LSSU Scholarships

Anthony Dulimba graduated from LSSU in 1995 with degrees in automated manufacturing engineering technology, computer engineering, and electrical engineering technology. He started his own company, ADD Software LLC in 2007.  In 2011, he established an annual scholarship to assist students in the career that has been so beneficial to him.  In 2020, Anthony established an endowment to honor his family and provide education and career opportunities for LSSU engineering students. Successful candidates must be a junior with a minimum 3.0 GPA majoring in electrical engineering or computer engineering with preference given to those in the robotics program.

This scholarship was established by Earl and Barbara Larson to honor Barbara’s father, Don Prohazka. In 1948, Prohazka was named to the Board of Control for the Soo Branch of Houghton’s Michigan College of Mining and Technology (later to become Lake Superior State University). Upon his acceptance he said, “College education for the youth of our State becomes increasingly more necessary in this era…and more particularly to those of our immediate area. I shall consider it my duty to furnish the opportunity for all young people seeking better living through knowledge.” Successful candidates must be a graduate of the Eastern Upper Peninsula high school with selection based on academic excellence.

In 1989, Robert Walker, consummate traveler of seven continents and dedicated career educator, established this named scholarship to honor his parents Earl and Minnie, longtime residents and community leaders in Strongs, Mich. Earl is remembered as “Slippery” Walker, professional wrestler of the 1930s. He was a subject in John T. Nevill’s book, Wanderings, which offered tales of northern Michigan. Earl was also known as one of the last of the old-time politicians who took a personal interest in every person of his district. He served as a democrat in the local political spectrum for more than 50 years. Minnie, in addition to raising four sons and two daughters, was the Strongs, MI postmaster for 30 years. Upon his death in 2001, Robert continued his family’s legacy by naming LSSU as a beneficiary of his estate. Successful candidates must demonstrate academic excellence.

Dr. Edeltraute “Terry” Vialpando came to Sault Ste. Marie in 1967, where she began a long career of teaching foreign languages, mostly French, for the Sault Branch of Michigan Tech, later LSSU. She received the LSSU Distinguished Teaching Award in 1981. This scholarship is awarded to a student enrolled in a LSSU study abroad program to travel to a country where English is not the 1^st language. Successful candidates must have earned 56 LSSU credits with a minimum 3.0.

Edward Smith is a retired physician who has practiced in St. Ignace, Mich. since 1986. He is a Lake Superior State alumnus who received his MD Degree from Michigan State University and completed a Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at the University of Michigan. He provided care to many patients with cancer and blood disorders in Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula. Jill is a registered nurse and a graduate of Grand Rapids Junior College. She is an Oncology Nurse at Mackinac Straits Hospital. In 2018, Dr. Smith received the LSSU Outstanding Alumnus Award, the highest award bestowed by the LSSU Alumni Association.

The Edward C. and Hazel L. Stephenson Foundation was established in 1969 for the sole purpose of providing grants to schools, colleges and universities in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. Founder Edward Stephenson worked as the vice president of finance for the J. L. Hudson Company and lived with his wife Hazel, in Grosse Pointe, Mich.. In 1976 the Stephenson Foundation established an annual scholarship that over the years was given to more than 700 students; assisting more students than any other single scholarship in LSSU’s history. In 2003, the Stephenson Foundation dissolved and distributed its assets to a few select colleges and universities. Successful candidates must be a high school graduate from Michigan or Great Lakes region with at least 26 LSSU credits and has earned a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Edwin Peterson was a native of Sault Ste Marie, Mich. and a 1956 graduate of the Sault Branch of the Michigan College of Mining and Technology (now LSSU). Dr. Peterson started his career in 1958 as an Education Advisor in the 507th Fighter Wing, Air Defense Command, Kincheloe Air Force Base, Michigan. In 1972, he became the Chief of Education and Training, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. Throughout his career, his innovation, significant accomplishments, and outstanding leadership impacted the quality of life and education of all Service members in the Department of Defense. Successful candidates must be a student tutor of the LSSU Learning Center with a minimum 3.0 GPA who demonstrates a desire to help students succeed academically. Selection is based on recommendation of the Learning Center faculty.

