Scholarships

Everett D. "Pete" Vincent and Mary Jane Vincent Scholarship Fund

Everett D. “Pete” Vincent and Mary Jane Vincent, née Pattison, were both born and raised in Port Huron. Both came from modest backgrounds: Pete’s parents divorced when he was a child and he was raised by his seamstress mother; Mary Jane’s father was an engineer with the Grand Trunk Railroad.

Pete graduated from Port Huron High School in 1942 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served during World War II in the North Atlantic aboard the destroyer USS John H. Upshur and, later, in the South Pacific on the destroyer USS Wallace L. Lind.

Mary graduated from Port Huron High School in 1944. She and Pete were married May 13, 1946, while Pete was still serving in the Navy. He was stationed at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, and he and Mary Jane lived in New Orleans until he completed his service.

After Pete was discharged from the Navy, he attended Central Michigan University on the G.I. bill while working full-time; he often described his academic performance as “average, nothing to set the world on fire.” He graduated with a major in Physical Education and went to work for the Boy Scouts of America (“BSA”). This job took him to many places in the United States and ultimately to a posting in Orléans, Loiret, Centre-Val de Loire, France. Pete’s role with the BSA in France was to help form and support BSA units in areas of France in which there were a significant number of Americans, including U.S. military communities in France, the American Embassy, American and International Schools, multinational corporations, and so forth.

While working in France, Pete and Mary Jane had the opportunity to travel extensively in Europe. When Pete retired, they returned to Port Huron to live.

Although they never had children, they found comfort in the idea of creating a lasting legacy in another way. Establishing the Everett D. ‘Pete’ Vincent and Mary Jane Vincent Scholarship Fund brought them great satisfaction. Funded through their estate, the scholarship supports ‘average’ students from Port Huron—just like Pete once was—who are pursuing a physical education degree at his alma mater, Central Michigan University

The fund will provide scholarships to full-time students who will or have graduated from Port Huron High School, Port Huron Northern High School or any other Port Huron based public high school with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on 4.0 scale) and majoring in physical education at Central Michigan University.

Evonne L. VanderHeuvel Scholarship

In 2012, the Evonne VanderHeuvel Scholarship Fund was established in memory of long-time Port Huron Area School District teacher Evonne L. VanderHeuvel.

Mrs. VanderHeuvel taught journalism and led her students to the completion of several award winning yearbooks. She retired from teaching in 1996 and she and her husband, Ed, enjoyed operating Van’s Greenhouse at the corner of Krafft and Parker Roads for many years.

To be eligible for this scholarship students must:

• Be a graduating senior of Port Huron Northern High School
• Be a member of the Port Huron Northern High School yearbook staff

Father Rene Desmarais & Sister Margaret Dowd Scholarship

The late Reverend Rene L. Desmarais was a life-long resident of Port Huron. Known and loved by many, he was a man of compassion for his community and the ministry. From 1969 to his passing in 2006, Father Desmarais was the director of campus ministries at St. Clair County Community College and the Newman Center. He was also pastor at St. Joseph Church beginning in 1990 and St. Stephen beginning in 2004.

His service to the community went beyond his parishes. He served on committees and boards with Mercy Hospital and helped create the People’s Clinic. As a spiritual leader, teacher and volunteer, Father Desmarais showed his care and love for the community and its residents.

Another long-term area resident and Port Huron native, Sister Margaret Dowd led her ministries in Port Huron from 1966 to 2013 as a teacher at St. Stephen High School, and as a campus minister at St. Clair County Community College and the John Courtney Newman Center. In 1991, she became co-director of the John Courtney Newman Center and continued in this ministry until 2004.

Through the Father Rene Desmarais & Sister Margaret Dowd Scholarship Fund, their love and generosity will live on. The fund bearing their names provides support for students meeting the following criteria:

Attending St. Clair County Community College or the Baker Culinary Institute in Port Huron

Demonstrate financial need

Preference for single parent households

Fuller Hansen Educational Trust Fund

Vera Fuller Hansen was born on September 24, 1904 in Algonac. As a child she attended Pte. Tremble School where she later taught. Vera graduated in 1923 from Algonac High School. She taught in the Algonac School System for many years.

Vera also owned and operated the Vera Fuller Real Estate Office in Clay Twp. She was a member of the Eastern Star of Marine City.

She married Walter Hansen in 1947 in New Baltimore. Walter died in 1987. He was a member of the Algonac Rotary Club and a veteran of World War I. He worked with his wife at Vera Fuller Real Estate and was a wheelsman on the Great Lakes.

