Community Foundation announces largest group of Promise Scholars to date

Mitchell Boatman, The Holland Sentinel
·2 min read

HOLLAND — This year’s group of Promise Scholars from the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area has been announced, and it’s the largest cohort to date.

Fifteen students from four area school districts have been awarded the Holland/Zeeland Promise for 2023.

The exterior of the Community Foundation of Holland/Zeeland Area sits Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, in downtown Holland.
The exterior of the Community Foundation of Holland/Zeeland Area sits Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, in downtown Holland.

The honor is a "last dollar" scholarship, covering the remaining cost of tuition, books, room and board after other grants and scholarships have been applied. It's renewable for additional undergraduate years, so long as students remain in good academic standing and are making progress toward their degrees.

The Holland/Zeeland Promise was established in 2010 by a group of business and community leaders. It’s intended to help “promising young people to graduate higher education without the burden of student debt.”

This year’s recipients, in alphabetical order, are:

  • Carina Aguilar, West Ottawa. Will attend Michigan State University

  • Cindy Bahena, West Ottawa. Will attend Grand Valley State University

  • April Bith, West Ottawa. Will attend Wayne State University

  • Valentin Fauque, Zeeland East. Will attend the University of Michigan

  • Juan Gomez, West Ottawa. Will attend Michigan State University

  • Jennifer Gomez-Pedraza, Holland Early College. Will attend Grand Valley State University

  • Natalie Goulooze, Holland Early College. Will attend Michigan State University

  • Roger Hernandez, Black River. Will attend the University of Michigan

  • Mohammedfadi Kalahji, Holland. Will attend Grand Valley State University

  • Amanda McCleery, Zeeland East. Will attend The Culinary Institute of Michigan, Baker College

  • Lucy McRae-Hernandez, Zeeland East. Will attend Michigan State University

  • Yesenia Rios, West Ottawa of 2022. Will attend Northern Michigan University

  • Ashley Ruiz, Holland Early College. Will attend Grand Valley State University

  • Isabel Shepard, West Ottawa. Will attend Saginaw Valley State University

  • Giselle Torres, Holland. Will attend Grand Valley State University

“The Promise Scholarship allows me to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse and for that, I’m so grateful,” McRae-Hernandez wrote in a statement.

“I feel incredibly grateful and honored to be a Promise recipient. It is a humbling experience to have my hard work and dedication recognized in this way,” Juan Gomez wrote.

“I will forever cherish this community and the potential they saw in me. I have a lot I want to accomplish, and the Promise Scholarship has given me the boost I need to achieve my goals,” Ruiz wrote.

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In addition to financial support, the Promise Scholars are offered resources for mental, social and emotional well-being during their time in college. CFHZ partners with Mosaic Counseling and Thompson M-TEC to provide side-by-side support.

— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: CFHZ announces largest group of Promise Scholars to date