SAVING FOR THE FUTURE
Kickstart to Career Children’s Savings Account
Les Cheneaux Community Foundation has launched a Children’s Savings Account “Kickstart to Career” for each entering kindergarten student. For at least the next five years, new kindergartners entering Les Cheneaux Community Schools will receive a $50 deposit into their savings account from the Foundation. The Foundation will DOUBLE match anything a child’s family and friends add to the account, up to a maximum of $25/year, when deposits are made by June 30th after the end of each school year.
This program is available to home-schooled children as well as those enrolled in Les Cheneaux Community Schools. Upon graduation, the funds will be available to students continuing their education – whether trade school, career costs or college.
Kickstart to Career is a collaboration between the Foundation, Les Cheneaux Lions Club and private individuals. If you would like to contribute to the future of our local students, please call the Foundation office.
More Information About the Kickstart to Career Program
The Kickstart to Career program utilizes Children’s Savings Accounts (CSAs) as a tool to promote pathways to careers. Starting in the 2018-19 school year, and continuing for the next five years minimally, the Foundation will provide every kindergarten student in the Les Cheneaux Community Schools with a $50 savings account. It is designed to give students a boost in paying for career training or college expenses. More importantly, it helps build the aspirations of children and their families around careers and higher education.
A Community Partnership
To finance this project, the Les Cheneaux Community Foundation is partnering with the Les Cheneaux Lions Club, the Soo Co-op Credit Union and private individuals. It will start as a five year pilot project. Our goal is that the project will continue for the full K12 educational experience of the child.
The accounts are “deposit only accounts.” and must remain on deposit until the child graduates from high school. At that point the Foundation approves a withdrawal for the child’s post high school education expenses whether it be college or vocational school.
Add to the Account and Watch It Grow
Once the account is opened, each child will have the opportunity to add to the account as the Foundation will be offering incentives that will allow earnings of up to another $50 annually. For example, for every dollar the family or friend places into the account (up to $25), on an annual basis, the Foundation will DOUBLE by depositing up to $50 into the child’s account. That turns $25 of private deposits into $75 towards the child’s future! Over the course of the child’s K-12 years, she/he can accumulate a sizeable nest egg of funds to be used for funding a future career.
Parents, relatives and friends of the child can also add to the account and are encouraged to do so helping the account grow and be large enough to meet at least some of the financial needs to pursue a post high school career training option.
This is an “opt-out” only program. In other words, each entering kindergarten child is automatically enrolled unless a parent or legal guardian indicates that they do not want the child enrolled.
Benefits of the Program
Why is the Foundation engaging in this program? Research shows the following benefits:
- Increase in educational attainment: Low income students with savings of $1500 are 3 times more likely to enroll and 4 times more likely to complete post-secondary education compared to their peers without savings (Elliott, Song and Nam 2013)
- Higher math scores: Students aged 12-18 with savings accounts scored an average of nine points higher on standardized math exams than their counterparts without savings. (Elliott, Jung and Friedline 2010)
Building savings has a number of positive benefits, including:
- Fostering a career or college-bound identity in children.
- Increasing college and career training completion.
- Reducing debt from higher education.
- Increasing families’ financial capability and parents’ expectations for their children.
uged INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
Les Cheneaux Community Foundation Scholarship Funds
Scholarship Funds Held by The Les Cheneaux Community Foundation:
Josh Goodell Memorial Scholarship
Josh Goodell was a 2019 graduate of Cedarville High School. He realized his goal of playing both basketball and football all four years of high school. His family wishes to honor Josh's memory by awarding a $1,000 scholarship to a student who shares Josh's love for athletics.
George H. Nickels and Les & Jackie Stiner Memorial Endowment Scholarship Fund
The sole purpose of this fund shall be to provide a scholarship to a student attending the Great Lakes Boat Building School in Cedarville Michigan.
The selection of the student(s) for this special scholarship award will be made by the Scholarship Committee of the Great Lakes Boat Building School, as appointed by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Graduates who received a George H. Nickels Scholarship shall be recognized as such at graduation and called George H. Nickels Scholars.
Bonnie Mikkelsen Endowed Scholarship Fund
The sole purpose of the Fund shall be to provide financial assistance for students attending the Great Lakes Boat Building School who have met the financial need criteria as established by the Board of the Great Lakes Boat Building School.
Frank (Duke) Harding Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund
The purpose of the fund is to provide an annual scholarship to a student attending the Great Lakes Boat Building School.
