Bernd and Jennifer Koerner have established a new scholarship fund with Four County Community Foundation that will assist high school seniors and post-graduates of Almont and Romeo high schools.
In a matter of weeks, Four County Community Foundation’s 2024 scholarship season will officially begin. What has been a robust offering of financial support for local students has grown even stronger in recent months with the creation of the Koerner Family Foundation Scholarship Fund.
Established by Bernd and Jennifer Koerner, the fund seeks to award scholarships to high school seniors and post-graduates of Almont High School and Romeo High School who are pursuing degrees in information technology, engineering, business, or science and have maintained a 2.5 to 3.5 grade point average.
Bernd Koerner said he enjoyed a successful career with his family’s business, Fori Automation in Shelby Township, and upon retirement, felt compelled to share with others.
“I want to give something back to the community that I’ve been living in for over 20 years now. I believe in education and I like to see young people succeed,” he said of his family’s decision to create a scholarship fund.
Eligible students, including those attending or planning to attend vocational or trade school, can receive up to $7,000 per year and will have the opportunity to re-apply in subsequent years.
“Hopefully this scholarship helps young people move on with their career and dreams,” Bernd said.
More information, including application details, about the Koerner Family Foundation Scholarship Fund will be available online at www.4ccf.org/scholarships when the application portal opens on December 1. Students can determine their eligibility for any of the scholarship funds administered by Four County Community Foundation by completing an online application form at www.4ccf.org/scholarships/apply. Submissions are due by March 1, 2024.
In 2023, Four County Community Foundation granted more than $326,000 in scholarship dollars to students from Almont, Armada, Capac, Dryden, Imlay City, Lapeer, Oxford, Romeo and others in the Foundation’s service area. Recipients include those who are bound for colleges, universities and trade schools.
To learn more about creating a scholarship fund, contact Four County Community Foundation at (810) 798-0909 or email Executive Director Kathy Dickens at kdickens@4ccf.org.