Memphis HIgh School seniors Isabella Nelson and Isabelle Treutle, recipients of the Gary K. Jeffery Memorial Scholarship, pose for a photo at Four County Community Foundation's 2026 Scholarship Celebration at The Bells Event Center in Almont.
Four County Community Foundation’s (4CCF) scholarship cycle saw continued growth in 2025-26. A total of 217 students were awarded more than $950,000 in funds including several new funds that made their first awards in 2026. The Pond Guy made three awards for Armada High School seniors with strong work experience. The John D. Shepherd Memorial Scholarship, open to any Michigan student studying agriculture, handed out five awards while the Kenneth A. Monicatti Scholarship recognized two Romeo seniors.
Growth was also realized in the newly launched Trade School Scholarship offering which, to date, has made $43,000 in awards. Donors have dedicated both new and existing dollars to this program that features a shorter application with no deadline. Among this year’s recipients are Capac, Almont and Imlay City students pursuing careers in electrical services, welding, diesel mechanics, electric vehicle technology, commercial shipping and sonography. Some of the awards are being applied to tuition and related fees, while other are using the dollars to purchase laptops and other technology or tools needed for apprenticeships.
“We pride ourselves on being relevant to our communities. There is no better way to demonstrate that than by supporting individuals pursuing careers in the skilled trades,” said 4CCF Executive Director Kathy Dickens.
“Because trades programs don't always follow a traditional academic calendar, we're proud to offer scholarship opportunities when they're most relevant to our applicants—helping them take the next step when the time is right.”
Funds are still available through the Trade School portal for recent graduates of Almont, Dryden and Romeo high schools, thanks to the Koerner Family Foundation, who donated additional funds specific to trades students.
To start the application process visit https://www.4ccf.org/scholarships/apply/.
The Foundation is home to more than 80 scholarships that mainly serve students within their service area—Almont, Armada Capac, Dryden, Imlay City, Oxford, Richmond and Romeo—plus other regional and state-wide awards.
Interested in learning more about starting a scholarship fund? Reach out to Kathy Dickens at kdickens@4ccf.org or (810) 798-0909.
Four County Community Foundation is committed to serving the current and emerging needs of our local community. The foundation serves portions of Lapeer, St. Clair, Macomb and Oakland counties. To learn more about Four County Community Foundation, visit www.4ccf.org or call (810) 798-0909.