ChoiceOne Bank Awards 13 Scholarships to Local High School Seniors

Rhea-AI Summary

ChoiceOne Financial Services and ChoiceOne Bank (NASDAQ: COFS) awarded 13 scholarships in their Annual ChoiceOne Scholarship Program. This initiative supports needs-based scholarships for graduating seniors in West and Southeast Michigan. Each scholarship recipient receives $1,000 for their first year at an accredited Michigan college. The winners, from 11 high schools, were selected based on essays detailing their community service experiences. Applications were accepted from January through March. The program aims to foster community involvement and support the education of future leaders.

Positive

• ChoiceOne Bank awarded $13,000 in scholarships to 13 high school seniors, demonstrating a commitment to community support.
• The scholarships support students attending accredited Michigan colleges, reinforcing local educational institutions.
• The scholarship program encourages community service among high school students, fostering leadership and civic responsibility.
• Involvement in community service as a selection criterion enhances the program's impact on students' personal development.

Negative

• The scholarship amount of $1,000 per student may be considered insufficient relative to the rising costs of college education.
• The program is to students attending colleges in Michigan, potentially excluding qualified students pursuing education out-of-state.

SPARTA, Mich., June 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc., and ChoiceOne Bank (NASDAQ: COFS) ("ChoiceOne") are pleased to announce 13 scholarships have been awarded in the Annual ChoiceOne Scholarship Program, offered to provide needs-based scholarships for graduating seniors in the communities the Bank serves in West and Southeast Michigan.

"As the local community bank, we have been offering this program for many years now," said ChoiceOne Bank President Michael J. Burke, Jr. "ChoiceOne has always believed families are the heart of our communities, and our high school seniors are the next generation of leaders. This program provides an opportunity for them to realize the benefits of being raised and educated in a supportive community. It's also heartwarming to hear from our students about their community-service experiences over the years."

ChoiceOne created this Scholarship Program to encourage and reward graduating seniors who are attending an accredited Michigan college in the fall of 2024 to obtain a certificate, associates or bachelor's degree. The ChoiceOne Scholarship awards a one-time scholarship of $1,000 to each recipient for their first year of college or toward a certificate program. ChoiceOne Bank has 35 locations serving communities in Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo, Lapeer, St. Clair, Macomb, and Oakland counties. These 13 winners come from 11 community high schools.

• Makayla Hatchew - Sparta High School
• William McFarlin - Sparta High School
• Teya Li Weber - Coopersville High School
• Brianna Bacon - Coopersville High School
• Stella Malon - Cedar Springs High School
• Ann Smalley - Kent City High School
• James Chandler - Grant High School
• Kennedy Haworth - Lapeer High School
• Franklin Caudill - North Branch High School
• Kayla Demick - Armada High School
• Rayana Slack - Imlay City High School
• Dori Stuever - Capac High School and Home Schooled
• Alexandra Nichol - Fraser High School

ChoiceOne Bank Scholarship applications were accepted from January through March. Students had to include a 500 word or less essay about one of their community-service experiences – describing why they became involved in the community service, who benefited from the service and what personal accomplishments they gained from helping in their community. Eligible candidates included graduating high school seniors, GED recipients, and home school students with documentation of high school equivalency and college eligibility in this calendar year.

"It takes a community to raise a family and ChoiceOne has great interest in helping our youth," said Burke. "As parents, we are always hopeful our students will return to their roots to raise their families and teach their children the importance of community service."

About ChoiceOne
ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Sparta, Michigan, and the parent corporation of ChoiceOne Bank. Member FDIC. ChoiceOne Bank operates 35 offices in parts of Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo, Lapeer, St. Clair, Macomb, and Oakland counties. ChoiceOne is an approximately $2.7 billion-asset bank holding company making it the eighth largest bank holding company in Michigan based on asset size. ChoiceOne Bank offers insurance and investment products through its subsidiary, ChoiceOne Insurance Agencies, Inc. ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol "COFS." For more information, please visit Investor Relations at ChoiceOne's website choiceone.bank.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/choiceone-bank-awards-13-scholarships-to-local-high-school-seniors-302167304.html

SOURCE ChoiceOne Bank

FAQ

What is the ChoiceOne Scholarship Program?

The ChoiceOne Scholarship Program provides needs-based scholarships to graduating high school seniors in West and Southeast Michigan.

How much is the ChoiceOne Scholarship?

Each recipient of the ChoiceOne Scholarship receives $1,000 for their first year at an accredited Michigan college.

When were applications for the ChoiceOne Scholarship accepted?

Applications for the ChoiceOne Scholarship were accepted from January through March.

What criteria were used to select the ChoiceOne Scholarship recipients?

Recipients were selected based on essays describing their community service experiences, including their involvement, beneficiaries, and personal accomplishments.

How many scholarships did ChoiceOne Bank award in 2024?

ChoiceOne Bank awarded 13 scholarships in 2024.

Which high schools did the ChoiceOne Scholarship recipients come from?

The recipients came from 11 different high schools in communities served by ChoiceOne Bank.

What is the stock symbol for ChoiceOne Financial Services?

The stock symbol for ChoiceOne Financial Services is COFS.