clubs split $28,500 in scholarships from the Kiwanis Club of Clinton Township. The Key Clubs are student-led organizations sponsored by the Clinton Township Kiwanis whose goal is to encourage leadership through serving others.
“These students have demonstrated hard work and academic success in the classroom and a commitment to service, assisting those less fortunate in the Clinton Township community,” John Gallagher, president of the Kiwanis Club of Clinton Township, said. “Our Kiwanis club raised funds during the year from events such as our annual wild game dinner, annual golf outing, charity poker, the sale of gourmet nuts and other member activities.”
Scholarship recipients graduating from Chippewa Valley High School include Melina Elias and Faith Therssen (Oakland University,) Tania Tobia (University of Detroit Mercy,) Mansi Patel (Boston University,) and Savannah Klein (Pennsylvania University.)
Dakota High School recipients are McKenna Koneval and Mario Quaglia (Michigan State University,) Johanna Tilman and Madison Gallic (Grand Valley State University,) Joseph Tocco (University of Florida,) Eemi Toma (University of Detroit Mercy,) and Marcello Redwick (Southeastern Michigan Construction Academy.)
Graduating from International Academy of Macomb are scholarship recipients Emma Elias and Adiva Islam (University of Michigan,) Andereh Toma (Oakland University) and Lisa Chiu and Celine Truing who are undecided as to their college selection.
Scholarship money comes from the Kiwanis Club of Clinton Township Foundation. The club has 51 business men, women and professionals as members.
Each year they raise over $100,000 to support various community service projects including a food drive that provides Thanksgiving food baskets and gift cards for over 300 needy families and local food pantries.
They support the Clinton Township Challenger baseball program and an inclusive playground to assist children with disabilities; and provide a variety of other charitable assistance to families in need, and services to disabled citizens.
Contact club president John Gallagher at 586-634-4579 for more information.
Late Baker College president remembered
Don Torline, the late president of Baker College, loved his students and engaged them in conversations frequently, always working to find them employment. His Mount Clemens Rotary Club and his family could think of no better way to honor him after he died of brain cancer than with scholarships.
“We are again this year giving two $2,000 scholarships in memory of Don Torline a past president of our club,” Tom Davies said. Davies is a 52-year member of the club and the president of the club’s foundation.
Macomb County residents can apply for a scholarship for any college level degree program or certified vocational program. Candidates are judged on their achievements, dedication, volunteer activities and financial need. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. June 15. Contact Scott Chabot at schabot@aewinc.com or 586-306-2079. Decisions will be made by Aug. 16 and scholarship winners will be honored at a luncheon at 12:15 p.m. Aug. 22 in Clinton Township.
Fellow Rotarians called Torline a compassionate humanitarian, a gifted leader and dedicated volunteer. He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and was able to attend college on the GI Bill.
Send news of service clubs and veterans organizations to Linda May at lindamay@ameritech.net or call landline 586-791-8116.