Les Cheneaux Arts Council Fund
The purpose of the fund is to provide annual support to art programs, classes & scholarships in the Les Cheneaux Community.
Les Cheneaux General Scholarship Fund
The primary purpose of the fund assets shall be to provide financial assistance for students who are attending a post-secondary school and are graduates of the Les Cheneaux Community Schools.
Les Cheneaux Lions Club General Scholarship Fund
The primary purpose shall be to provide FIRST YEAR financial assistance for students who are pursuing a post-secondary education and are graduates of the Les Cheneaux Community Schools.
Thomas (Tommy) Nelson Mertaugh Scholarship Fund
The sole purpose shall be to provide a scholarship to a student attending the Great Lakes Boat Building School and who meets the criteria established by the Great Lakes Boat Building School for financial aid.
Tricia (St Onge) Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund
Tricia (St Onge) Smith attended Les Cheneaux Community Schools and graduated in 1997. Not only was she a wonderful student but she was also passionate about sports. Tricia earned many awards in basketball, volleyball, and track. She later attended Central Michigan University and became an incredible teacher. This fund was set up to help others who share Tricia's passion for education and sports. This fund will award $500 to a recipient each year.
Trip Abnee Memorial Water Safety Fund
This fund was created by Trip Abnee's wife and daughters to honor Trip's love of boating and insistence on safety. He taught many kids how to drive a boat and made it possible for them to get their boating licenses. He had two rules: "Do what the captain says, when the captain says it" and "Have fun". Coming into the dock he would say, "Fingers and paws inside the boat" and after docking he would say, "Any landing you walk away from is a good one, every time without fail". This fund is used to provide life vests to area youth who complete the Water Safety Course offered free of charge each summer.
The Williams Family of Coryell Island Scholarship Fund
This $1000 scholarship was instituted in 2001 by the Williams Family who has had a long time presence on Coryell Island. The purpose is to provide financial assistance for continuing education or vocational training to graduates of the Les Cheneaux Community Schools based on their financial need, academic performance, and participation in extracurricular activities and community service.
Geraldine (Gerry) Naybeck Memorial Scholarship
The primary purpose is to support programs and projects that provide education and /or early detection of cancer: equipment, programs, or services to assist individuals diagnosed with cancer or other terminal illnesses. Also supported are programs and support services for families or scholarships for students studying nursing or a related health field.
Tassier-Nye Scholarship
The primary purpose of the fund shall be to provide financial assistance for students who have attended a school in the Les Cheneaux area.
Rae Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund
Rae Taylor was an avid builder and lover of boats. This endowed scholarship fund was created by Rae Taylor's wife Dianne in his memory. The sole purpose of the fund shall be to provide an annual scholarship for a Great Lakes Boat Building School student who has a love of boat building & repair, or mechanical maintenance of boat engines & systems, and who demonstrates a financial need.
William T. and Ann Collins Charitable Fund NEW SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Applications are being taken through June 30, 2022 for a $5,000 scholarship awarded to a graduate of Cedarville High School who is currently pursuing a career in the healthcare field. Contact our office for application. (906)484-2484 or [email protected].
William (Billy) Ryan Scholarship Fund
The sole purpose shall be to provide an annual $500 scholarship to a Cedarville High School graduate who intends to continue his/her education at an institute of higher learning, either university, college, or vocational/technical school.
Earl Law-Perry White VFW Post 7958 Scholarship Fund
The sole purpose of the fund is to provide $1000 or $1500 scholarship to a high school graduate from both Les Cheneaux Community Schools and Pickford Community School who intends to continue his/her education at an institute of higher learning. The graduating senior is required to be a veteran or related to a veteran. If related to a veteran who is a member of the Earl Law-Perry White VFW Post 7958, the scholarship shall be $1500 instead of $1000.
Archie and Ruth Visnaw Endowment Memorial Scholarship
Archie Visnaw grew up in Cedarville and was one of Cedarville's great ambassadors. Archie was the area postmaster for more than 30 years.
He was also an avid boat and snowmobile racer. Most importantly, Archie was a friend to everyone he met. Ruth came to Cedarville as a Home Economics teacher. She taught over 25 years in the Cedarville School system and was a highly respected teacher. The Archie and Ruth Visnaw Memorial Endowment Scholarship is a $500 scholarship given to a student who has attended Cedarville High School wishing to extend their post high school educational opportunities.