Olivia Sellars is granted an “Inspiration Scholarship” from the Sandbox Foundation.

The Sandbox Foundation proudly grants Olivia Sellars a 2025 “Inspiration Scholarship“. Olivia was awarded the scholarship certificate during the Romeo High School honors night, held May 14th. Foundation advisors Rock, Cheryl, Marie and Ryan were all on hand for the festivities.

Olivia plans to become a College English Professor, though she was undecided about which college she would begin her advanced studies at. Like many scholarship recipients, Olivia participated in a long list of extracurricular activities, community services and high school clubs. Foundation advisors wish Olivia an exciting year at college next fall, wherever she chooses to attend.

Jack May is awarded the 2025 “Wayne Scholarship” from the Sandbox Foundation

Lutheran High North’s Jack May received the 2025 Wayne Scholarship from Rock Kuchenmeister during the school’s Senior Honors Night, held May 15th.

Inspired by his “Papa”, who was “always watching him”, Jack recognizes the value of hard work and service. Jack is not afraid to work two jobs, while also supporting his church’s Vacation Bible School. Jack plans to attend Michigan State University (MSU) in the fall. He will pursue a career in Criminal Justice.

Foundation advisors “will be watching you”, too Jack.

Alyse Fouts receives 2025 Barbara Faye Scholarship during RHS Honors Night

Romeo High School student Alyse Fouts is awarded a Sandbox Foundation Barbara Faye Scholarship during the RHS Seniors Honors Night. Romeo HS held their annual honors ceremony on May 14, 2025.

Alyse is headed to Central Michigan University (CMU) in the fall (2025) to study Secondary Education. As a long-time resident in the Romeo school district, Alyse participated in may extracurricular actives, in support of her community, her church and service to others on various mission trips. Alyse was a very strong candidate for the Sandbox Scholarship, in a pool of record applications for 2025. Foundation advisors look forward to Alyse’s success at CMU and beyond.

Sandbox Foundation announces three “Continuing Scholarships” for 2025.

Sandbox Foundation advisors are pleased to announce the following three “Continuing Scholarship” recipients for 2025.  They are:

Parker Newel, Mechanical Engineer, University of Michigan (International Academy Okma)

Parker Westfall, Senior Financial Analyst, Grand Valley State University (Armada)

Sean Sellars, Pediatrician, Oakland University (Romeo High School).

Each of this year’s recipients previously received a Sandbox Foundation scholarship and reapplied in early 2025 for a Continuing Scholarship.  The foundation received an unusually high number of applications in 2025, from students graduating from seven different local high schools.  The applications received were nearly double the average received in prior years.

The Sandbox Foundation was established in 2015 with the objective of granting three first year scholarships annually, beginning in 2016.  In addition, one Continuing Scholarship would be awarded to a college student entering their second, third or fourth year of study.

For 2025, the foundation is expanding grants to six first year scholarships and three Continuing.  First year scholarships titled: Inspiration, Barbara Faye and Wayne will be awarded during local high school honors nights (often held in May).

For now, we congratulate our three Continuing Scholarship winners for 2025.

Thomas Phillips settles in at Grand Valley



My first couple of months at Grand Valley have been excellent! I love living on the west side of the state; it’s been awesome to see the colors change recently. At the moment, I am a statistics and Spanish double major with a math minor, still looking to become an actuary in my future.

My classes have been very rewarding so far, and I have especially enjoyed my Spanish class. It has been exciting to strengthen my Spanish speaking and writing skills through conversations in class and writing essays; my future plans for Spanish involve studying abroad in Seville, Spain, in winter 2026. Outside of classes, I have been involved with both beach volleyball and an indoor volleyball intramural league. I am also deeply connected to Grand Valley’s Campus Ministry program.

Through all these opportunities outside of classes, it has been awesome to meet new people who share these same beliefs and interests as me. I am thankful that I have met so many people so quickly and started to develop strong relationships. This entire experience that I’ve had so far is not possible without the support I have received from the Sandbox Foundation. Thank you so much for providing me with this scholarship, allowing me to accomplish all of this!

