Education opens doors, and for many students, the right support can make all the difference. Since 1999, our scholarship program has helped students across our community take the next step, awarding over $632,000 to support their goals and dreams.
Winners have become doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses, accountants, and more, making a meaningful impact on the world around them. Each year, these scholarships help give students the freedom to focus on what matters most to them.
"I will be able to live on campus because of the scholarship," - Alison.
"This scholarship will allow me to focus fully on my studies and football" - Luke
"This scholarship will make it so that I don't have to pay anything for my tuition at GRCC" - Brendan
This year, ten high school seniors were awarded $2,000 from the Arbor Financial Scholarship, based on the strength of an essay they submitted. Each year, the essay topics are chosen based on Arbor's values and beliefs. This year, students reflected on adaptability by answering the topic: "In a world that’s constantly changing, adaptability is key. Reflect on a time when you had to adapt to a new situation, challenge, or environment. What did you learn from the experience, and how has it shaped your approach to future opportunities or obstacles?" Selected from among 115 entries, Arbor Financial is proud to announce the following winners of the 2026 Arbor Financial Scholarship:
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Alison Brewer Mattawan High School Allison will be attending Michigan State University to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Alison would then like to take her knowledge and become a forensic nurse. The scholarship will make it so that she can live on campus next year. |
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Brendan Hinojosa Hudsonville High School Brendan will be attending Grand Rapids Community College to earn his business degree, helping him further build the success of his videography and photography business. This scholarship will ensure that all of his tuition is covered. |
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Dylan Piwko Gull Lake High School Dylan will be attending the University of Michigan to study aerospace engineering. Dylan is excited to continue his passions in school after an exciting internship at NASA. We were all inspired by his experience and adaptability in his essay. |
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Ellie Korringa Otsego High School Ellie will be attending Northern Michigan University to study Political Science. After graduating from Northern, Ellie hopes to further her education in grad school to become a family law attorney, a field she is extremely passionate about.
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Emilee Dyk Kalamazoo Christian High School Emilee is looking forward to attending Calvin University to study Pre-Med with a biology major. She is looking forward to spreading her wings and learning to be on her own at college while also being with some familiar faces. |
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Jack Howard Portage Central High School Jack is excited to be with some of his friends at the University of Miami - Ohio next school year. He plans to study accounting. He is thankful for the scholarship, as it will help him pay his school tuition. |
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Luke Deal Vicksburg High School Luke will be attending Northwood University next year to study cybersecurity. Luke is thankful for this scholarship because it will help him focus on his studies and on what he loves: football. You will find Luke on the Northwood team next fall. |
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Lydia Boley Kalamazoo Christian High School Lydia will be attending the University of Michigan to study biology, with hopes of attending medical school afterward. She is looking forward to starting a career and education around helping others, something she is very passionate about. |
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Kiraly Schoenauer Early College Program Student Kiraly will attend Purdue Fort Wayne to study Secondary Education for Mathematics, along with a Special Education endorsement in American Sign Language. She is from a long line of teachers and is excited to continue their legacy! |
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Rachael Joseph Early College Program Student Rachel will be going to Western Michigan University to study nursing. She looks forward to being able to help people in her community feel better and get the care they need with her degree. |
We are excited for these students and all graduating 2026 seniors as they take their next steps. We had the opportunity to visit the students at their home schools or at our branch to help celebrate their win. Check out some of our favorite photos below!
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Do you know someone who will be a high school senior next school year? Scholarships open in November every year! Let them know.
