Scholarships

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The Friends of the Cascade Library Memorial Scholarship was launched in 2008 as a tribute to Marilyn Meyer, a founding member of the Friends of the Cascade Library who worked tirelessly on behalf of the organization and the Cascade Library for more than 35 years until her death in November 2007.  

The Friends continue to support the Cascade Library and its many services to the community through a network of dedicated volunteers. In honor of all their efforts, two separate awards--each in the amount of $1,500 --are available to high school seniors attending either Forest Hills Central, Forest Hills Northern or Forest Hills Eastern and who best exemplify the volunteer spirit that motivated Mrs. Meyer and inspires current members of the Friends. Applicants' volunteer service should be civic and secular in nature, with an emphasis on community assistance and/or improvement. Demonstrating a commitment to volunteering at the Cascade Library, in particular, is strongly encouraged but not required.  

Guidelines for the Scholarship   

• Applicant must be a graduating senior with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who is planning to continue his/her education at a two-year or four-year institution. Financial need will not be a factor in either the application process or the selection process.  
• Applicant must fill out an official application form (see below).  
• Applicant must provide two letters of recommendation. One should be from a teacher, counselor, or school administrator on school letterhead. The second should be from an unrelated adult (over the age of 21), not employed by a school district, who is familiar with the applicant’s character and accomplishments.  
• Applicant must provide proof of volunteer service with a letter from the person who administered or supervised the program in which the applicant participated. The letter should be on the organization’s official letterhead, and it should include specific information on the type of volunteer work performed, when and where it was performed, and the approximate number of hours the applicant volunteered. Applicants who have volunteered for several different organizations should focus on one in particular and submit the information outlined above just for that organization. (Please note the scholarship’s focus on recognizing service of a civic and secular nature.) Additional volunteer work (including approximate number of hours worked) should be described briefly on a separate sheet of paper.  
• Applicant must write a 400-500 word essay on the benefits derived from his/her/their volunteer work and submit it along with his/her/their application. Applicants who have volunteered for several different organizations may focus on his/her/their service with one organization in particular or elaborate on his/her/their volunteer service in general (for example, identifying a common theme or goal).  
• An application form and all accompanying documents must be returned to the Friends of the Cascade Library no later than February 15 of the applicant’s senior year in high school (no exceptions). A three- member committee consisting of the President of the Friends of the Cascade Library, the scholarship committee chairperson and a third person selected by the President will review the applications and make the final selection by March 15. The winner(s) will be notified by March 22 and the scholarship(s) will be awarded by March 31.  

Questions about the scholarship should be directed to Debbie Straub of the Friends of the Cascade Library. Send emails to editordas@aol.com (please put “Scholarship” in the subject line) or call (616) 897-6404 (no texts, please). 

• Please read the above guidelines for this scholarship and submit the application form plus all additional required documents to:  Friends of the Cascade Library Attention: Debbie Straub/Scholarship; 2870 Jacksmith Ave. SE; Grand Rapids, MI 49546  Application deadline: February 15 of the applicant's senior year (no exceptions).
• Please print legibly on your application.
• The form must be completed by the applicant.
• Click on the "Download" button below to open the form. You can then print or save it to your computer.