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Why?
The Foundation’s board began an in-depth look at our scholarship program’s impact in 2019, including how to support adult learners. The Complete Your Degree (CYD) program, pioneered by St. Clair Community Foundation, is a way to “redefine and reimagine how scholarship assets are used to support the continuing education of adults.”
Who is eligible?
Oceana County adult residents who:
- Completed some college credits at MCC/WSCC or another college, but who are at risk of not completing their college education due to life needs and obstacles
- Previously tried college or university at a four-year institution
- Graduated from high school and did not start college immediately after high school and are going back at an older age
- Meet one or more of the following criteria: single parent; 1st generation college student; from single parent families; low-income; lives on own without any family support, minority; TIP eligible (Tuition Incentive Program); suffered some personal trauma or lives with a significant disability
For more information, check our Complete Your Degree Handout for Prospective Students. If you are interested in supporting or learning more about this initiative, email Elly Bainbridge.
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Make Someday, TODAY!
We know life doesn’t always follow a schedule, that is why the Complete Your Degree (CYD) program accepts applications year-round — so you can apply when the time is right for you.
Before you begin, review the CYD Application Instructions for step-by-step guidance, and check out the Key Dates and Action Items to see when interviews, and next steps typically occur. This will help you plan ahead and understand when your CYD benefits will begin.
What You’ll Receive
Once accepted into the program, CYD students can access:
- A renewable academic scholarship for MCC or WSCC — up to $5,000 per year (fall, winter, and summer semesters).
- Personalized support and resource referrals from a dedicated CYD Success Coach.
- Emergency aid funding* — up to $2,500 per year to help cover unexpected expenses and remove barriers to success. *This benefit is available after one completed semester.
Please read through these CYD Application Instructions to help navigate our application portal!
Take the next step toward your goals and submit your application through our GoApply system here:
You have goals. We have the support to help you reach them.
Start your journey today — your future is waiting!
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The Complete Your Degree program is a project of the Community Foundation for Oceana County and is supported by these donors and endowed Foundation funds:
- Hager-Lacey Memorial Scholarship Fund
- Helen Hutt Scholarship Fund
- Randall & Linda Wagner Family Fund
- Phillip & Cathy Brown
- LaBarge-Beeber Family Fund
- Bluhm-Lockwood Trust Fund
- Mears United Methodist Church
- Trinity Health West MI Impact Grant Program
- William R Lathers Foundation Fund
- Dan & Laura Muirhead Fund
- Memorial donations in honor of Kathy Owens
- Anonymous
You can help support Oceana’s adult learners by making an online gift to the Complete Your Degree Program Fund here.
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Adult student scholarships are offered on a rolling basis to Oceana County residents (or residents of an Oceana-based school district) who have been out of high school for at least one year and/or have a gap in their post-secondary education. Adult students are often (but not always) prospective undergraduate students who are 25 years of age or older. Adult students may also have other identifying criteria, such as full-time employment, parenthood, care of elderly parents, or prior military service.
Scholarship applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until resources are depleted.
Questions? Call Elly Bainbridge, 231.869.3377, or e-mail elly@oceanafoundation.org. Applicants should expect to hear from the Foundation within 30 days of submitting their application.