GF Scholarship Programs: The Gerber Foundation Career –Tech Scholarship Grant

The Gerber Foundation offers the Career-Tech Scholarship for students graduating from Newaygo County Career-Technical Center. The scholarship aims to support students in pursuing education beyond high school, whether in traditional colleges, universities, or trade schools. Applicants must be seniors at the time of application. This initiative aligns with the Foundation's mission to enhance the quality of life for young children and their families, focusing on essential areas such as health, nutrition, and educational development.

The Gerber Foundation's Mission
Accordingly, priority is given to projects whose primary beneficiaries are young children from birth to three years of age. The Trustees of The Gerber Foundation expect the Foundation’s grant dollars to make a significant impact on issues facing infants and young children. Through our grant-making efforts, the Trustees are committed to improving the health and well-being of the youngest members of our society. The Foundation maintains three primary focus areas for its grant-making:
The primary focus, supported by over 70% of grant-making, is applied research focused on health and nutritional issues affecting infants and young children. Research projects aimed at finding solutions to common every-day issues and problems regarding children’s health and nutrition are sought. Of particular interest are those offering a substantial promise of meaningful advances in prevention and treatment of diseases and those with broad applicability to the general population.West Michigan grants are focused on youth programs supporting the growth and development of children from 0-18 years of age within 4 counties in West Michigan – Lake, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties. Specific areas of focus within youth programming include early childhood growth and development to assure children are ready for school by age 5; development of parenting skills; STEM education; health and dental care; and several historically supported programs such as 4-H, summer camps, and general support programs.College scholarships are provided to students graduating from select high schools in Newaygo, Muskegon, and Oceana Counties. Students must be graduating seniors at the time of application. Scholarships support education beyond high school in traditional colleges or universities as well as trade schools or support for certification exams.
Newaygo County Career–Tech Scholarships are available to students graduating from one of the programs at the Newaygo County Career-Technical Center.  Students must apply during their senior year of high school.

Application Details

Newaygo County Career Tech Center Scholarship
Who May Apply. High school seniors graduating from one of the career programs at the Newaygo
County Career Tech Center (NCCTC) and pursuing higher education through an accredited program.
Students must apply during their senior year of high school.
Value. $1,000 for post-secondary education. The scholarship may be used for required tuition, books,
course fees, tools and equipment, certificate and licensing exam fees, and apprenticeship program fees.
Service Business Building and Design Industrial
Career Field Category Career Field Category Career Field Category Career Field Category
Cosmetology Accounting Construction Trades AgriScience
Culinary Arts Business Applied Tech Engineering Automotive Tech
Future Educators Graphic Communications HVAC Heavy Equipment Tech
Health Sciences Information Tech Welding Manufacturing Engr
Application Submission Deadline. February 28 of each year at 4 pm ET.
Online registration and login. Once registered students will be able to keep track of their information
for the entire scholarship process from application to award in the online account.

• Go to https://gerberfoundation.smartsimple.com to register and login.
• Register using the Scholarship Registration button on the lower left of the Login Page.

1. In the Organization Name box on the registration page, type and select:

• NCCTC
• o

1. Complete the remaining student personal information. Use a non-school email you monitor

regularly.

• After you submit your registration information the system will email a temporary password to

login to the application for the first time.
Application. Student educational information, a student personal statement (consisting of four (4) short
answer essay questions), one letter of recommendation from your NCCTC program instructor, and a
grade report from the NCCTC counselor are required for each application.
Selection. Selection is made based on the student’s academic achievements at the NCCTC and
evaluation of the student’s personal statement and letter of recommendation.
For questions, contact:

• The Gerber Foundation
• 231.924.3175
• 4747 W 48th Street, Suite 153
• Fremont, MI 49412
• tgf@gerberfoundation.org
• Updated: June 19, 2024