Apply now for Scholarships

The Sandbox Foundation is accepting applications for 2022 Scholarships, between January 1st and March 1st. Applicants are required to complete a “Common Application Form” and must submit a short essay describing 1) What inspires them, 2) How they would apply Judea/Christian principles in their education or career, and 3) Describe the value of Work and/or Service.

The student’s high school transcript should be attached to the application form and submitted through their counseling office or via email to Awards@SandboxFoundation.org. While the high school transcript is not a requirement, it is highly recommended by most advisors.

The foundation awarded Thirty-Six grants in it’s first six years and prides itself on finding Inspired, Hardworking, Principled recipients. Past grants have gone to graduates from Romeo, Dakota, Armada, De’Lasalle, L’anse Creuse North, and Utica school districts. Applications are accepted from all high schools. Some preference given to graduates in Macomb County.

Foundation Congratulates Scholarship Recipients for 2021

The Sandbox Foundation congratulates all its Scholarship recipients for 2021.  Due to Covid-19 restrictions, most school districts cancelled public Honors night presentations for their seniors.  Advisors of the foundation make every effort to present annual grants to recipients in person.  The only district to permit in-person Scholarship presentations was L’anse Creuse North, where Rock delivered the Barbara Faye Scholarship to Avery Brown.

The Sandbox Scholarship recipients for 2021 are:

 

Inspiration Scholarship: Audrey Walker, Armada HS. Audrey plans on studying Biology (Veterinarian) at Kalamazoo College

Barbara Faye Scholarship: Ava Johnston, Romeo HS. Ava plans on studying Nursing at Michigan State

Barbara Faye Scholarship: Avery Brown, L’anse Creuse North. Avery plans on studying Nursing at Macomb and Oakland Colleges

Wayne Scholarship: Gabby Cardamone, Romeo HS. Gabby is headed to Michigan to become a Physician

Wayne Scholarship: Joseph Greenlee, Romeo HS. Joseph plans to study law at Michigan State

Continuing Scholarship: Brooke Bennett, Romeo HS. Brooke continues here studies at Hope College medical school

In addition, a Kuchenmeister Family Scholarship was awarded to Filip Cvetkovski of Romeo HS.  Filip will be studying Computer Science at Oakland University.

The recipients have all been notified directly by the foundation or through their school’s counseling office. We congratulate all this year’s Scholarship recipients and look forward to meeting them in person, perhaps at a foundation fundraiser later this year.

The Sandbox Foundation does not publicly disclose grant amounts, but prides itself on making a measurable difference to each recipient and the school districts it supports.

Foundation Awards 1st Scholarship of 2021

Brooke Bennett and roommate, at Hope College

Brooke Bennett has been awarded the foundation’s Continuing Scholarship for 2021. This is Brooke’s second grant from the foundation, as she attends Hope College working towards a degree leading to Medical School. Below is a short message from Brooke, regarding attending college during the covid pandemic.

Starting college in the midst of a pandemic has been so incredibly difficult but also one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. Hope had proven to be an amazing faith environment that fosters such incredible friendships all of which are centered around Christ. Despite the restriction put in place on campus, I have still been able to form relationships with my professors and each and every one of them has offered immense amounts of help in my studies. Despite this pandemic I have found a home at Hope and I could not be more excited for the years to come.

Two more Scholarships Granted

There is no doubt that 2020 will go down in history as one of the weirdest years in most people’s lives.  The same can be said for many businesses, organizations and certainly the Sandbox Foundation itself.  Due to Covid-19 restrictions, Sandbox Foundation advisors were unable to hold their spring fundraiser.  Likewise, not a single Sandbox Foundation scholarship was awarded in person, thus far for 2020.

Recently, advisors of the foundation reviewed the financial status of the organization and elected to award two more college scholarships.  At this time, we proudly announce sisters Olivia and Sophia Schultz will be awarded grants from the foundation.

Olivia is being awarded a Barbara Faye Scholarship, while Sophia is being awarded a Wayne Scholarship.

Both sisters will be attending Western Michigan this fall.  We look forward to hearing from the Schultz sisters as they attend college during these most interesting Covid-19 times.

Natali Mladenovik update; Continuing Scholarship

Natali Mladenovik is a 2019 Continuing Scholarship recipient.  She qualified to apply by earning the 2018 Kuchenmeister Family Scholarship awarded at Romeo HS Honors night 2018.  Natali was unable to attend this year’s fundraiser, due to her intense work schedule, as she self-funds her education.  Below is an update from Natali, who certainly epitomizes the inspired, hardworking, principled kind of student this foundation looks to reward.

 

Natali mladenovik, with Grant

I have officially completed my first year at Oakland University. School has been busy between my courses and work, but nonetheless rewarding. My grade point average is now at 3.78, which I only aspire to raise. I am following the OU 3+3 program, which allows me to graduate a year ahead of my peers and be admitted directly into a law school. This summer I have enrolled full time to further persist my education, this will then in total put me a year and one semester ahead of my graduating class. I am actively searching for an internship next winter and seeking research opportunities. I am a member of Pi Sigma Alpha and Alpha Lambda Delta. I have put off clubs my first year to build up my grade point average and focus on my courses. I am already preparing myself for my Law Schools Admissions Tests, by having taken a practice one ran by Wayne State Law and my own independent studies. The Kuchenmeister Scholarship, as well as Oakland University, have presented me with plentiful opportunities which I am gratefully pursuing. Without the kind help offered by the foundation, I would not have otherwise been able to take as many classes and seek the full potential of my first year as a college student. I continue to praise God for having blessed me with the kindness of the Kuchenmeister family and the motivation to strive above dreams, my family and I are eternally grateful for this opportunity.

