The scholarship is in memory of alumna Sharon Whalen and is available to any Calvin University student to help them continue their education.

The scholarship is intended to support students from Gratiot, Isabella, and Montcalm counties in response to declining enrollment rates among students who come from rural counties in Michigan.

The collaboration involves students in the Controlled Environment Agriculture program growing produce in hydroponic units to stock in the university’s food pantry. The initiative is made possible through a $125,000 Swipe Out Hunger grant.

The program was recently approved by the NCMC Board of Trustees to become the college’s first for-credit dental sciences program. It is expected to launch in the Fall 2028 semester.

The donation of $1,000 comes from the Montcalm County Farm Bureau, which will be doubled by the Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan Agent Charitable Fund, resulting in $2,000 for the college’s food pantry.

The grant comes from the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential and will allow the college to establish a new Student Success Center.

The endowment fund will provide financial assistance to students who are enrolled in the Forestry Technology Program, which Bill Perkis founded.

Recovery Mobile Clinic RVs are mobile treatment units for individuals facing addiction recovery which provide medications, mental health support, and connections to additional resources.

The pilot program will give children under the age of five who experience extended hospital stays access to early learning opportunities from qualified educators.

Joining the existing concentrations of mechanical engineering and electrical engineering are civil engineering and computer engineering.