The Memphis High School Alumni Association Fund, created by alumni for students at Memphis High School, is one way community members are working together to make a positive impact in their hometown.

“I’ve done well in my career and I’d like kids from Memphis to have the opportunity to go to college,” said Steve Jakob, 1967 graduate of Memphis High School and long-time supporter of the fund. “I know that some of them probably don’t have the financial means and what little I can help to make their opportunities happen, I’d like to be able to do that.”

The idea for the scholarship fund came about during the Memphis High School Alumni Association’s (MHSAA) alumni banquet before the fund was established with the Community Foundation in 2005.

“We literally passed the hat and over the years it grew,” said Lorraine Burman, MHSAA member and former president. “We had an account at a local bank, but we wanted to invest in something where it would grow and be safe and where we could continue to have a fund and give a scholarship every year. We decided on the Community Foundation and we’re very satisfied with that.”

Since then, over $13,000 has been awarded from the fund to support seniors graduating from Memphis High School.

“The scholarship greatly impacted my ability to further my education,” said Christina Moceri, a 2020 recipient of the scholarship who went on to study at Grand Valley State University. “The financial help has relieved so much stress and made it easier to focus on my classes.”

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be a senior graduating from Memphis High School and have at least a 2.5 GPA. Recipients are selected primarily on economic need, with a secondary focus on community involvement.

“It’s just to give a little help to someone who needs it so that they are able to pursue some type of career,” said Linda Hannon, MHSAA member and former treasurer. “So if there’s a low-income student who has the interest and potential of being able to go to school, that’s where we are looking to support.”

To support or learn more about the Memphis High School Alumni Association Fund and other scholarships available at the Community Foundation, visit stclairfoundation.org/scholarships.

“We hope that individuals will continue to contribute to the fund,” said Hildred Lewis, MHSAA member and former president. “I was really proud to graduate from Memphis and was inspired by the amount of support we had received from the community. I hope that the new alumni will continue to have pride in themselves, their classmates and be proud of the fact that they graduated from Memphis High School.”