St. Clair High School graduates Molly and Claire Wiegand have shared the common interest of studying the human body for several years. Thanks to scholarship support from funds at the Community Foundation, they are already on the road to success at Michigan State University.

Molly and Claire each received St. Clair Foundation Fund academic scholarships from the Community Foundation that have played a key role in helping them progress in their kinesiology majors.

“Personally, I was interested in having a career in occupational therapy,” said Molly Wiegand, 19, a 2023 St. Clair High School graduate. “I remember our counselor briefly talking about the scholarships available. We reached out to the Community Foundation, and it was not hard to answer the questions in the process and not time consuming. They showed me which scholarships I could apply for.”

“It was huge because we are using loans for a lot of our education, so it was really huge. It helps a lot. I would tell other students to apply as soon as you can. Keep up with it. Follow up with the emails where they might request more information. Keep doing it every year.” 

In fact, Claire Wiegand has applied for scholarships from the Community Foundation for three consecutive years since graduating from St. Clair High School in 2021. She is now a junior at Michigan State University. The Community Foundation encourages students like Claire to apply each year as more and more scholarship funds are providing renewable support so that students receive assistance until they successfully graduate with a degree.

“The scholarships have been so helpful,” said Claire Wiegand, 21. “I have been paying for college on my own and it’s been huge to have these scholarships. I would tell high school students that the process to apply is easy and it’s a chance they get more than one scholarship.”

“I chose kinesiology because I love helping people. I want to go into physical therapy. The human body and science has always been interesting to me. I’ve had a great experience so far. It’s been really fun to be at the same college as my sister.”

The Wiegand sisters are among many other students that have made the most of scholarships awarded through the Community Foundation. Designed to be one of several resources the Community Foundation has to benefit students, scholarships have often served as a catalyst for growth in the student’s respective academic studies.

“My hope is that these scholarships for our local students dismantle some of the barriers to degree completion,” said Jessica Flann, the Community Foundation of St. Clair County Program Officer of Post Secondary Success. “A lot of times these students have the drive and the skills to be successful college students, but the many costs associated with degree obtainment are sometimes impossible to cover. Our goal is help alleviate as many financial barriers as possible so students can focus on their studies, get that degree, and make a difference in the community.” 

Hopefully with the robust help of the Community Foundation that goes beyond a traditional scholarship, more students like the Wiegand’s will find the help they need to advance in their studies.

“The scholarships are incredibly important to us,” said Amy Wiegand, mom to Molly and Claire. “Unfortunately, we didn’t have a large college fund to send them. A lot of their college is covered by student loans. Anything that could be offset by scholarships is incredible. It really means a lot. The Community Foundation gave them the opportunity to continue to apply for scholarships and hopefully they will get money throughout their academic career. It’s especially nice that it’s local to where they grew up.” 

“We are a middle-class family,” said Gary Wiegand, Molly and Claire’s father and a 26-year veteran of the Macomb County Police Force. “Claire did a lot of research on her own. She connected with the Community Foundation and brought her sister Molly along. It has helped us tremendously.”

While the St. Clair Foundation Fund through the Community Foundation is helping the Weigand sisters to pursue their dreams, the Community Foundation also provides many other scholarships that are available for students all over St. Clair County.

The most prestigious and highly competitive Community Foundation scholarship awarded each year is the John F. & Rose Marie Wismer Scholarship. This scholarship provides renewable support to a graduating student from a local high school for as long as they pursue their bachelor’s degree. Students, nominated by their high school principals, and selected by a committee of district superintendents, must demonstrate high intellectual and academic achievement, and are evaluated on their interest in and respect for their fellow citizens, the ability to lead, and successful involvement in extracurricular activities.

Many other scholarships that can support students who are going into the trades or a certificate program, first generation to college, single parents, going back to college after a break and more are available through the Foundation and students are encouraged to apply before March 31.

Community Foundation Staff are available to assist students interested in applying. Please visit stclairfoundation.org/scholarships, call 810-984-4761 or email Jessica Flann for more information.