UPDATES TO THE COMMUNITY
News from Les Cheneaux Community Foundation
Thanks to your genorosity, we are able to support many causes in our community throughout the year. Learn more about recent grant awards and scholarship winners.
Spring 2022
Les Cheneaux Community Foundation is proud to award $19,750 in commitments to the following projects:
- Lake Superior State University Nursing School: Purchase of “Smart IV Pump”
- Les Cheneaux Watershed Council: Inland Seas Discovery Sails Program July 2022
- Clark Township: “OWL” audio visual equpment for remote meeting access
- Hessel School House: Sponsorship of Missoula Children’s Theatre July 2022
- Les Cheneaux Community Schools: Equipment for remodeled weight/training/fitness room in high school.
- Snows Heritage Park: Playground climbing apparatus and picnic table
Spring and Fall 2021
2021 Grant Awards
Les Cheneaux Community Foundation is proud to award $44,035 in commitments to the following projects:
Fall 2021
- Hessel School House: Website Development
- Clark Township: Snows Heritage Park Restroom Project
- Mackinac Economic Alliance: Strategic Plan Implementation
- Great Lakes Boat Building School: Communication Expenses for Promotion of New Marine Electronics Program
Spring 2021
- Les Cheneaux Watershed Council: Inland Seas Discovery Sails Program
- Les Cheneaux Chamber of Commerce: Inaugral Fall Bike Classic Event
- Hessel School House: Outdoor Security Lighting
- Peek-a-Boo Trail Project
2021 Scholarship Recipients
The Foundation is pleased to award these 2021 high school graduates the following scholarships, totaling $12,500:
Josh Goodell Memorial Scholarship Cassidy Barr and Caleb Kohlmann
Tricia (St. Onge) Smith Memorial Scholarship Elysia Causley
Tassier Nye Family Scholarship Caleb Kohlmann
Archie & Ruth Visnaw Scholarship Emilie Bigelow
Luke Bickham Scholarship Caleb Kohlmann
Les Cheneaux Community Foundation General Scholarship Chris Vagts
Williams Family of Coryell Island Scholarship Selah Preston
Earl Law-Perry White VFW Post 7958 Scholarship Audrey Pearson and Dylan Bjunes
Billy Ryan Memorial Scholarship Audrey Pearson
Fall 2020

Feeding America Food Distribution, Cedarville
2020 Grant Awards
Les Cheneaux Community Foundation awards $24621 to local organizations during our 2020 grant awards:
- Cedar Post Thrift Shop and Food Pantry: Energy Efficient Lighting
- Les Cheneaux Watershed Council: Public Kayak Launch Project
- Great Lakes Recovery Centers: Transitional Housing Project
- Les Cheneaux Chamber of Commerce: Tourist and Business Area Maps
- Hessel School House: Energy Effiicent Ceiling Fans
- Cedar Cove Assisted Living Facility: Community Fitness Opportunities
2020 Scholarship Recipients
The Foundation is pleased to award these 2020 high school graduates the following scholarships, totaling $10,000:
Billy Ryan Memorial Scholarship Lily Freel
Tassier Nye Family Scholarship Loreena Huffman and Sienna Reichlin
Archie & Ruth Visnaw Scholarship Lily Freel
Williams Family of Coryell Island Scholarship Loreena Huffman
Josh Goodell Memorial Scholarship Thomas Bohn
Tricia (St. Onge) Smith Memorial Scholarship Jarrett St. Onge
Earl Law-Perry White VFW Post 7958 Scholarship Makenzi Masse and Isaac Brown
Boat Building School Scholarships
The Foundation is pleased to award these Great Lakes Boat Building School students the following scholarships:
Frank “Duke” Harding Memorial Scholarship Brendan Adiar and Chris Keie
Tommy Mertaugh Memorial Scholarship Kevin Flood
Spring 2019

Les Cheneaux Community Foundation grant dollars at work! Thanks to your support, Cedar Post Thrift Shop & Food Pantry now has is new, energy efficient windows.
Spring 2019 Grant Awards
Les Cheneaux Community Foundation awards $14,447.47 to local organizations in Spring Grant Cycle:
- Cedar Post Thrift Shop & Food Pantry: new windows
- Little Traverse Conservancy: birding platform at Mackinac Bay
- Les Cheneaux Community Library: Best Sellers collection
- Mackinac Economic Alliance: High School Vocational info event
- Clark Township: Grant writer support
- Hessel School House: building cement repair
2019 LCCF Scholarship Winners
Les Cheneaux Community Foundation awards $6,500 in scholarships to graduating area seniors:
- Phil Milan Memorial Scholarship: Isabella Cason
- VFW Law/White Scholarship : Morgan McLeod (Cedarville) & Noah Kamper (Pickford)
- Billy Ryan Memorial Scholarship: Alyssa Cloud
- Archie & Ruth Visnaw Memorial Scholarship: Eden Preston
- Trisha St. Onge Smith Memorial Scholarship: Tristan Masuga
- Tassier Nye Family Scholarship: Chase Fisher
- Williams Family of Coryell Island Scholarship: Isabella Cason
Congratulations to 2019 High School LCCF Scholarship winners!
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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.