Our sincere congratulations to Megan Yacobozzi of St. Joseph High School, our 2019 Recipient. Megan is involved in many activities related to the arts at St. Joe. She plans to attend the University of Michigan to major in Vocal Music.
WE ARE EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU THE SECOND ANNUAL RECIPIENT FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP. THIS YOUNG WOMAN IS EXTREMELY ACTIVE IN THE PERFORMING ARTS, BOTH ON STAGE AND BACKSTAGE. SHE HAS PARTICIPATED IN OVER 33 PRODUCTIONS IN HER TEENAGE YEARS ALONE. SHE HAS SPENT YEARS WORKING ON SHOWS AT TWIN CITY PLAYERS AND MOST RECENTLY WAS NOTED FOR HER WORK AS A TECHNICAL DIRECTOR WHERE SHE CREATED A COMPUTERIZED LIGHTING PLOT AND RAN IT FOR OVER A DOZEN LIVE PERFORMANCES. HER PASSION FOR HER CRAFT IS INSPIRING AND WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT SHE WILL DO NEXT.
WE ARE PLEASED TO PRESENT THE 2018 DAVID A. HICKS SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE ARTS TO ARIEL HIGGENS!
DAVID WAS A STUDENT AT RIVER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL. AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH CANCER, HE PASSED AWAY IN FEBRUARY AT THE AGE OF 17.
DAVID ABSOLUTELY LOVED ANYTHING RELATED TO THE ARTS. TELEVISION, MOVIES, THE STAGE, VISUAL ARTS, AND MOST OF ALL, THE ART OF CARING FOR HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. WHEN HIS TERMINAL DIAGNOSIS WAS ANNOUNCED, AND PEOPLE ASKED HOW THEY COULD HELP, WE WORKED VERY HARD IN THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO ESTABLISH A SCHOLARSHIP USING THE REMAINING FUNDRAISING DOLLARS SENT TO HIS GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF THE BERRIEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.
IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH, THE DAVID A. HICKS SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE ARTS WAS ESTABLISHED TO AWARD A BERRIEN COUNTY SENIOR A GIFT OF $1000 TOWARD THEIR TUITION AND QUALIFIED EXPENSES, SO THAT THEY MAY PURSUE THEIR PASSION FOR THE ARTS. I, ALONG WITH THE COMMITTEE AT THE FOUNDATION, WERE ELATED TO RECEIVE 7 HIGHLY QUALIFIED APPLICANTS.
WE ARE EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU OUR INAUGURAL CHOICE FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP. THIS YOUNG MAN IS EXTREMELY ACTIVE IN THE PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS. HE HAS SPENT THE MAJORITY OF HIS YEARS ON STAGE. HIS ESSAY EXUDED A PASSION FOR HIS CRAFT THAT INSPIRED NOT ONLY ME, BUT THE MEMBERS OF OUR BERRIEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE TASKED WITH THE DIFFICULT CHOICE OF CHOOSING A WINNER.
ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY, OUR DONORS, AND THE BERRIEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, I AM PLEASED TO PRESENT THE FIRST DAVID A. HICKS SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE ARTS TO AIDEN DIEFENBACH OF BARODA!
The River Valley High School Softball team will stage a fundraiser for the David A. Hicks Scholarship for the Arts Fund on Thursday, April 26th at 4:30pm at the high school. The team will be taking proceeds from the admission at the gate, plus raffles and other items.
Come out to the game and support the fund and David’s family!
From the Berrien Community Foundation:
Scholarship applications are available at the Berrien Community Foundation and this year brings four new scholarships to the table to help students.
The Rodney Weir Scholarship for Coloma Marching Band, The SW MI Human Trafficking Task Force Scholarship, Trefz Family Scholarship, and the Frederick S. Upton Foundation Opportunity Scholarship are the new scholarship programs that have been added to the stable of scholarships administered by the Berrien Community Foundation.
“Through the generosity of donors in our community, the BCF scholarship program just keeps growing.” Said Berrien Community Foundation President Lisa Cripps-Downey. “We are thrilled to add to the educational opportunities available to everyone in our community, from recent high school graduates, to adults who are returning to school. These four new scholarships will make a tremendous addition.”
The Berrien Community Foundation will award almost $150,000 in student scholarships this year. Scholarships come in all shapes and sizes supporting particular schools, careers, or areas of interest. For a full list of scholarships, visit the Berrien Community Foundation website at www.berriencommunity.org/scholar. Applications are due March 5, 2018. This includes the David A. Hicks Scholarship for the Arts.
The David A. Hicks Scholarship for the Arts 