New Warren Woods scholarship helps graduates

MACOMB COUNTY — Macomb Community College is continuing its mission of educating students.  

For starters, a new scholarship has been established for high school seniors enrolling at Macomb.  Also, school officials recently held its annual Comedy and Cocktails event to benefit the college’s arts and cultural programming.

 

Warren Woods Class of 1973 Endowed Legacy Scholarship
When the Warren Woods High School Class of 1973 met for a 50-year reunion last year, the conversation turned to finding a way to leave a legacy while at the same time support future graduates of the Warren Woods Public Schools district.

The classmates put together their efforts to launch the Warren Woods Class of 1973 Endowed Legacy Scholarship, officially established March 14, 2024. While the college scholarship is targeting Warren Woods Tower High School graduates, anyone can apply. The award is for tuition, fees, books and other educational expenses at Macomb.

Don Quint, a Class of ’73 graduate, said the scholarship is anywhere between $600 and $1,000. The group would like more people to know about the Endowed Legacy Scholarship. Members of the Class of 1973 donated the funds and also received private donations. Class of 2023 Warren Woods Tower High School graduate Samir Ahmed was the first recipient of the Warren Woods Class of 1973 Endowed Legacy Scholarship.

There used to be two high schools in the district: Warren Woods High and Tower High. In 1983, the schools merged to become Warren Woods Tower High School with its first-ever class in 1984.

There are several qualifications necessary to apply for the Warren Woods Class of 1973 Endowed Legacy Scholarship. Students must have a half-time enrollment of six credit hours or more each semester of award, must be pursuing a degree or certification in academics and/or workforce and continuing education, and must have a minimum GPA 2.5 or higher.

Applicants also must be a U.S. citizen and provide a 300-400 word essay that shows the applicant’s personality, values, accomplishments and why the scholarship is deserved. The applicant also is required to write a 400– to 500-word essay addressing goals, educational/career aspirations and plans, as well as what the award means. A letter of recommendation from a Warren Woods teacher or counselor is mandatory.

To apply, visit macomb.edu and click on the menu icon. From there, click on “Cost and Save,” which will lead you to the scholarship page.

 

The joke’s on you
Macomb officials have again tickled their funny bones through the Macomb Community College Foundation’s annual Comedy and Cocktails night, which benefits the school’s arts and culture programming.

This year’s event, held Oct. 18 at the Lorenzo Cultural Center on the Center Campus in Clinton Township, raised $104,000 for the program and drew in 300 attendees. The first Comedy and Cocktails event drew laughs in 2014. It has been held annually ever since, minus 2020-21 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are thankful to our donors, their generosity and their outpouring of support, which makes it possible for Macomb to continue to provide meaningful and enriching arts and cultural programs that educate and entertain audiences of all ages,” Macomb President James O. Sawyer IV said in a prepared statement.

According to a Macomb press release, Sawyer also announced the public phase of Transforming Tomorrows, the foundation’s $15 million comprehensive campaign to support four critical college priorities: student access and success; academic and workforce development; technology and innovation; and arts and culture. During the campaign’s silent phase, which began July 1, 2021, nearly $13.5 million has been raised through a combination of major gifts and smaller individual donations averaging approximately $500 each, the press release states.

Presented by First State Bank, Comedy and Cocktails included a cocktail reception, live music, a strolling gourmet dinner, and a raffle along with live and silent auctions. Guests then attended a performance by Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood of Asking for Trouble, an unscripted improvisational comedy show, at the adjacent Macomb Center for Performing Arts.

The Macomb Community College Foundation was established in 1999. The nonprofit organization creates and maintains scholarships. Monetary contributions from private and corporate donors, and foundations, help fund the scholarships. The foundation also provides funding to individual programs, special projects and the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts and Lorenzo Cultural Center.