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Please Donate to 2021 OEA / OPC Building A Better World Scholarship

Please go here to learn more our Scholarship.

The Building A Better World Scholarship is co-sponsored by the Oakridge Education Association and the Oakridge Parent Club.  We are a 501 c-3 organization,  which allows you full Federal and State tax deductions for any donation that you make.

Federal Tax Identification Number is #82-2399098 .

You may donate online here with a secured credit card donation or drop off a check, made out to Building a Better World Scholarship. at the Oakridge High School main office.    You may also send a check in care of Building A Better World, to Oakridge High School 5493 East Hall Road, Muskegon, MI 49442.  Any questions please contact Mr. Wood at bobwoodmsu@gmail.com or call (616) 402-8668.

The Building A Better World Scholarship is currently soliciting donations to fund our 2020 Scholarship.  Our goal for 2020 is to award $10,000.  Please consider donating here on our website.

  • Go here for a copy of the Scholarship Application form.
  • Go here for FAQ’s about applying for the BBW Scholarship.
  • Go here for a look at ALL of our Winners since 2003
  • Go here for 2016 Muskegon Chronicle feature story on our scholarship.
  • Go here for the WGVU Shelly Irwin Show interview 8/23/19.
  • Go here for a flyer that explains our Scholarship.
  • Go here to meet our Scholarship Donors.

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Win the 2020 Building A Better World Scholarship ••••• everything you need to know

Submission Deadline – June 1, 2020.  

Watch the video here to learn everything that you need to know about this scholarship, and how to WIN!  Three separate scholarships.  All to graduating Oakridge Seniors.  You got the time…roll up your sleeves and write. The world needs you!

Meanwhile – Stay Healthy…and woke.  Thanks.  See you soon.

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Please say “Hello” to our 2019 Scholarship Winners

Please go here to learn more about our Scholarship.

Congratulations to Nicole, Hanna, Madison, and Halle.

Please go here to find a copy of the 2020 Scholarship Guidelines

Four thoughtful and intelligent graduates from the Oakridge High School class of 2019.  Two Global Awareness College Scholarships and inspirational adventures to travel and volunteer abroad in Nepal and Thailand.  Each of the gals are headed off next Fall to college.  Each has plans to shape a better world for themselves, their friends, and for future generations.

Wish ’em luck with a donation today.- our goal is $9000 – two $2,250 college scholarships and two $2,250 travel scholarships.  You may donate on this website with a credit card – or via check made out to Building A Better World Scholarship – sent to Oakridge High School • 5493 E Hall Road • Muskegon, MI • 49442.  Remember we are now a 501 c-3 non profit organization – your donation is fully tax deductible.  Thanks for thinking of us.

And please dig deeper, below, into our graduates’ lives, their dreams, and their winning essays.

Thank you for your support through the years.

Together We Can

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Madison Sahagun Bisson – 2019 Global Awareness Scholarship

Below are excerpts from Madison Sahagun Bisson’s winning essay for the Global Awareness portion of the 2019 Building A Better World Scholarship.  Go here to find the 2019 Building A Better World Scholarship Award Winners…

We have neighbors… ” We need to understand and appreciate the lives and values of not only foreign cultures, but local cultures as well. We have neighbors who are Black, Asian, or Latino, but so many people do not take the time to learn about their cultures and traditions. How can we expect people to be aware of the cultures around the world if they are not aware of the cultures that they encounter every day? This must be our first priority.”

The diversity I crave… I wrote my University of Michigan community essay on how badly I wanted to leave Egelston. Not because I do not like living here, but because I am not experiencing the diversity that I crave. I wrote about going to Washington D.C. with Oakridge Close Up, and how that experience showed me how little I knew about cultures in the United States, let alone the those in the world. My two roommates were from North Dakota. They were descendants from a Native American tribe and spoke in an old language called Hidatsa. I bombarded them with questions throughout the week, and learned so much about their beliefs and way of life. There were also teenagers from Alaska, Puerto Rico, New York, and Indiana. And we chose to go during “deaf week.”  Everyone was so new and different, and I loved it. Just that little exposure changed my entire perspective.”

