Dec 10, 2024

Michigan Apple scholarship recipients awarded

The Michigan apple industry has named its first scholarship winners.

In the inaugural round of Michigan Apple Scholarship winner awards, Ella Heystek, Claire Rasch and Clayton Riley were named the three inaugural recipients.

The scholarship winners were named at the 21st Annual Michigan Apple Growers Luncheon which was Dec. 10 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as part of the Great Lakes EXPO.

Ella Heystek, 21, of St. Johns, is the daughter of John and Kathy Heystek. She is a student at Kalamazoo College and the niece of Michigan apple growers.

Claire Rasch, 17, of Grand Rapids, is the daughter of John and Sarah Rasch. The senior at Kenowa Hills High School plans to attend Washington State University next year and is the daughter of Michigan apple growers.

Clayton Riley, 17, of Mears, is the son of Andy and Sarah Ann Riley. The senior at Hart High School plans to attend Michigan Technological University and is the son of Michigan apple growers.

Each recipient received a $7,000 scholarship: $5,000 from Michigan Apple Committee, $1,000 from ChoiceOne Bank and $1,000 from Breckenridge Insurance Co. They will also be representing the Michigan Apple industry through social media and other communication channels for one year.

“On behalf of the Michigan Apple Committee, we congratulate these exemplary scholarship recipients and are confident they will advance their educations and continue to make us proud as the future of the Michigan Apple industry,” Mike Dietrich, chair of the Michigan Apple Committee, said in a news release.

The Michigan Apple Committee received a 13 applications for the scholarship, which included essays and video submissions that were scored by a panel of experienced professional spokespeople who work outside the Michigan apple industry.

“This scholarship is such a great opportunity for students, which we believe is why we had a large number of applications with incredible submissions,” Diane Smith, Michigan Apple Committee executive director, said in the release. “Our board championed this investment into the future of the Michigan apple industry and is appreciative of the supporting sponsorships from ChoiceOne Bank and Breckenridge Insurance Company to enhance the scholarship award.”

The scholarship program replaces the Michigan Apple Queen program and is open to men and women aged 17–23 with strong connections to the Michigan Apple industry. The programmatic change was announced in September after the Michigan Apple Committee board of directors voted to replace the queen program in favor of a scholarship available to both males and females.

The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded nonprofit organization devoted to marketing, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its consumption in Michigan and around the world.