First Valedictorian’s Legacy Continues Through Planned Gift
The Schoolcraft College Foundation has received a $135,000 gift from the late Alan Tope, a member of Schoolcraft College’s first graduating class in 1966 and the College’s first valedictorian. The gift is part of a larger estate commitment and will support the First Valedictorian’s STEM Scholarship and Academic Achievement Award, established by Alan and his wife, Nancy, to help students pursue studies in STEM and related fields
CulEx 2026 Sponsor Spotlight: Thomas Marek
Thomas Marek is a Platinum level sponsor of the annual Culinary Extravaganza event and a member of the Foundation’s Visionaries Circle. Previously the Global Manager of Corporate Food Services for Ford Motor Company ARAMARK Corporation, Marek has a lifelong interest in culinary arts, which is why he joined the Schoolcraft College Foundation and the Culinary Extravaganza Sponsor Committee.
Uncovering Purpose: Sophia Mark’s Story
Sophia Mark was certain she would never go to college, but support from the Schoolcraft College Foundation following a spur-of-the-moment decision changed her life. She graduated high school with a 2.3 GPA, confident that her academic journey was finished. Four years later, she was not only a model student at Schoolcraft College, but a shining representative as the previous 2025-2026 recipient of the Foundation Scholar award.
Fostering a Better Environment: Arianna Nunez-Conley’s Story
Tragedy struck when her grandfather suffered a heart attack, but watching healthcare workers assist his recovery showed Arianna Nunez-Conley that she could do the same. Her resilience during those formative moments would set her on the path to a career in nursing.
Paying it Forward: Samantha Bleim’s Story
Samantha Bleim is proof that an investment by the Schoolcraft College Foundation can yield life-changing results. A 28-year-old aspiring Spanish major at Schoolcraft College, her collegiate trajectory is not traditional, but it is exceptional. Through learning about Foundation-supported resources like the Hinkle Student Resource Center and the Student Food Pantry, she discovered how much reaching […]
Schoolcraft College Joins 24 Community Colleges in Masonry Trades Agreement
Michigan College Credit for Apprenticeship Program (MI-CCAP) Officially Signed Schoolcraft College becomes First Adopter A groundbreaking public/private collaboration with the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 2, the Michigan Community College Association and Michigan’s Labor and Economic Development Office (LEO) are pioneering a new workforce development model. The initiative integrates apprenticeship training and a learner’s experience […]
Board Spotlight: Spencer Knickerbocker
Chief Investment Officer, Stonebrook Private Spencer Knickerbocker serves as Chief Investment Officer and founding partner of Stonebrook Private, where he oversees the firm’s investment strategy with a disciplined, data-driven approach. He helped establish the firm in 2023, focused on aligning complex financial strategies with the real-world goals of clients. Knickerbocker began his career as an […]
Board Spotlight: Marina L. Shoemaker, President
Director of DEI External Partnerships, General Motors (retired) Marina L. Shoemaker served as Director of DEI External Partnerships for General Motors, where she expanded the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion impact through strategic external partnerships and helped guide its response to the evolving demographics and needs of customers and employees worldwide. During her 33-year career […]
Sparking Passion: Ally Sharnowski’s Story
Ally Sharnowski had no idea that a trip to the gym would be the deciding factor in her future. She was a Michigan State University sophomore in search of a job when she saw an advertisement for the Novi Fire Department that read “Add a New Suit to Your Wardrobe: Become a Paid-on-Call or Auxiliary Firefighter!”
For Sharnowski, with a passion for fitness and church volunteering, it wasn’t just a physical sign; it was a symbolic one. She saw herself in the woman outfitted with firefighting gear on the advertisement and decided that was the future she wanted. Over two years later, she is well on her way as a part-time firefighter/EMT for the Novi Fire Department, and as the fall 2025 recipient of the Marie & Clyde Rivard Scholarship through the Schoolcraft College Foundation.
YOU are changing lives!
Donors to community colleges are questioning the need for scholarships when state-funded programs offer “free community college.” While these programs help with education attainment, they do not cover all the expenses needed to earn a degree. For example, programs like Michigan Reconnect have limitations, such as only allowing residents to attend community college within their district, leaving a gap between in-district and out-of-district tuition.