LSSU Scholarships

Harold Weiss was a retired member of the Michigan State Police where he served as a trooper, fire marshal officer, and detective. He served at various posts throughout Michigan, with his final post being St. Ignace. Harold was very supportive of LSSU and several of his children and grandchildren attended the University. Successful candidates must be a criminal justice major who is a Michigan resident and has earned a minimum 3.0 GPA of 3.0.

Since its founding in 1975 by three avid fly-fishermen, the Headwaters Chapter has grown to encompass five northeast Lower Michigan counties, including Otsego, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Alpena, and Montmorency. Trout Unlimited’s national mission is to conserve, protect, and restore watersheds that support wild trout and salmon. Successful candidates must be majoring in the Fisheries & Wildlife Management program, with a focus on fisheries who is a Michigan resident with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Selection is based on the recommendation of the LSSU Biological Sciences faculty.

This scholarship was established through the collaborative efforts of the LSSU School of Nursing Faculty and the staff of the Chippewa County Health Department to honor Heidi Bailey for her passion and commitment to the nursing profession.  Heidi was a 1984 graduate of Newberry High school who pursued her education and passion for nursing at LSSU earning a BSN in 1988. She began her nursing career at War Memorial Hospital and later worked at the Chippewa County Health Department dedicating over 27 years to Hospice and community home health care. She was a dedicated mentor to LSSU nursing students to ensure they had a meaningful learning experience while pursuing their BSN degree. She will be remembered as one who contributed immensely to the practice of nursing in Sault Ste. Marie and throughout the Chippewa County community.  Successful candidates must be a junior or senior nursing student with a minimum 3.0 GPA who demonstrates a passion for Hospice and Community Health nursing.

The Hiawatha Sportsman’s Club was organized in 1927 and established an area of land to serve as a vacation center for people from all walks of life. Members of the Club enjoy 35,000 acres of wilderness located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a region rich in history, hunting, fishing, canoeing, hiking and more. Hiawatha Sportsman’s Club Scholarship is open to any LSSU student majoring in Fisheries and Wildlife Management. Successful candidates must have at least 26 credits with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Preference is given to graduates of Engadine or Newberry High Schools and to those students who participate in any ongoing wildlife management studies on HSC land.

This scholarship was established by the Hospice of the EUP, a non-profit organization formed in 1983. The first Medicare certified program in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Hospice of the EUP provides patient care programs – hospice (care for the terminally ill and Bridging (care for the chronically ill).  Successful candidates must be an incoming freshman who is pursuing a degree in nursing with an interest in the Hospice philosophy. They must successfully complete the Health Sciences program at the Sault Area Career Center with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

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.

This scholarship was established through a bequest by Jean Boult in 2009. James and Jean Boult were born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie. Jim was a University of Michigan graduate earning a degree in Electrical Engineering. Graduating from MacMurray College in central Illinois, Jean began a teaching career in physical education. Because of Jim’s profession, they lived in many places throughout the country while raising two sons – Paul and Bruce. The Boults retired in 1981 and settled in Brimley, Michigan. The Boults will be remembered as having a strong commitment to family and a high value in education. Successful canidates must be a Sault Area High School graduate majoring in any of the recreation studies programs with a 3.0 minimum GPA.

This scholarship was established by James and Melissa’s children, James, Douglas, and, Candace. The Myers family was one of the six original families who started the Michigan College of Mining and Technology – Sault Ste. Marie Branch in 1946. Jim’s efforts, vision, and determination to build a first-class athletic program and university, and his success as a coach, resulted in his induction into the University’s Hall of Fame as “the father of the LSSU intercollegiate athletic program.” Melissa was a vital link between the college and the community and was active in both campus and civic affairs. Awarded to an incoming freshman, selection is based on academic excellence.

This award is named in honor of Jim Fallis (wrestler), the first four-time All-American at Lake Superior State College. Following graduation, Jim coached and taught for 12 years at LSSU. He served as the University’s director of Athletics from 1986-1993. In 2005, he was inducted to the LSSU Athletic Hall of Fame for his achievements as a LSSU athlete, coach and athletic director. A merit based award, the recipient be an All-American honoree, in any sport, the previous academic year with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Selection is based on the  recommendation of the LSSU Athletics Department.

James R. “Jim” Mason (1917 – 2006) was a lifelong resident of Sault Ste. Marie, with an almost equally long passion for the sport of hockey. In his youth, he played on outdoor rinks around the area every chance he could, in addition to being a member of organized teams at Kaine’s Rink and the Pullar Stadium. Later, he spent many years involved in coaching and supporting area Bantam and Jr. League hockey at the Pullar, assisting with the Soo Indians and serving as manager for the Sinclair Warriors Travel Team. Jim followed the LSSU Lakers program and attended many of their home games. As a tribute to his contribution to area hockey, Jim’s family and friends established this scholarship for a deserving freshman or transfer Laker hockey player with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

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.

This named endowment was established by Mary Lubs Thomsen to honor her late husband, Viggo. Both were long-time residents of Sault Ste. Marie and former employees of LSSU. Mary was director of Public Relations and Viggo served for 27 years as a faculty member of the Biology Department. The scholarship provides financial assistance to LSSU students majoring in the biological sciences, pre-pharmacy, pre-medical and/or pre-dental programs.

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 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.