I must see the world for myself…  “I can talk all I want about global awareness, but until I actually get to go out and see the world for myself, I cannot claim to be aware. I know that I do not understand what life is like in Hanoi (University semester abroad course). When I go there, I will be able to interact with local people, and learn about their lives and culture. After college, I will continue to travel the world, and immerse myself into the various opportunities that are offered for traveling doctors. I will strive to help as many people as possible, all while learning about and helping solve the different health-related problems found around the world.”

I will be responsible… “When you become globally aware, your job is not over. You will not be able to keep your knowledge to yourself. You will be responsible for holding other people accountable when they fail to be globally aware.  You will become an advocate with people who have not yet discovered the importance of global awareness. You must stress the significance of understanding the different ways of life around the world.   If not you, then who?”

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and check out Madison’s plans… “I am extremely excited to be attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor this fall. I am going to be working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Science by majoring in biology on the pre-med track, with a minor in Spanish. While in college, I plan on taking full advantage of the many opportunities to study abroad. I would especially love to go on a special study abroad trip that includes traveling to Washington D.C., Vietnam, South Africa, and Argentina over the span of 16 weeks. I love to read, travel, watch movies, hang out with friends, and sing. I aspire to be a physician with a specialty in either pediatrics or dermatology. I love everything about the medical field, and I can’t wait to be a part of it someday.”

Thank you for your support through the years.

Together, We Can.

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Halle Jennings – 2019 Independent Travel Award

Below are excerpts from Halle Jenning’s winning essay for the Independent Travel portion of the 2019 Building A Better World Scholarship. Go here to find the 2019 Building A Better World Scholarship Award Winners…

I have opportunities… “Living in a first world country, I feel like I have more opportunities as well as a loving family who supports me with school, my hobbies, and other extracurricular activities. This has instilled in me a passion for giving back as much as possible and caring for the ones who need it most. This is what I look forward to each and everyday. I volunteer each summer at Camp Sunshine, where I interact and meet new friends who suffer with life-threatening illness. I’ve also volunteered at my local hospital by holding and caring for babies with drug addiction. My love for volunteering and helping others is endless and my goal someday is too adopt a child of my own from an orphanage.”

My mom and I will visit Bam… One of my biggest aspirations in life is to participate in a trip where I am able to experience a whole different culture, but also be able to volunteer at an orphanage… My Mom and I will head to Bangkok, Thailand (summer of 2020), where we will reconnect with my sister Bam, who was my family’s exchange student in 2015….Bam will give us a tour of her home town and some places that are her favorites. With her living there, we will have a better chance to experience and see their culture closer up. What interests me the most about Bangkok is the Grand Palace. The Grand Palace is described to be the most visited attraction in Bangkok, due to the fact that it is known to have been home to the country’s royalty. Considering the fact that I love to eat, I would want to take a food tour and check out the local floating food markets.”

The Orphanage…After the four days, I will be volunteering (with my mom) at a local orphanage called “The Friends for Asia Foundation” for two weeks in Bangkok. While I’m there, I will be getting kids ready for school, participating in afternoon activities such as, gardening, painting, cooking, and picking up food from the market.  When the kids get back home from school, I will help with homework, cooking, and cleaning. We will get to have lots of free time with the children, which is great for building special connections with them…  I will be there to volunteer my time and effort to provide care and love to these children and build special connections with them lasting a lifetime.”

My dream is to make a difference in the world… Going on this journey is something I’ve always wanted to do. My dream is to make a difference in the world with all the power and ability I can. I want the chance to impact others lives and build relationships that I will forever cherish.  I feel this trip will push me in the right direction to pursue that dream and give me a great opportunity to see the world and change people’s lives.”

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Halle and her Mom are going to Thailand.

and check out Halle’s plans… “I am going to be a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. I will be attending Lake Michigan College in the fall to play softball and to also get a bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Eventually I plan on getting my Master’s degree as a bedside registered nurse in a level 3 NICU. My journey of making a difference in the world begins the summer of 2020, where my mom and I will travel to Bangkok, Thailand and volunteer for 2 weeks. I plan to visit the Friends for Asia Foundation every summer and my goal is to later adopt. I want to make a difference in the world for those who don’t have anything and I also want to make people aware of the changes they can make on others lives just by volunteering.”

Thank you for your support through the years.

Together, We Can.

 

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