The Tommy and Terrie Stalker Memorial Scholarship will awards funds to Lapeer County high school seniors planning a career in medical, nursing, emergency medical services, first responder or related healthcare fields.
Imlay City’s Tommy and Terrie Stalker were known for helping others. In their respective medical careers, the Stalkers were often tending to people experiencing some of their most vulnerable times in life. Tommy spent 33 years as a first responder and paramedic, and Terrie was a nurse who worked in area nursing homes. When their son, Benjamin, wanted to memorialize their lives he decided it was fitting to establish a scholarship fund to support aspiring community helpers.
The Tommy and Terrie Stalker Memorial Scholarship will award funds to Lapeer County high school graduates who are pursuing post-secondary education, certification or training in a medical, nursing, emergency medical services, first responder or related healthcare field. Terrie passed away in 2018 at the age of 64. Tommy was 68 years-old when he passed away in 2023.
“My mom was a nurse who worked at several nursing homes and specialized in Alzheimer's care, helping both patients and their families navigate the difficult emotions that come with the disease,” Ben said.
“My dad started by volunteering with North Branch Ambulance, which later became Lapeer County EMS, where he served as a paramedic until his retirement. He also served as an instructor and Field Training Officer, teaching and training new medics in Lapeer County and across Michigan.”
Even when faced with medical challenges themselves, Benjamin said his parents remained selfless.
“When either of my parents ended up in the hospital, they would often ask if there were any students who could be involved in their care or procedures. As my dad would say, ‘They will have to start doing procedures on a person at some point. Might as well be me,’” he recalled.
“I also remember walking into my mom's hospital room as a young nursing student was leaving. She was thanking my mom for teaching her a memorization trick for an upcoming exam. Even when my parents were in positions where they needed care themselves, they continued to think about how they could help others.”
In addition to their careers, the Stalkers were involved in other community efforts including the Stone Soup Food Bank, Manna Ministries, FFA and Boy Scout Troop 127.
“My dad was the dreamer. He was the one charging ahead with ideas, while my mother was the logistics manager who helped guide those ideas and figure out how to make them work,” Benjamin said.
Benjamin believes the memorial scholarship will help keep alive his parents’ love for each other and for the community.
“My parents touched many lives. Honoring them by helping their impact continue through other people, hopefully for generations to come, means a great deal to me,” he said.
Benjamin’s hope is that within the scholarship’s first decade, the fund can award multiple scholarships per year to students pursuing medical-related fields and first-responder training.
“In 50 years, my dream would be for the endowment to have grown to the point where it could provide full scholarships for medical trades, undergraduate degrees, and perhaps even medical school,” he said.
“I suppose I inherited a little bit of my dad's visionary mindset.”
The Tommy and Terrie Stalker Memorial Scholarship fund’s first annual fundraiser will take place on Sunday, January 31, 2027, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Hideaway Lanes in Almont. In addition to bowling, attendees can take part in a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction and enjoy food and refreshments. More details, including how bowlers can pre-register, will be forthcoming.
To donate to the Tommy and Terrie Stalker Memorial Scholarship Fund, visit https://bit.ly/stalkerscholarship. Checks can also be sent to Four County Community Foundation at 141 S. Main Street, Romeo, MI 48065.
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 or get details about starting a fund, visit www.4ccf.org, call (810) 798-0909 or reach out to Executive Director Kathy Dickens at kdickens@4ccf.org.