By Laura Fitzgerald
Brylynn Balon, a 2025 graduate of Port Huron High School, has been awarded the prestigious John F. & Rose Marie Wismer Community Foundation Scholarship for the 2025/2026 academic year. She will attend Saginaw Valley State University this fall to study elementary education and hopes to one day become a principal or school administrator.
“I’ve always wanted to teach since I was a little girl,” Balon said. “It’s the most important job in the world because you can’t have doctors, lawyers or any other jobs without first having a teacher.”
Balon was active in equestrian sports, track, volleyball, and basketball, and has shown horses at the world level through the Michigan Quarter Horse and Snaffle Bit associations. She also volunteered through her church youth group and equestrian activities.
Thanks to the Wismer and other scholarships, Balon can cover nearly all of her tuition—allowing her to live on campus and enjoy a full college experience from day one.
The Wismer Scholarship is awarded annually to one of the top high school seniors in St. Clair County. Selected by a committee of area superintendents, recipients are chosen for their academic excellence, leadership, and involvement in service, arts, and extracurriculars. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years and provides substantial financial support toward a bachelor’s degree.
“It’s not just a scholarship—it’s an investment in excellence, leadership, and our community’s top talent,” said Jessica Flann, Community Foundation Post-Secondary Success Program Officer.
Balon joins a cohort of outstanding Wismer Scholars continuing their undergraduate journeys:
- Grant Vermeesch (Capac High School, 2024) – entering his second year at the University of Michigan
- Therese Georgia (Port Huron Northern, 2023) – continuing at Rochester Institute of Technology
- Claire Marquardt (Port Huron Northern, 2022) and Panayia Melistas (Memphis High School, 2022) – entering their senior year at the University of Michigan
- Marisa May (Marine City High School, 2021), a recent U-M graduate, received the Wismer all four years
May earned a degree in mechanical engineering, interned at General Motors, and will begin a master’s degree at Michigan this fall. During undergrad, she joined U-M’s Baja racing team and studied abroad in Berlin.
“I don’t think I would have been able to go to college at all without the Wismer Scholarship,” she said. “Because I got that help, I was able to pursue my interests and prepare for a career I’ve always wanted.”
Honoring the Wismers’ Legacy
John and Rose Marie Wismer were long-time residents of the Blue Water Area. John attended the University of Michigan but was forced to withdraw due to financial hardship. He later graduated from Michigan State University, working nights to put himself through school, and went on to found Wismer Broadcasting (now Radio First). The couple believed strongly in education and community, and their legacy lives on through this life-changing scholarship.
To explore the Foundation’s scholarships or apply, visit stclairfoundation.org/scholarships.
To support student success through a donation or new fund, visit stclairfoundation.org/give or contact Jackie Hanton at jackie@stclairfoundation.org.