Scholarship winners and their parents gather with Lisa Kusey and officials of the Maier & Associates Charitable Foundation at Kathleen's after an awards dinner.

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Graff Chevrolet's Lisa Kusey Challenges Maier Scholarship Winners to Excel

Maier Foundation Gives 15 Scholarships to Local Students

May 26, 2008
By: Dave Rogers

Fifteen winners of the Maier & Associates Charitable Foundation $1,000 scholarships received their awards last week at Kathleen's Restaurant at Apple Mountain in Freeland.

Lisa Kusey, general manager of Graff Chevrolet-Bay City, challenged the scholarship winners "to show the same kind of passion in life as you have in your studies."

"If you do, you will be amazed at the opportunities you find -- both in your career and personally," said Ms. Kusey. "Luck only is created as a result of hard work and a desire to make a difference."

Ms. Kusey (Pictured at right) told the students "seize the opportunity and create your own lucky story."


The 15 winners were selected from 74 applicants from Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties. One of the most important aspects of the selection process was an essay the students wrote.

"We had some great candidates and we feel we made great choices," said Carrie Dahlberg, director of the Maier & Associates Charitable Foundation.

She explained that the foundation provides assistance to needy children and rewards students and young people for outstanding citizenship.

"The day in the life of a student is 2008 is not easy and you all represent the epitome of the term 'great citizen,'" she said.

Maier & Associates Financial Group, Inc. believes in the value of higher education. The Maier & Associates Charitable Foundation has established a one year, non renewable scholarship program to maximize the potential of its citizenry in the tri-county area.

These scholarships were established to recognize and give high school graduates in Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties the opportunity to further their education. Scholarship candidates may be from public or private high schools. All students must demonstrate acceptance to any Michigan college, university or vocational school.

The scholarships are established by the Maier & Associates Charitable Foundation to promote academic excellence for the moderate to high academic achiever. It is designed to further assist students in meeting their educational goals. Scholarship winners are:

Carly Anderson, Midland High;

Robert Baker, Bullock Creek High;

Amanda Bailer, Coleman High;

Zachary Balwinski, Essexville-Hampton Garber High;

Megan Britko, Garber;

Austin Clarey, Bay City Western High;

Erin Dineen, Midland High;

Adriana Facundo, All Saints Central High;

Jane Grudzinski, Bay City Central High;

Tanisha Ledesma, Bangor John Glenn High;

Grace Martin, Garber;

Sarah Naples, Nouvel Catholic Central High;

Victoria Penred, Midland High;

Nicholas Ingle, Central; and

Charles Riffel, Nouvel.###