This scholarship was established to help non-traditional students whose lives have led them away from school for a time and who are now dedicated to complete a college business degree. Betsy was a native of Sault Ste. Marie and a graduate of Sault Area High School. She transferred to Lake Superior State College in 1971 as a sophomore and continued taking classes along with raising a family and working full-time, graduating magna cum laude in 1983 with a BS in Accounting. She completed an MBA at LSSU in 1993. In 2009, she received the LSSU Outstanding Alumna Award – an award that honors personal and professional accomplishments and involvement with LSSU. Betsy was very active in her community and served on the LSSU Foundation Board of Directors until her death in 2013 after a courageous battle with cancer. Successful candidates must be a student majoring in any LSSU Business degree program with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Preference is given to non-traditional students who are residents of Michigan’s Eastern Upper Peninsula.

This named scholarship was established by Esther’s daughter  and son-in-law, Cindy and Norman Day. Esther (Ball) Beeten was born in Petoskey, Michigan in 1920. She moved to Brimley as a child and graduated from Brimley High School as the salutatorian of her class. Due to a lack of financial aid she was unable to attend college, which was a life-long regret. After raising a family she became a licensed realtor and real estate broker in Hawaii. She was a lifelong learner and traveler who was known for her sense of humor and outreach to others. Beeten and her daughter always loved Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Therefore, it was fitting to establish a scholarship at LSSU for students from Esther’s alma mater. Successful candidates must be a graduate from Brimley High School majoring in any course of study with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

This scholarship was established by Barbara Welch Buchanan to honor her father. Eugene Welch owned and operated Welch’s Service, a Chrysler dealership, and Welch’s Motel during his longtime business career. He was born in Levering in 1897 and died in Sault Ste. Marie in 1988. Mr. Welch highly valued education for his family and encouraged them and others to pursue a college education. Selection is based on academic excellence.

This endowed scholarship was established by Galen H. Harrison (1938-2022), a graduate of Pickford High School and LSSU Professor of Mathematics (1963-1996). Mr. Harrison believed in the importance of higher education and understood that many students need financial support while working towards their educational and career goals. Successful candidates must be an incoming freshman who is a Pickford High School graduate with a minimum 3.0 GPA majoring in biology, chemistry, geology, nursing, mathematics, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, environmental chemistry, or environmental science.

This scholarship endowment was established by Jacki (Brinker) Saunders and David O. Saunders, 1975 graduates of LSSU. The Saunders understand the importance of higher education and know that many students need financial support while working towards their education goals. Successful candidates must have earned at least 26 LSSU credits and a minimum 3.0 GPA and may major in a Business, Biology, or Chemistry program.

Jim Smith and Tom Wiles are both graduates of Bedford High School (1972) and classmates at Lake Superior State College. Upon their retirement, they returned to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. “Our experiences as students at Lake Superior State College in the 1970s to our present stage of life, have been the foundation for our desire to fund an award for an incoming freshman and a science scholarship to a current student. They have issued their recipients a challenge: To apply all the knowledge that you have/will learn for the benefit of generations present and future.

The science scholarship is given to a student of sophomore status with a minimum 3.0 GPA who is seeking a career path as a scientist. The hope of the future lies not in curbing the influence of human occupancy – it is already too late for that – but in creating a better understanding of the extent of that influence and a new ethic for its governance. ― Aldo Leopold, Game Management

The Joseph and Bonnie Halvorsen Memorial Endowment was established by the Halvorsen’s five children to honor their parents and to provide financial assistance to a sophomore student pursuing a career as a park ranger for the State of Michigan or National Park Service. Joseph and Bonnie were married in 1952 shortly after Halvorsen began his career with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Between 1963 and 1977, Halvorsen managed F. J. McLain State Park in Hancock, Grand Haven State Park, Brimley State Park, and Tahquamenon Falls State Park until his retirement in 1991. Despite all these accomplishments, Halvorsen always felt his advancement was curtailed because he lacked a college degree. He spent the last years of his career training people who would go on to surpass him, always willing to assist and provide advice because of his love and commitment for the job.

