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Michigan Technological University and the Portage Health Foundation have awarded four $8,000 Making a Difference Scholarships to students entering Michigan Technological University next fall who are residents of Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw or Ontonagon counties. Nine other finalists from these counties will receive $1,000 scholarships. All of the scholarships are renewable for four years.
The scholarships are named for a favorite Portage Health Foundation saying: “You make the difference, together we make it possible.”
The students chosen all intend to enter the health-related professions.
Winners of the $8,000 scholarships are Adison Cook from Houghton; Alisha Houle, Dollar Bay; Corey Miller, Calumet; and Abby Sutherland, Lake Linden. Cook plans to major in biomedical engineering. Houle’s major will be biological sciences/pre-med. Miller intends to major in biological sciences, and Sutherland plans on studying exercise science.
The $1,000 scholarships went to Sylvia Binkley, Griffin Harvey, Hannah Gruber, Hannah Heikkenen, Elina Helminen, Jana Hendrickson, Sarah Herbert, Elizabeth Lucier and Taylor Tienhaara.
Michigan Tech has partnered with the Portage Health Foundation to make substantial, shared financial commitments to health education, health research, emerging healthcare leaders and community health and wellness.
The goal of the Making a Difference Scholarships is to create opportunities for students to enter health science and engineering professions. Scholarships are critical for providing access to quality education and allowing high-caliber students the time they need to test their skills and interests as designers, innovators, researchers, leaders, volunteers, mentors and role models.
“We have some really talented local students interested in health-oriented careers, and we are pleased to partner with Portage Health Foundation to offer a number of them scholarships and high-quality education right here at Michigan Tech,” said Jason Carter, chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology at Michigan Tech. Carter heads Tech’s part of the partnership.
“The Portage Health Foundation is very pleased to have partnered with Michigan Tech. The Make a Difference Scholarships are an excellent example of how we are able to encourage and support area youth as they advance their education,” said Kevin Store, executive director of the foundation.
A large pool of applicants submitted competitive applications for the scholarships. From that pool, the 13 finalists were invited to a dinner, where they heard presentations from current Michigan Tech students, saw exhibits of health-related research projects, and talked with Tech faculty, deans, chairs, the provost and the president.
“We were excited to see so many applications,” said Store. “The talent and capabilities of our area’s young people is truly impressive.”
The scholarship winners are expected to enroll in Michigan Tech in a health-focused field of study, help establish and support the Michigan Tech chapter of Health Occupation Students of America/Future Health Professionals (HOSA), serve as mentors for future PHF scholars and maintain a 2.5 grade point average.
The Portage Health Foundation-Michigan Tech Partnership also supports three endowed professorships in health-related fields. Those professors will be named shortly.
