MONROE COUNTY — Scholarship application season for the 2025-26 school year has begun. Learn how to apply for many local and some regional scholarships, including two that are new this year. Although most scholarships are for high school seniors, some are for younger students and some are also available to students already attending college.
— The Community Foundation of Monroe County recently announced the new Richard A. Montcalm Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund from Directions Credit Union.
The annual scholarship fund will award up to $1,000 to Monroe High School graduates living in Monroe County who demonstrate academic excellence, athletic participation and a commitment to community service. Eligible recipients must be enrolling at a public university or college to pursue a field of study related to education or business.
The scholarship honors Rick Montcalm, who spent 37 years in public education in Tecumseh, Monroe and Utica school districts. To learn more, visit facebook.com/cfmonroe.
— The 2025 Saint Therese Youth Volunteer Scholarship is open to Monroe County students.“Three $2,000 educational scholarships will be awarded in recognition of youth volunteers who enrich the lives of seniors in a care community, independent or assisted living, senior day program or in a neighborhood or community,” said Saint Therese, which owns most of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Motherhouse campus in Monroe.Youth volunteers must currently be in grades 11-12 during the 2024-25 school year and have completed a minimum of 20 volunteer hours with one or more seniors by the date of the submission. The application deadline is April 4. For more information or to apply, go to sainttherese.org/youth-volunteer-scholarship. 
Here are some of the local organizations and businesses that offer scholarships to area students.— The Community Foundation of Monroe County awards many scholarships each year to area students. One application allows students to apply for multiple scholarships. The application deadline is Feb. 21. To apply or to learn more, visitcfmonroe.org/scholarships/.
Previous Coverage:Many earn Community Foundation scholarships
 — Bedford Community Foundation awards a combined $5 million in scholarships each year. Learn more at bedfordcommunityfoundation.com/our-funds.html#/.
— The Bedford Township Lions Club awards scholarships. Learn more at facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559913058164.
— The ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital Auxiliary awards scholarships annually. Learn more on Facebook.
Previous Coverage:4 receive scholarships from ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital Auxiliary
— Monroe Kiwanis offers scholarships. Learn more on Facebook.
— Sorpotomist International of Monroe County offers several awards, including the Girls Youth Leadership Award, which is open to young women ages 14-18 who have demonstrated initiative in both identifying a problem and trying to solve it. The deadline is Feb. 1. To learn more, visit monroecountysoroptimist.org/programs-%26-awards.— The Arlene Walsh Memorial Scholarship is for students going into the medical field. Information will be announced soon by ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital.
— The Robert W. Wohlgamuth Memorial Scholarship Fund is for Monroe County students who participated in high school sports for at least two years. Information will be announced soon.
— The Monroe County Fair Association offers several scholarships each year, including the Hot Wisconsin Cheese Culinary Scholarship, the Daniel Stotz Scholarship, the Warren Siebarth Memorial Scholarship and the Agricultural Scholarship   Watch Facebook and the fair’s website.
— The Chuck DeWilde Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually by the Monroe County Radio Communications Association to a local student who excels in the field of electronics, electrical engineering or computer science. To learn more, visit mcrca.org/Scholarship/Index.
— The Monroe County 4-H offers several scholarships for 4-H youth participants. Watch for the announcement on facebook.com/MonroeCountyMI4H. — Monroe County Farm Bureau offers several scholarships. Watch for the announcement on Facebook.
— Monroe Community Credit Union offers several $1,000 scholarships to local students. To learn more, visit monroecommunitycu.org/scholarship.
— The Miss Monroe County Scholarship Program offers scholarships to young women who compete in the program. Learn more at missmonroecounty.org/scholarships-awarded. — The Thrift Shop of Monroe awards more than 20 scholarships to local students each year. The application is usually available in February. Learn more on Facebook.
— American Association of University Women of Monroe County awards a number of scholarships each year. Learn more on Facebook.— Check your high school. Local high schools’ counseling offices have information about scholarships. Some schools, including Monroe High School and Bedford High School, also have online scholarship pages.
— Local students also may be eligible for scholarships through their jobs or their parents’ jobs, banking institutions, churches, religious denominations and organizations, such as Fraternal Order of Eagles and Loyal Order of the Moose.
–The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan offers several scholarships, for which Monroe County residents may apply. The application period opens Jan. 6. To apply or to learn more, visit cfsem.org/scholarships.
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 — The College Board offers a combined $5 million in scholarships. Visit opportunity.collegeboard.org to learn more.
— Students should check organizations for which they have a family connection or experience, such as the Alzheimer’s Association.
— The State of Michigan awards funds to qualifying Michigan students who attend Michigan colleges and universities. Awards include the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and the Michigan Competitive Scholarship. See the full list at https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/programs. The state also offers a scholarship search by county at https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/students-families/mi-scholarship-search.
— Visit your future college’s website for scholarships. Monroe County Community College, for example, is awarding more than $325,000 in scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year. New and returning students may apply at monroeccc.edu/scholarships. The deadline is March 1.
— Many colleges and universities award scholarships directly with acceptance letters. The schools use information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The application period for next school year is open. Apply and learn more at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.  
— To report other local scholarships, contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler atswisler@monroenews.com.

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