Professor Emeritus Raymond Chelberg and his wife Marian were one of the original faculty families at the Michigan College of Mining and Technology, Sault Branch in 1946. From that time until he retired in 1970, Professor Chelberg was chair of the Chemistry Department. He was a dedicated teacher for more than 44 years and was remembered for his personal, caring and effective approach to teaching. Marian taught music appreciation at Lake State and was one of the founders of the Musicale. She was choir director at Central United Methodist Church and was one of the first women invited to join the Rotary Club. Together, Raymond and Marian significantly enhanced the scientific, athletic and cultural aspects of Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding community. The Chelberg scholarship is awarded to a natural science major, with a minimum 3.0 GPA, who demonstrates leadership abilities and contributes significantly to the success of the athletic team on which he or she is a letter-winner.

Through a trust established in 2008, Kaleel and Josephine Jones chose to support students in four academic areas at LSSU. In doing so, their gift became the second largest bequest in LSSU history.

Kaleel (Kal) Jones and his wife of 68 years founded A & K Cartage, a trucking company servicing the Detroit area. Over 44 years, the company’s fleet grew to eight trucks and maintained the longest running private contract with the city.

With the passing of Josephine in April 2014 and Kal that June, their trust stipulates that a scholarship supporting LSSU criminal justice students will be named the John Williams Jones VIII Scholarship in memory of their son who was a Detroit police officer for 22 years, while engineering, nursing and education students will benefit from the Kaleel (Kal) and Josephine I. Jones Scholarships. Successful candidates must major in one of the four programs with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Drs. Patrick and MaryAnne P. Shannon have provided scholarships to students at LSSU since 1983 in recognition to the scholarship donors who provided them financial assistance to earn their undergraduate degrees. MaryAnne is an advanced practice nurse in geriatrics who earned her PhD from MSU. Patrick is a practicing attorney who earned his law degree from U of D, and his EdD from CMU. This scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior nursing student with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Preference is given to students interested in geriatrics.

The named scholarship is established by Robert Pfaff in memory of his wife, Patricia, who was a member of the first class of registered nurses to graduate from Lake Superior State College in 1972.  Patricia worked in various capacities during her 34-year nursing career and retired in January 2006. Robert is a 1972 LSSC Business alum and has been licensed by the State of Michigan to practice as a certified public accountant since March 1976. Successful candidates must be accepted into the BSN program with at least 26 LSSU credits and a minimum 3.0 GPA. Selection is based on the recommendation of the LSSU Nursing faculty.

This scholarship was established by the Stanley Tomcyek family (SMO – Stanley, Mabel & Orin), long-time residents of Sault Ste. Marie. It is awarded to LSSU sophomores majoring in pre-medicine or pre-pharmacy with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

This scholarship was established by the Straits Area Ostomy Association to financially assist a LSSU nursing student who is interested in working with ostomy clients. The Association has been in existence since 1974 and covers Michigan’s northern lower peninsula and the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Successful candidates must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and is based on the recommendation of the LSSU Nursing faculty.

This scholarship was established in memory of Tempie Dubow, a 1973 LSSU nursing graduate who trained at hospitals in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Ontario, Canada. At the time of her death, she was on the nursing staff of Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. Tempie exemplified the spirit of nursing. “She chose nursing because she loved to help people and her very presence made patients feel better,” said Margaret Pieper, former director of nursing training at LSSU. “She possessed a spirit and enthusiasm that was an inspiration to all of her classmates.” Selection is based on a demonstrated commitment to nursing, academic achievement and potential for leadership.

