Jun 25, 2025
Courtesy Photo Recipients of the Dee Brown Perry Scholarship receive their awards at Alcona High School’s awards night in May.
ALPENA — It was a record year for scholarships through the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (CFNEM) and its affiliate foundations in 2025. A total of $640,000 was awarded to 193 students from across the region supporting individuals heading off to college, medical school, or to study in a skilled trade or specialty program.
Of the amount awarded, 116 awards totaling $324,050 were awarded to students in the four-county region of Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Presque Isle.
“Our committees really focused on awarding larger, more impactful awards that will give significant help to students embarking on their post-secondary education,” CFNEM Program Director Jennifer Dingman said in a press release. “Our staff and board members had the privilege of announcing many of these scholarships at local awards events and graduation ceremonies, which was a very uplifting experience with so many awards being given this year.”
Scholarships from the Community Foundation are possible because of endowed funds created by individuals, families and businesses across the Foundation’s service area, all of which are a legacy for the generous people who decided to invest in local students in this way.
Students receiving scholarships are from across the Community Foundation’s nine-county service area, which includes Alcona, Alpena, Cheboygan (and Mackinaw City), Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, and Presque Isle counties. This service area includes CFNEM and three affiliate foundations: Iosco County Community Foundation, North Central Michigan Community Foundation, and Straits Area Community Foundation.
Courtesy Photo CFNEM Executive Director Patrick Heraghty and CFNEM Program Director Jennifer Dingman announce scholarships during the Alpena High School awards ceremony in May.
“Scholarships are powerful tools that open doors to opportunity, allowing recipients to focus more fully on their education, growth, and future goals,” said Dingman. “And for many, a scholarship is more than just financial aid–it’s a reminder that someone believes in their potential and is investing in their success.”
One of the unique aspects of the Community Foundation’s scholarship program is that many of its scholarships are not only determined by academic achievement, but also with a strong emphasis on extracurriculars and service. Each scholarship reflects the intentions of the donor, and in some cases, that means the focus is placed on student interests such as farming, a trade such as welding or plumbing, the arts, or healthcare.
To see a full list of 2025 scholarship recipients, or to learn more about scholarship opportunities offered through CFNEM, visit cfnem.org. Scholarship applications for the 2026 season for the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan and its Affiliate Foundations will be open in early January.
The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan is a nonprofit charitable organization committed to providing people who care about the future of our area with unique and effective ways of supporting their community now, and for generations to come.
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