LCN 2019 Honors Night

L’anse Creuse North Honors night proved to be exciting for both (Downtown) Parker Brown and Rock Kuchenmeister, as Parker becomes the first LCN graduate to receive a Sandbox Foundation grant (the Wayne Scholarship).  Foundation advisors Rock & Cheryl met in the halls of LCN forty years ago, dispelling the Thomas Wolfe quote “You can’t go home again”.

Parker Brown, LCN Sandbox Foundation Wayne Scholarship 2019
Parker Brown, LCN Sandbox Foundation Wayne Scholarship 2019

 

Parker will be studying Computer Science, Criminal Justice and joining the swim team at Olivet College in September 2019.  Congratulations Parker on your Wayne Scholarship.

Spartan: Austen Malczewski’s 3rd Semester Update

My third semester of college has been an awesome learning experience, college sure seems to be going quick. Now that I have been accepted into the Business college, I am going to pursue an accounting major with an Information Technology minor. With the majority of my classes business focus, It has provided me with a much more interesting curriculum already. I have also been taking advantage of all the organizations on campus, for example, the MSU finance association and the Accounting Student Association (ASA).Austin at State
The biggest difference between this year and last year has been all the extra curricular activities I have taken up in my free time. With such a big campus at MSU, I have had to find a way to make it a little smaller… once you start exploring there’s so many ways to condense campus. For the Honors College at MSU I joined a book club where I read books of my choosing with a group of other Honors students on Tuesday nights, this has allowed me to learn a ton about good books and also allowed me to meet some really good people.
Lately, most of my time has been directed towards research on a possible invention I have. Just this last month I started an LLC for this new company and I ordered a Provisional Patent on my Idea. The best part of this idea is that I found an organization on campus that Is funded by Alumni, who have agreed to help pay for my legal fees, patents, and other costs I may incur building Prototypes and what not, without a catch or giving up any equity in the company. I entered a competition (Burgess New Venture Challenge) put on for MSU students with my idea and If I place top 5 I could be granted potential funding, I will keep you posted on this.
I have also made great strides in wrestling, I was awarded my varsity letter-man jacket at the beginning of the semester, which was a super cool experience. I have also taken 3rd place at the MSU open tournament, and Ohio Intercollegiate open tournament with a record of (9-2) over the last two weekends.
I want to thank you for the continued scholarship this year, It has helped me out tremendously. As a student who is responsible for paying for his own college experience, I constantly remind myself how fortunate I am to receive this Sandbox Foundation Scholarship.

Graduates: Invest in Yourself

This holiday season is a great time for High School Graduates to Invest in Themselves.  The Sandbox Foundation will accept applications for its fourth year of grants shortly after Christmas.  Graduating High School Seniors can download a two page standardized form by going to the the foundation’s Application Page and clicking the download link.  Or, just click here!

Gift of Scholarship

Applicants are required to complete the two page standardized form and to include a one/two page submission paper addressing all of the following three topics.

1. Describe what inspires you.
2. How would you apply Judea/Christian principles in your education or career?
3. Describe the value of work and/or service.

The submission paper can be written as an essay or a letter to the foundation’s advisors.  Completed applications should be submitted as PDF documents by email to: Awards@SandboxFoundation.org.  In addition, Romeo High School seniors can pickup and submit applications in their school’s counseling office.

The Sandbox Foundation accepts Scholarship Applications between January 1st and March 1st annually.  Created in late 2015, the Sandbox Foundation started with a goal of granting three partial year scholarships to graduating High School Seniors and a (fourth) Continuing Scholarship to prior recipients (including the most recent five of the Kuchenmeister Family Scholarship).  Through local intimate fundraisers, the foundation has exceeded its original goals every year and now sets its sights on “doubling the original goals” in the near future.

Noah Schultz accept the Wayne Scholarship

De LaSalle graduate Noah Schultz, fresh off his Prom Date last Friday night, accepts his Wayne Scholarship from the Sandbox Foundation.  Noah is headed to Western Michigan next fall to study Mechanical Engineering.  In Noah’s own words, “It seems pointless to do a task if you do not value the work you are accomplishing.”  Congratulations Noah.

Foundation advisor Cheryl Kuchenmeister presents Noah his Certificate for the Wayne Scholarship.
Foundation advisor Cheryl Kuchenmeister presents Noah his Certificate for the Wayne Scholarship.

RHS Honors Night 2018

Rock enlightens the RHS Class of 2018 with the secret of their success.  Perhaps its not found in what they did the past four years, but rather what they will do tomorrow.

Rock enlightens RHS Class of 2018

Natali Mladenovik receives the Kuchenmeister Family Scholarship, covertly hiding from our camera.  Whatever she’s done.  Whatever she’s about to do.  Natalie, the Kuchenmeister Family is placing a bet on you.

Natalie Mladenovik receives her awarrd.

Naturally, the “Inspired Chef” Gillian Giancarli receives the foundation’s “Inspiration Scholarship”.  Gillian and Rock share a passion for food.  Gillian likes to cook it.  Rock likes to eat it.

Gillian Giancarli, the "Inspired Chef"

David Cardamone was “destined” to receive a Sandbox Foundation Award.  This year, David takes home the Barbara Faye Scholarship.

David Cardimone, recipient of the Barbara Faye Award 2018