Attention High School Seniors! The John W. Duris Scholarship began in 1984 and will be awarded to students from the school districts of Charlotte, Potterville and/ or Maple Valley but may not be limited to those schools. Scholarships will be awarded to deserving senior students planning to further their education beyond high school. Students planning to attend a technical school will be given preference, but scholarships are not limited to a technical school. These scholarships will be awarded to students that display drive, ambition, and an entrepreneurial spirit. The one-year scholarships given are $1,000 each.
Selection will be based on the following criteria: • Minimum 2.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) • Academic Achievement • School and Community Involvement • Leadership Qualities • Initiative • Submitted Essay The deadline for submitting a completed application is April 1. An emailed application to [email protected] Cheryl Starr, Chairperson, will hold your place but does not complete the application process. A hardcopy of this application must be received at P.O. Box 70, Charlotte, MI 48813 by April 1 to be considered. Applications can be found at the bottom of this page or by emailing [email protected] or [email protected]. Complete guidelines and administrative rules are included in the application.
Congratulations to the 2023 John W. Duris Scholarship winners: Justin Beck, Adelaide Shaver, Julia May, Koda Brandt, Esabelle Robles, Emily Driver, Hillary Davis, and Hannah Robinson. The Optimist Club of Charlotte honored Teacher of the Year and eight John W. Duris Scholarship winners on May 11, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. at The Center. Each student will receive $750 applied to their school of higher learning.
Congratulations to the 2022 John W. Duris Scholarship winners: Abby Milarch, Kennedy Gilding, and Elise Crossman from Charlotte High School; Morgan Good and Delanie Anthony from Potterville High School; Olivia Williams from Maple Valley. The students were honored at a special dinner on Thursday, May 12 at the Optimist Meeting at 6:30 at The Center along with their parents.
Congratulations to the 2021 John W. Duris Scholarship winners: Austin Berkompas-Olivet College, Megan Hoesli-Carthage College, Sabreena Klann-MSU, Michael Leiby-Central Michigan University, Ashley Moubray-Grand Valley State University, and Isabelle Whiting-Saginaw Valley State University.
The following students received the 2020 Optimist Duris Scholarship Award Madison Eye, Ashley Friar, Cooper Julson, Hunter Weicht-Charlotte High School; Benjamin Benedict-Maple Valley High School; and Meah Snider-Potterville High School
The 2019 Scholarship winners were: Nathan Hard of Charlotte High School will go to Ferris State for welding engineering technology; Lauren Crossman of Charlotte High School will go to Kalamazoo College to major in Political Science/History; Sophie Lupini of Charlotte High School will go to Taylor University or Hope College and major in Exercise Science; Jaedyn Viane of Charlotte High School will go to Western Michigan University to major in Criminal Justice.
The 2018 Scholarship winners were: Clayton Jones of Charlotte High School will go to Aquinas College to become a high school teacher; Zane Stanton of Potterville High School will enter Alma College to become a financial advisor; William Wilson will enroll in Olivet College to major in computer science; and Sydney Spotts of Olivet High School will be attending Grand Valley State University to major in allied health science or physical therapy.
Application-Go to the top of this page and click on What We Do. Two boxes will drop down and click on John Duris Scholarship Application and download.