The Graceful Memories Scholarship at The Foundation at Monroe County Community College was recently endowed through donations from family and friends in memory of Gracie E. Czarnik. Endowed scholarship funds allow for scholarships to be awarded in perpetuity.
Czarnik, of Monroe, was preparing for her sophomore year at Monroe High School when she died at the age of 15 in 2017. Her family and friends established the Graceful Memories Scholarship in her memory to assist a student from Monroe County who shared Gracie’s interest in a career in medicine. The first annual scholarship was awarded in 2020.
“Gracie’s family and friends began by making an annual donation for a scholarship and quickly grew it to an endowed fund, which requires a minimum of $20,000,” said Dr. Joshua W. Myers, executive director of The Foundation at MCCC. “With endowed funds, scholarships or programs are awarded based on the interest and earnings of the fund. This allows for ongoing awards, in this case in the form of scholarships, to be made in perpetuity.” Gracie’s family and friends host an annual golf outing in her honor that helped them raise the funds to establish and grow the Graceful Memories Scholarship.
Gracie was very involved in a variety of student groups at MHS including the school’s choir and Project Unify, which fostered friendships between students with disabilities and those without. She was looking forward to serving as a Trojan Mentor to incoming freshmen at MHS. She had a natural affinity for children and had hoped to pursue a career in medicine as a pediatrician.
“Gracie had many family and friends not only at MHS but throughout the county. That is why we want the scholarship to be available to anyone in Monroe County interested in pursuing a career in healthcare like she had planned,” said Gracie’s sister, Brianna Czarnik. “Establishing the Graceful Memories Scholarship and working toward its growth is a way for our family to carry her memory on. Helping someone else achieve a similar dream to what she wanted is very comforting, and it has been a big part of our grief recovery.”
The Graceful Memories Scholarship is only one of more than 200 scholarships The Foundation at MCCC is able to offer students each year. More than $400,000 in scholarships are available for the 2022-23 academic year and online applications are now being accepted through March 1, 2022. For more information and to apply now for scholarships. Current and prospective MCCC students can go to www.monroeccc.edu/scholarships. The one-time, online application process can qualify students for consideration for numerous appropriate scholarships.
About The Foundation at Monroe County Community College
The Foundation at Monroe County Community College was established in 1998 by the MCCC Board of Trustees as the development and enrichment organization of the college. The Foundation at MCCC leverages voluntary support from donors to enhance the educational, literary, scientific, and cultural experience by helping Monroe County Community College meet its mission. The Foundation touches thousands of lives each year through cultural arts programs, scholarships, and educational initiatives. Detailed information about The Foundation at MCCC is available at www.monroeccc.edu/foundation.
About Monroe County Community College
Founded in 1964, Monroe County Community College is a public, two-year institution supported by tax monies from Monroe County, educational funds from the State of Michigan and student tuition.
The college’s mission is to enrich and transform lives by providing opportunities and excellence in higher education. The Main Campus is located at 1555 South Raisinville Road, Monroe, Mich., 48161, with easy access to Toledo and Detroit. The Whitman Center is located at 7777 Lewis Ave.,Temperance, Mich., 48182, near the Ohio-Michigan Border. Detailed information about MCCC is available at www.monroeccc.edu.