The Colleen and Charles MacDonald Annual Scholarship supports transfer students pursuing majors in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) or Education with a focus on STEM curricula. Established by long-time Michigan residents Colleen and Chuck MacDonald, the scholarship reflects their deep belief in the value of education and the importance of helping students overcome financial barriers. It provides assistance with tuition and class-related fees to deserving students, supporting their success in STEM fields.

This scholarship was created in 2006 by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science faculty as a tool to retain highly qualified students at LSSU. Successful recipients must be a major in mathematics or computer science or pursuing a degree in math education with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

This endowed scholarship was established to honor one of the charter faculty of Sault Branch of Michigan College of Mining and Technology. Franklin spent 30 years (1948-1978) as a mathematics professor and was the University’s first faculty athletic representative, serving 12 years during the early development of the Laker athletic program. He was instrumental in the development of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). In 1999, Franklin was posthumously inducted to the LSSU Athletic Hall of Fame for his invaluable contributions to the Laker athletic program. Wanda was a homemaker who was very active in her church, the LSSU Faculty Wives’ organization, and a strong supporter of the University and of her husband’s participation in a wide range of academic and athletic interests. The recipient must be a sophomore mathematics or computer science major with a minimum 3.0 GPA in their major courses.

This scholarship was established in 2001 by Galen Harrison (1938-2022) to provide financial assistance to math and computer science majors. Harrison was a long-time LSSU Professor of Mathematics who taught at Lake State from 1963 until his retirement in 1996. Mr. Harrison believed in the importance of higher education and understood that many students need financial support while working towards their educational and career goals.

This endowed scholarship was established by Galen H. Harrison (1938-2022), a graduate of Pickford High School and LSSU Professor of Mathematics (1963-1996). Mr. Harrison believed in the importance of higher education and understood that many students need financial support while working towards their educational and career goals. Successful candidates must be an incoming freshman who is a Pickford High School graduate with a minimum 3.0 GPA majoring in biology, chemistry, geology, nursing, mathematics, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, environmental chemistry, or environmental science.

This endowed scholarship was established by LSSU professor emeritus Gerald Samson (1928-2022). During his career at LSSU, Professor Samson received the LSSU Distinguished Teacher award in 1974 and Emeritus Status in 1990. He could recite a plethora of poems he learned in grade school, remember all the words to the songs he loved from the 30s and 40s (anything after 1950 wasn’t music), solve complex math equations just for fun, read books, books, and more books from the classics, to science, to mysteries and was known as a crossword puzzle aficionado. He loved the phrase “look it up” and spent much time doing just that about any topic that interested him. Selection is based on the recommendation of the LSSU mathematics and computer science faculty.

This scholarship honors Michael Della-Moretta, a 1977 alumnus and Navy pilot killed in 1981 while serving aboard the USS Independence off the coast of Iran. He once said the happiest years of his life were at Lake Superior State University. The award is given to an Eastern U.P. resident with an interest in biological science or lab science major (including math and computer science) who has achieved academic excellence.

This endowment was established by Catherine Gianakura Rogg to honor her parents, Peter and Georgia. At the time of her high school graduation, Georgia was planning to attend Michigan State University to become a mathematics teacher until her father became ill. She made the choice to care for her father and attend to the needs of her family. Longing for a career as a photojournalist, Peter was unable to pursue his education due to his commitment to his father’s business, The American Café, and to his family. In honor of her parents who sacrificed their education and career dreams for the care and well being of their families, Catherine created two scholarships to be granted annually to a student who is seeking a career in Journalism and to a student who is pursuing a degree in Education with a major in Mathematics.