Vera died on May 26, 2004 at the age of 99. Upon her wishes that scholarships be given from her estate, a trust was established with the Community Foundation of St. Clair County in her name. Vera had requested that students living in both Algonac & Marine City who “wished to help people in their profession” be considered for scholarships.

The Fuller Hansen Education Trust Fund was established on December 10, 2004 to provide scholarship support as follows:

• To graduating high school seniors or those who have graduated from high school no more than twelve months prior to submitting the application for the purpose of furthering their education at such college or university as the students may desire to attend for the purpose of becoming doctors, medical technicians, dentists, research scientists, ministers, teachers, or such other professions or pursuits that will benefit mankind
• Applicants must be a resident of Algonac, Clay Township, Marine City or Cottreville Township with continuous residency of at least twelve months prior to submitting the application
• Grantable funds from the Fuller Hansen Education Trust Fund will be divided between Algonac, Clay Township and Cottreville Township, Marine City

F. William & Patricia Schwarz Fund

This fund provides scholarships for residents of St. Clair County. Graduating seniors from Marine City and St. Clair High School.

Howard A. Acheson Memorial Fund

This fund was established to provide scholarships for students training for careers in chemistry or engineering. Candidates are selected on academic achievement, with a secondary bias on economic need.

To be eligible for the Howard A. Acheson Memorial Scholarship, students must:

• Be a chemistry major or training for a career in an engineering discipline
• Be a St. Clair County resident

Jack S. Campbell Memorial Fund

This fund was established by Mary M. Campbell to provide tuition assistance to students who desire to further their education at a Michigan education institute and will be majoring in a STEM related field. Preference will be given to residents (or their family members) who are employed full time in the wholesale industrial supply and lighting business.

James and Barbara Bates Scholarship Fund

The Community Foundation of St. Clair County and Port Huron Northern are pleased to announce the creation of the James and Barbara Bates Scholarship. The new prestigious scholarship award will provide $5,000 to an outstanding senior scholar-athlete from Port Huron Northern. The scholarship can then be renewed each year for students who stay in good academic standing.

Honoring the memory of long-time Blue Water Area residents and Port Huron Area School District educators through these awards is John Haas.

The James and Barbara Bates Scholarship will impact two decades of students. “John understood the importance of long-term college support and success when he created the Bates scholarship,” said Hale Walker, chair of the Community Foundation. “These awards will be renewable, so as the student’s expenses grow each year, the award will stay with them to help ease financial burdens.”

Going to college can be stressful and key to the Community Foundation’s scholarship program is providing students with a support network and connections to other resources as they navigate their collegiate journeys. This ties well into what Jim and Barb would have wanted for their students and how they supported their students during their lifetimes.

Jim was born in 1933 in Coldwater, Michigan, and Barb was born a year and a half later in Royal Oak, Michigan. They both graduated from Farmington High School, and that is where their relationship began. Jim went on to play football as a two-way starter at center and linebacker and basketball at The University of Michigan and received his bachelor's and master's degrees in Ann Arbor. Barb received her teaching degree from Eastern Michigan University. The couple wed on June 22, 1957, and spent 61 years married to the love of their lives. They dedicated their careers to the Port Huron Area School District and contributed positively in many ways to the Port Huron community.

He is an inaugural member of the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Farmington High School Hall of Fame, and Port Huron Sports Hall of Fame. Although he had many opportunities to coach at a higher level, he dedicated his life to working with high school-age students, where he felt he could provide positive leadership and influence as his students developed into men and women. As a teacher, coach, devoted family man, and role model, his integrity was second to none as a man of deep values, honesty, and keeping his word. He was admired and respected by all who knew him.

Jim was a lifelong Michigan Wolverine and Port Huron Northern husky. He was a well-rounded individual with many talents including a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, The University of Michigan Druids Honor Society, Air Force ROTC, and the U of M Glee Club, performing all over the country. He loved teaching, coaching, and working with students. He was named Port Huron Northern’s first head football coach when it opened in 1965 and was influential in establishing blue and gold as the school colors as well as many other innovative ideas aiding in the development of his students.

Jim believed strongly in the fundamentals and developing players and students into quality young men and women. It wasn’t all about winning for him. Former student-athletes have said of him, “...He prepared me for the unknown. The discipline, the regimentation, and the love and honesty he shared with us gave me the tools I needed…” Jim would often say, “I feel I’ve been very lucky to have such great kids and coaches. I look around town, and I’m proud of the kids who have played.”

