Annette Viger Taber Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship award is in memory of a wonderful individual who was a lifelong, faithful resident of Northport.

Annette Viger Taber grew up in Northport. She attended Northport schools and graduated in 1982. After high school she chose to stay on in Northport and spent her entire adult life in the hometown she loved. Annette knew everyone in town, not only because of her career as the mail carrier for the Northport Post Office, but also because of her warm, outgoing personality. Annette willingly reached out to help other and was a friend to so many. She was creative, industrious, and trustworthy. Fearless in her approach to new ideas, she was a true entrepreneur. In addition to her postal career, she enthusiastically embarked on other ventures, including a hydroponic tomato farm and her very successful housekeeping business. She loved animals, children, plants, the wonderful homestead she and her husband Joe built, and always, helping people. Annette truly loved life! Her spirit lives on because of the positive difference she made in so many people’s lives.

Hugh Jones was a longtime resident of Northport as well. From the early 1970’s until 2011, when he passed away at age 94, his devotion to Northport and the Leelanau Peninsula “way of life” remained strong. In 1987, Hugh lost his wife in a tragic car accident. Not long after, Annette came into Hugh’s life by way of her housekeeping business. Not only did she assist him with caring for his home for 20 years, but far more importantly, her kindness helped him through one of the most difficult time of his life. As a result, they forged a very special friendship which lasted until Annette’s untimely passing in 2009. For Hugh’s daughter, Diane, living so far away, to know that Annette’s helping hand always brought a great peace of mind.

One of Hugh’s final wishes was to honor his longtime friend, Annette Viger Taber, by establishing a scholarship for Northport seniors in her name. That close, enduring friendships make our lives richer and more meaningful is a belief Hugh held in his heart throughout his life. His daughter Diane feels very privileged to carry out her father’s wishes and create this scholarship, as she believes that Hugh and Annette and the friendship they shared truly epitomizes what the spirit and soul of Northport is all about.

Qualified candidates are Northport Public School graduates who will be attending Northwestern Michigan College.

Ann Schmittling Memorial Scholarship Fund

Ann Marie Schmittling was known for her bright gap-toothed smile, loving heart, and brilliant sense of humor. She was a people person who thrived off of the connections and the stories of the people who came into her life. Ann practiced as a Labor and Delivery Nurse (RN) at Munson Medical Center for 10 years before going back to school to pursue her dreams of becoming a midwife. She graduated from the Frontier School of Midwifery as a Certified Nurse Midwife and achieved her Masters from Case Western Reserve. Ann worked as a midwife for over 17 years at Northwood Obstetrics and Gynecology.

In her career as a midwife, she touched the lives of countless families in Northern Michigan communities. Giving and helping others was extremely important to Ann. She loved and was loved by so many people in this world and left a lasting legacy in the hearts of all who knew her.

The Ann Schmittling Memorial Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to Leelanau County residents who are enrolled in a nursing or midwifery program or in a medical field.

BASIL ANTENUCCI EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Supports quality early childhood care and education programs in Leelanau Township.

Dr. James Kolberg Scholarship Fund

Mary and Lawrence Frank established this endowed fund to honor the retirement of Dr. James Kolberg and recognize his 30 year service to Leelanau Township.

The interest earnings from this fund provide scholarships to graduating seniors of Northport Public School who have chosen to study in the field of medicine. Endowed.

Edwin Suddard and Ruth Kellogg Suddard Scholarship Fund

Ruth Suddard Kellogg of Northport bequeathed 10 percent of her estate to the Foundation for the purpose of establishing an endowment fund for scholarships. The investment earnings from this fund provide a scholarship for graduating senior at Northport Public School who wants to attend either college or vocational school.

Qualified students must have a minimum GPA of 2.7 and demonstrate financial need. Endowed.

Florence F. Evett Scholarship Fund

Florence F. Evett was dedicated to the students at Northport Public School where she worked for 24 years as a bookkeeper. Mrs. Evett gave $24,000 from her estate to the Foundation to establish a scholarship fund for students who wanted to attend college but lacked the financial means to do so.