Parker Newell updates Sandbox Foundation

I would like to thank the Sandbox Foundation for supporting me through my college journey with a Continuing Scholarship.

This summer I was able to participate in an Internship for the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department’s Marine Hydrodynamics Lab. This coming year I will be working as a Resident Advisor in Bursley Hall.  I moved into my residence at the University of Michigan on August 7th.  Thank you again for all your generosity and support.

Brianna Steffen receives an Inspiration Scholarship, during LCN’s Honors Convocation

L’anse Creuse North held their annual Honors Convocation on Wednesday, May 22nd. Senior, Brianna Steffan was awarded one of two (LCN) Inspiration Scholarships by the Sandbox Foundation. Brianna was an “experienced recipient” that night, by the time it was Rock’s turn to take the podium. The challenges of her life story and accomplishments are a combination rarely seen together in a single person. Clearly an Inspiration to everyone else, Brianna could not be a more gracious recipient.

“A Very Special Me“, according to her mother, Brianna has plans to study Elementary School Teaching at Saginaw Valley State University in the fall.

A second (LCN) Inspiration Scholarship is awarded to Mercedes Nawrocki. Mercedes inspiration comes from her mother’s relentless work to survive the challenges of being a single parent, raising a family. Mercedes has plans to run track at Ohio Christian University next fall. She will be studying Criminal Justice at O.C.U. Unfortunately, Mercedes was unable to attend the LCN Honors Convocation held in the John R. Armstrong Performing Arts Center.

Rock’s presentation at LCN included a brief summary of the Sandbox Foundation, his parents lives and his mother’s (Barbara Faye) story of attending local colleges part-time from his age of six, until her fifty-seventh birthday. It was three days before Barbara Faye’s 57th birthday, when she could finally display her Bachelors degree earned from Rochester Christian College. And certainly, no story from Rock is complete without mentioning is wife Cheryl, whom he met in the halls of LCN, a distraction Rock claimed prevented him from earning any scholarships himself.

Thomas Phillips is surprised, when awarded the 2024 Wayne Scholarship

2024 graduate Thomas Phillips received the Sandbox Foundation’s Wayne Scholarship at Lutheran High North’s honors night, held Monday, May 20th. Within his application and essay, Thomas Phillips described his passion for learning, while including a long list of work and service to others. Thomas anticipates a career as an Actuary, as a method to fulfill his love for working with numbers. Thomas received several other awards during the LHN Honors night.

The Sandbox Foundation’s Wayne Scholarship recognizes applicants with a long history of work and service, while also being inspired to use Judea/Christian Principles to guide their path.

Barbara Faye Scholarship Awarded to Luke Bernthal in 2024

Luke Bernthal becomes the first Lutheran High Northwest (LHNW) recipient of a Sandbox Foundation scholarship.  Luke is receiving the 2024 Barbara Faye Scholarship focused on Judea/Christian principles, along with his inspiration and hard work.  Luke comes from a small graduating class filled with plenty of scholars.

Luke’s plans include registering at either Michigan State University or Oakland University in the fall.  His career choice is focusing on Accounting or Finance.

Foundation advisor Paster Jeff Draeger of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church joined Rock at LHNW for senior honors night to present Luke his scholarship in person.  Ceremonies were held on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

Foundation is Inspired by Riley McComb’s Success

Riley McComb received an Inspiration Scholarship from the Sandbox Foundation during the RHS Honors night. Romeo High School held their annual Seniors Honors night on Monday, May 13th. Principal Bernie Osebold opened the ceremonies by announcing the class of 2024 had set a new record by receiving a whopping 186 local scholarships.

Sandbox Foundation advisors Rock and Marie were on hand to meet Riley McComb after the ceremony. Riley is headed to the University of Michigan to study becoming a Historian. Riley is a “top ten” graduate of RHS and received several scholarships on Monday night. Certainly foundation advisors picked another good one, in selecting Riley McComb for a 2024 Inspiration Scholarship.