The Detroit Economic Club Scholarship Program's purpose is to assist students from the city of Detroit and four surrounding area metropolitan counties in the pursuit of an undergraduate education. The criteria for selection includes:
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Strong scholastic performance and academic honors received
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Exemplary leadership and character as demonstrated by extra-curricular activities, service in school and community, volunteer involvement and paid work experience
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Special consideration is given to students who have overcome hardships to achieve their personal and educational goals
A $2,000 renewable scholarship is awarded to two students each year. The DEC awards scholarships of up to eight students at any given time.
To apply for the Detroit Economic Club Scholarship:
Please go to the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan website at: http://cfsem.org/scholarships/detroit-economic-club-scholarship
For additional information, please contact Sally Foster, sfoster@cfsem.org.
2010 RECIPIENTS
Silvia Novakova
Silvia Novakova will
graduate from Dakota High School in Macomb in the top 3% of her class
with a 3.96 grade point average. Even with a rigorous academic
curriculum, Silvia has been one of the key volunteers in service at
Dakota High School. She is a trustee of the National Honors Society, a
leader in Students Against Destructive Decisions and the Michigan Social
Studies Olympiad. Silvia also serves as a private tutor and is a part-time employee at a local Taco Bell.
Her teacher and sponsor sums up Silvia's impact at Dakota, "At our high school, we are expecting big things from Silvia in the way of education and communal leadership...knowing Silvia, she will not disappoint and will exceed our expectations."
Silvia will enter the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for the fall term and will pursue a pre-medicine curriculum. Her career goal is to be an endocrinologist.
Leonard Thomas
Leonard Thomas will graduate from Renaissance High School in Detroit as class valedictorian. While Leonard has maintained an outstanding academic record at Renaissance, he is an artist at the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, a Den Chief and Patrol Leader with the Boy Scouts, ran cross-country and played junior varsity football, member of the National Honors Society, Chess Club, French Club and Jazz Band. He also serves as a Junior Deacon at Greater Apostolic Father Temple.
Both his high school counselor and AP Economics teacher predict "He is truly a student with the potential to achieve greatness."
Leonard will pursue a business curriculum at Yale University in fall 2010. 2009 RECIPIENTS
Tyler Trahan
Tyler Trahan graduated from Allen Park High School in June 2009 near the top of his class with a 3.6 cumulative grade point average. Honored for his academic achievements, Tyler was Student Council President, played varsity baseball for four years (Captain in summer season), was the emcee during Spirit Week and active in the Interact Club. Tyler managed all of these activities and excellent academics while working part-time to help with family finances.
His high school counselor portrayed him “as a true leader…Tyler has taken his skills out into the community as a volunteer.”
Tyler described himself and his goals: “I believe full-heartedly that I can and will make a difference in my community and in due time, the world.”
Tyler is majoring in psychology at Michigan State University which began in Fall 2009. His career plans are to become a psychiatrist.
Alexandru Chivescu
Alexandru Chivescu graduated from Stoney Creek High School in Rochester Hills in June 2009 in the top of his class with a 3.96 cumulative grade point average. Alex was honored for his many academic achievements and maintained an outstanding record of extra-curricular activities: Business Professionals of America (Treasurer), Earth Advocates, Hands Around the World Culture Club and a high school volunteer coordinator for the Barack Obama Presidential Campaign. Alex balanced his excellent academics and extra-curricular activities while working part-time.
His high school counselor stated: “Alex is one of the most outstanding young men I have ever encountered.”
Alex described himself: “Through the prism I was raised to see the world in, I’ve come to see the power of my perseverance rather than the scale of my distress. The actions of various heroes of my life forever reaffirmed the shaken faith I had in the essential good of the human spirit. I am undoubtedly a stronger person.”
Alex has long nurtured the dream of attend an Ivy League college and entered Harvard University in Fall 2009 majoring in political science and economics as the foundation for law school.
2008 RECIPIENTS
Elizabeth Battiste
Elizabeth graduated from Notre Dame Preparatory School located in Pontiac in May 2008 with a grade point average of 3.73 in a demanding curriculum of college preparatory, honors and advanced placement courses. Elizabeth has been the recipient of honors for her academic skills, most notably department awards of excellence in Chemistry and Honors English. Elizabeth has also demonstrated leadership in many school and extracurricular activities at Notre Dame Prep. and Durago High School : Student Class President (9th and 10th grades), Vice President of Mock Trial and Speech and Debate Captain. Elizabeth has dedicated many hours to community service by working with disadvantaged families, senior citizens and serving in the Rochester Hills Public Library as an assistant. Elizabeth managed all of these achievements and activities while working an average of 16 hours each week.
Notre Dame’s Dean of Activities describes Elizabeth as “an exceptional scholar and citizen of our school.”
Elizabeth describes her life goals: “The path I have chosen is public affairs…(it will) allow me to fight for the rights of children throughout American and the world. I will utilize my abilities in the fight for a truly just government and the equal and fair treatment of all people.”
Elizabeth will attend the James Madison Residential College at Michigan State University in Fall 2008 and major in pre-law.
Angela Hojnacki
Angela graduated from Oakland County’s International Academy in May 2008 with a 3.99 grade point average in a very demanding international baccalaureate curriculum. Angela has been the recipient of many awards and honors recognizing her talents and academic skills: Summa Cum Laude designation, National Merit Scholar and election to the National Honors Society. Angela has also demonstrated leadership as the Founder and President of Female Student Association. She was selected as a research intern in the Boston University High School Honors Program working in the nanotechnology lab and writing an independent research paper that astonished her Physics teacher with its sophistication (“more of a professional journal article than a high school student’s research report.”) Even with her outstanding record of academic achievement and activities, Angela has worked throughout nearly all of her high school years.
Angela’s Physics teacher describes her exceptional maturity by stating: “She has a resilience of strength of character that is remarkable.”
Angela’s philosophy and approach to life can be stated as: “I have learned that the one key to success is education.”
Angela will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the Fall of 2008. She will study aerospace engineering and physics to achieve her goal of working for NASA to design spacecraft and use the advanced technology in further research.
Ashley Anderson
Ashley will graduate from Renaissance High School in June 2007 with a grade point average of 3.93 in a demanding curriculum. Ashley has been the recipient of many honors for her academic skills and other talents: Voices of Youth, Detroit Police Explorers Top Scholar and also placed first in the Ford Motor Company Mock Interview. It is not surprising that she was selected for a summer internship in 2006. Ashley has also demonstrated leadership in many school and extracurricular activities : Renaissance Pep Squad, REMAT Club, National Honor Society and the French Honors Society. Ashley has also dedicated herself to community service in tutoring, public television telethon, Mayor’s Time, Thanksgiving Parade, Angel’s Night and the North American Auto Show.
Ashley’s English teacher said that she is a “…testament to the potential of human spirit.”
Ashley will attend the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and will enter the Honors Program in her first year. She plans to concentrate her studies in pre-law and education. She is attracted to these fields not only because of the high demand for these professionals, but because it will provide an opportunity for her to educate children and defend people and their rights.