Each year, a scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior of Northport Public School who has a minimum 2.7 GPA, demonstrates financial need, and received the majority vote of the high school faculty to be the recipient of this award. Non-endowed.

Florence L. Hanes Scholarship Fund

Florence Hanes had a generous spirit towards her community. In 1971, she bequeathed her entire estate to the Leelanau Township Community Foundation to establish an endowment fund for scholarships. She left instructions that "I'd like any money you realize to be used for scholarships for trade schools - that could be anything from car mechanic, practical nurse, registered nurse, business school - just so the object was the training needed to earn a living. And it doesn't need to be limited to young people. Here I am, age 54, with the need to earn a living and no training of any kind to help me earn a good living."

Qualified candidates are individuals of any age, who have earned a high school diploma and who demonstrate financial need for assistance with vocational training. Endowed.

George W. and Carolyn Travis Anderson Community Endowment Scholarship Fund

George and Lyn Anderson established a community endowment fund upon George's retirement as a board chairperson of the Leelanau Township Community Foundation in 2004. The fund's primary purpose is to provide assistant to the families of infants with special needs who require services that the family can't afford. Its secondary purpose is to provide tuition scholarships to high school graduates who will either attend Alma College, the University of Michigan, or Northwestern Michigan College.

Scholarship eligibility requirements are academic excellence (minimum GPA of 2.7), community involvement, and demonstration of strong citizenship. Both young people and adults who reside in Leelanau Township may apply. Endowed.

Kreig Leabo Memorial Scholarship Fund

This fund was established in memory of Kreig Leabo who died in 1989 at the young age of 41. Kreig was a 1966 graduate of Northport Public School and is best remembered for his dedication to helping others.

Currently, a scholarship is given each year to a graduating senior of Northport Public School whose actions and activities demonstrate a strong community spirit. Endowed.

THe Northport Promise

The Northport Promise began in 2007 to help grow the population of the Northport Public School. Founders of the Northport Promise modeled it after the successful Kalamazoo Promise, which began in 2005.

Northport Promise scholarships are available to any graduating senior of Northport Public High School who has attended the school for at least one full year prior to graduation and who plans to attend public community college, four-year college or university or vocational school in Michigan. Non-endowed. For more information, go to https://www.northportpromise.com/. 

Susan Hirschfield Memorial Scholarship Fund for Visual Art

The family and friends of Sue Hirschfield established this fund in 2003 to honor her talent in the visual arts.

Qualified candidates are students of Northport Public School who seek advanced training in the visual arts. Non-endowed.

Winfield H. & Dr. Grace Song Line Scholarship Fund

Grace Song Line was born in Korea and came to the United States as a student. She obtained a degree in medicine and married Winfield H. Line, a Michigan businessman. In 1970, they established an endowment fund to honor students who display a genuine interest in community, church, home, and school, and who actively participate in organization and projects that have as their goal the betterment of human beings everywhere.

Recipients of this endowed scholarship must be graduating seniors of Northport Public School who have maintained a satisfactory academic record and possess characteristics of good citizenship, such as the following:

• They recognize that people hold different beliefs and opinions and respect their right to those beliefs;

• They support their family, religion, community and nation; they try actively to improve weaknesses in these institutions and do not withdraw from them;

• They are faithful to the customs and laws of society;

• They stand up for what they believe is right and take action against what they know to be wrong;

• They are willing to take responsibility for leadership as well as the recognition;

• They are willing to do committee work or the least rewarding tasks to assure the successful completion of a project;

• They demonstrate high standards of honesty and reliability;

• They demonstrate a concern for others;

• They do not restrict their good work to just one institution such as school.

Youth scholarship fund

This fund was established through a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to offer scholarships for extracurricular activities in music, athletics, and government. Each year, the Youth Advisory Council determines the scholarship allotment. NOTE: This is a non-endowed fund.