BRIGHTON, Mich.— The Lake Trust Foundation, an independent charitable organization of Lake Trust Credit Union, has announced the 2025 recipients of its annual New Beginnings Scholarship and Michigan Impact Scholarship.
“Our scholarship recipients are inspiring examples of resilience and ambition,” Brandalynn Winchester-Middlebrook, treasurer of The Lake Trust Foundation, said in a statement. “Each has a unique story, but they share a common drive to gain skills that will benefit both their personal journeys and the future of Michigan. By supporting them, we’re not only creating vibrant communities but also strengthening our state’s economy.”
“Education is a catalyst for progress, certainly for individual students and also for economic growth and the vitality of our neighborhoods,” David Snodgrass, president of The Lake Trust Foundation, added in a statement. “These scholarships are one way we can help talented people across Michigan remove barriers, seize opportunity and lead the way in shaping our shared future.”
2025 New Beginnings Scholarship Winners
This year, four Michigan residents were awarded the New Beginnings Scholarship, receiving $7,500 each to support educational expenses, including tuition, tools, certifications and other program costs. The scholarship was established to open doors for individuals pursuing careers in skilled trades and technical fields, such as construction, nursing, welding, electrical work, HVAC and more, that are essential to Michigan’s workforce. The 2025 recipients are:
- Gracie Schneider of Pinckney, MI – Inspired by a local free clinic, Gracie is pursuing dental hygiene so she can provide care to patients who lack access to dental services.
- Austin Nowak of Howell, MI – An apprentice at the Ann Arbor Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Center, Austin is working toward journeyman status and continuing his family’s legacy in the electrical trade.
- Connor Jendritz of Grand Rapids, MI – Pursuing a degree in welding engineering technology at Ferris State University, Connor plans to become a certified welding inspector and mentor for others entering the trade.
- Courtney Rajala of Coopersville, MI – A nursing student at Northern Michigan University, Courtney aspires to become a pediatric nurse practitioner and open her own clinic in Michigan.
2025 Michigan Impact Scholarship Winner
Through a partnership with Cleary University, the Michigan Impact Scholarship offers a full-tuition pathway for new students commencing undergraduate or graduate studies at Cleary in the Fall 2025 semester. The scholarship focuses on fields that align with Michigan’s projected high-demand careers through 2030, supporting both the state’s economic growth and the individual’s professional goals.
This year, The Lake Trust Foundation awarded one full-tuition scholarship to Morgan Murphy of Lansing, MI. Morgan plans to pursue a degree in Business Communications at Cleary University’s Howell campus. She hopes to use her skills to help others through nonprofit work, ensuring her education creates a lasting positive impact on her community.