A founder of the Chippewa County Employees Credit Union and a longtime Sault High School math teacher, Rosa Grout, enlightened more than 2,000 students on the beauty and precision of math. “I still hear from many of them who thank me for the structure and discipline that geometry instilled into their lives,” she recalled shortly before her death in 2004 at the age of 95. Grout’s spirit of education carries on in the form of a math, science and technical studies scholarship endowment she created in 1992. The student recipient is a major in engineering technology, mathematics, or computer science. Selection of the award is based upon high school GPA, ACT score and high school class rank.

This scholarship was established to honor William Gregory, former president of Edison Sault Electric Company. He served as a member of the LSSU Board of Trustees, the LSSU Foundation Board of Directors, and received LSSU’s Distinguished Citizen Award in 1986.  LSSU President Robert Arbuckle once stated, “Bill Gregory has actively supported the University with his talent and treasure for over 25 years. No one in this region is more devoted to Lake State.” Successful candidates must be a junior majoring in engineering, mathematics, business, biology or fisheries and wildlife management with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

This endowment was established by family and friends in memory of Chris Reinke, a natural resources technology (NRT) student, 1986-88. Chris was known as a free-spirited, independent young man who had a great love for the outdoors. It was because of his love for the woods and water that he chose the natural resources program at LSSU. His untimely death in 1988 left an indelible mark on Lake State students and to all who knew him. One of his friends, Cindy (Nocerini) Dingell, commented that Chris lived by the old phrase, “live each day like it was your first and every minute like it was your last.” This award assists a sophomore NRT student with a minimum 2.0 GPA who has a sincere dedication to the NRT field. Selection is based on the recommendation of the NRT faculty.

The Clifford and Pearl Nesseth Memorial Scholarship supports full-time Lake Superior State University students enrolled in a College of Great Lakes Ecology and Education program. Established in honor of Clifford and Pearl Nesseth by their son, Clifford “Bryce” Nesseth (1929–2022), the scholarship carries forward the family’s commitment to community and innovation. It supports students who share Bryce’s passion for protecting Michigan’s land and waterways and his dedication to environmental stewardship.

Maurice and Vivian Day, former residents of Sault Ste. Marie and strong supporters of Lake Superior State University, established the Vivian M. Day Endowed Nursing Scholarship in 1995. Vivian was a longtime registered nurse and it was their wish to recognize a nursing student of sophomore status who demonstrates leadership and dedication to the nursing profession.

This scholarship was established to recognize (2) outstanding LSSU nursing students who have completed their internship at War Memorial Hospital and exhibits the passion to provide outstanding patient care as Bonnie Crabb-Tremblay — a 1976 LSSU alumna and a member of the War Memorial Hospital staff for over 30 years. Bonnie was a true example of what one should be as a nurse professional. The recipients are selected based on a recommendation of the WMH leadership staff and the LSSU nursing faculty.

The origin of the War Memorial Hospital Auxiliary dates back to a small group formed in 1903. Beginning with six members, the auxiliary has become a dynamic arm of the hospital, numbering approximately 250 members. Along with providing its many services, the auxiliary formed a Remembrance Fund in 1950 for the purpose of giving interest-free loans to deserving students in the nursing field. The Auxiliary established this scholarship in 1998 to benefit a nursing student of sophomore or junior status who demonstrates community leadership and a dedication to working in the nursing profession.

This scholarship was established by the War Memorial Hospital medical staff to assist LSSU nursing students. Successful candidates must have at least 26 LSSU credits and enrolled in the BSN or BSN completion program. Recipients must be from the tri-county area, demonstrate financial need and has earned a minimum 3.0 GPA.

The named scholarship is established by Hazel F. Mulligan (1916-2010) through a bequest stipulating that a nursing scholarship be created in the name of William (1912-1997) & Hazel Mulligan. Hazel was a homemaker, avid bridge player, golfer and accomplished painter. She loved to travel and did so with her husband and many friends. William and Hazel were married for over 60 years until his death in 1997. Hazel passed away in 2010 at the age of 94. Recipients must be accepted in the BSN program with at least 26 LSSU credits and a minimum 3.0 GPA.