ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Friday morning, Bay College celebrated the impact of scholarships and the generosity of the people who make them possible.
Since 1972, the Bay College Foundation has been working with local individuals, businesses, and organizations to provide financial support for students in need. The college held an event called Building Tomorrow Together, which showcased the way educational gifts are changing the lives of students at Bay’s Escanaba and Iron Mountain campuses.
Nursing student Lara Ryan spoke about her experience as an immigrant from the Philippines. She said the generosity of community donors has been a tremendous help on her journey to achieve her degree.
“Going back to school as a mother of a college student, you know, the whole hardship of like, ‘Well, should I go back or not go back?'” Ryan said. “Then I was told by one of my professors, ‘Why don’t you apply for a scholarship?’ I did try and got one, and from then on I was like, ‘Somebody believes in me that I don’t even know them.’ Doing this fuels me more to kind of show my kid that you’re never too old to really dream and start life. I’m grateful for Bay College—a small-knit community—helping students like me.”
During the 2024 – 2025 academic year, the Bay College Foundation awarded $650,000 in scholarships to students, equating to an average of $1,950 for 330 students.
To learn more about the Bay College Foundation and available scholarships, click here.
