MASSP is proud to announce the winners of the 2019 Board of Directors Scholarship. These three graduating seniors have been awarded a $2,500 scholarship towards tuition in the fall. The winners – Samantha Kowalczyk from Pinconning High School, Madelynn Remenap from Grandville High School and Alexa McVoy from Grand Haven High School – are children of MASSP members who demonstrated exemplary academic achievement, participation in extracurriculars and the completion of both school and community service. Congratulations to our winners!
Samantha Kowalczyk
Samantha is the daughter of Andrew Kowalczyk, Principal at Handy Middle School. She is graduating from Pinconning High School as their Valedictorian with a 4.157 GPA and many AP credits. Samantha was a recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award (2018), the Renaissance Gold Award (2019), and the Heart of the Spartan Award during her time in varsity volleyball (2018). She also serves as treasurer of her school’s chapter of the National Honor Society, Executive President of Student Council and a Peer Mentor. Additionally, she was captain of varsity volleyball, basketball and track. Samantha plans to attend Michigan State University and pursue a Political Science degree. “She is truly a remarkable young lady who represents our school in the highest regard,” wrote her Principal, Brady Palmer, “[she] is the consummate selfless student you wish you could duplicate hundreds and hundreds of times over.”
Madelynn Remenap
Madelynn is the daughter of Dan Remenap, Principal at Allendale High School. She is a graduating senior at Grandville High School where she is graduating 5th in her class with a 4.323 GPA. She has served as President of the Student Council and was chosen to be the student representative for the School Improvement Team, all while being a part of the Peer 2 Peer Group and Key Club. Madelynn is very active in her community church where she volunteers many hours a week mentoring younger children. The people who know her well describe Madelynn as hard-working, dedicated and curious. Her principal, Adam Lancto wrote that “Madelynn is the type of student that every teacher wishes for and one that every parent hopes they raise.”
Alexa McVoy
Alexa is the daughter of Jason McVoy, Principal at Oakridge Middle/High School. She will be graduating from Grand Haven High School as 4th in her class with a GPA of 4.278. Alexa served as President of the Ambassador Club and Vice President of the Interact Club while maintaining honor roll status and taking many AP and honors classes. She was also a part of her school’s National Honor Society, Student Senate, Green Club and Students Live United. Alexa earned a varsity letter through the United States Equestrian Federation and has earned four National Championship titles since she started riding horses at age two. She has interned at Outside In, an equine-assisted psychotherapy nonprofit where she took the initiative to start a summer camp for 9-11 year old girls struggling with mental illness. “From the first few weeks I met her, it was evident that Alexa is a very dedicated student, determined leader, and has the heart of a servant,” wrote Alexa’s Interact Club Advisor, John Mauro.
In order for a student to be considered for the scholarship the student must be a graduating senior at a Michigan public high school or private high school with a minimum GPA of 3.0; be a dependent of an MASSP member in good standing at the professional membership level or above for at least three years; and be enrolled as a full-time student (at least 12 credits per semester/trimester) at a public community/junior college, four-year degree-granting institution, or vocational training institution that grants a degree, certification or license. Priority was given on the basis of academic achievement, extra-curricular activities, and school and community service. Scholarship determinations were made by the MASSP Scholarship Committee strictly on the merit of the applicant’s performance against the criteria. The selection and award of scholarships is an anonymous and nondiscriminatory process.
Written by Wendy Zdeb, Executive Director