Barb was also a lifelong Wolverine and Husky fan. Her many talents complemented Jim well. She was president of the Delta Zeta sorority as an undergraduate and majored in art while also earning her teaching degree. She was an avid supporter of Jim’s coaching career as well as her children's, grandchildren’s, and students’ interests, activities, and athletic performances. Her daily presence in their love, growth, and development had a profound and lifelong impact on them.

Barb loved teaching and spent most of her career as a third-grade teacher at Indian Woods and Keewahdin Elementary Schools. She followed all of her students throughout their careers and when possible, would send graduation cards to tell them how proud she was of them. Barb also spent 16 years teaching the Earth Keepers Program part time after retirement and enjoyed facilitating knowledge of the environment, appreciation for nature, and taking care of the community.

She was well known for her cooking, delicious cookies, and pies, and was generous in distributing them to family, friends, and those less fortunate. She was a caring, genuine person who always put others' needs before her own. She was a member of the Port Huron Chapter of P.E.O., a Philanthropic Educational Organization, where she was honored for her 50 years of service. Barb was a talented artist in various media and was also part of a close-knit quilting group that met weekly for decades to quilt and support one another. In addition, she grew up with deaf parents, and used her skills to help and interpret for deaf people in the community.

Jim and Barb were active Port Huron United Methodist Church members and attended the Church of the Straits at their cabin in Mackinaw City, Michigan. They were an incredible couple and modeled marriage, parenting, and living life to its fullest to anyone fortunate enough to know them. The scholarship that was created in their honor will be awarded to a deserving student beginning in the 2024-2025 school year

To be eligible for the James and Barbara Bates Scholarship applicants must:

• Be a graduating Senior from Port Huron Northern High School
• Played at a Varsity level in two or more sports
• Have a minimum of a 3.3 GPA
• Demonstrate athletic achievements, strong character and leadership
• Enrolled full-time in college
• This is a renewable scholarship for up to 4 years as long as the student is in good academic standing maintaining a 2.5 or higher GPA

James Wilhelm Memorial Scholarship Fund

This fund was established by Dr. Daniel J. and Marcia A. Wilhelm in memory of their son, James T. Wilhelm. He was killed in a car accident in July 1987. The 23-year-old was the 1981 Golf Association of Michigan Junior Amateur Champion and was considered one of Port Huron’s outstanding athletes.

This fund provides academic scholarships for scholar-athletes that are a St. Clair County resident, pursuing a college degree or other secondary education.

John F. & Rose Marie Wismer Community Foundation Scholarship

John F. Wismer and Rose Marie Wismer Mr. and Mrs. Wismer were long time residents of the Blue Water Area. At the time of Mr. Wismer’s death, no one contributed more to the Port Huron area or had a greater impact as philanthropists on this area.

The John F. Wismer and Rose Marie Wismer Community Foundation Scholarship will provide a renewable scholarship to graduating students of a St. Clair County high school for as long as they pursue a bachelor’s degree. Candidates must demonstrate high intellectual and academic achievement and will be evaluated on their interest and respect for their fellow citizens, the ability to lead, and successful involvement in fine arts, athletics, co-curricular activities, service work and economic need.

To be eligible for this scholarship, students must:

• Be a St. Clair County resident
• Be a graduating senior of a high school in St. Clair County
• Demonstrate high intellectual and academic achievement and will be evaluated on their interest and respect for their fellow citizens, the ability to lead, and successful involvement in fine arts, athletics, co-curricular activities and service work

Joseph Caimi Scholarship Fund

This fund was established on February 4, 2004 to provide scholarship support as follows:

• Graduates of Algonac High School
• Eligible students may be pursuing a college education at any college or university in the United States
• Primary selection will be based on economic need with a secondary emphasis on community involvement
• Preference will be given to students pursuing a degree in education

Kenneth & Verl Fleury Foundation Scholarship

Scholarships for graduating seniors of Cros-Lex, Port Huron High School and Port Huron Northern High School. Applicants must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.

Lillian M. Perry Scholarship Fund

This fund grants scholarships to female graduates of Port Huron Northern High School who will minor or major in English. You may be eligible for this scholarship for up to 5 years, as long as you pursue a major or minor in English.

Little Brothers, Little Sisters of St. Clair County Scholarship Endowment Fund

This fund provides scholarships to students from one-parent families with consideration given to individuals serviced by any Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization in St. Clair County.