Natali Mladenovik receives 2nd Continuing Scholarship

Natali has been working hard to fast-track her education, at Oakland University. Below she responds the announcement she has received another “Continuing Scholarship”.

I am honored to be selected as a recipient of such a generous foundation. The Kuchenmeister family continues to bless my family, allowing me to continue pursuing my higher education. I have applied to numerous scholarships and never heard back. With this foundation, my voice and my financial concerns are heard. Thus, my dream to become a practicing lawyer can be achieved. Words cannot describe the gratitude I have for the Kuchenmeister family. I am thankful to both Mr. and Mrs. Kuchenmeister and to God for introducing us. Their generosity inspires me, and I look forward to applying such kind and generous morals throughout my personal life. In light of the current economic situation with COVID-19, this scholarship is especially touching. I am so grateful for this opportunity, thank you again to the Kuchenmeister family for this generous gift.

Foundation Announces 2020 Scholarship Grants

Sandbox Foundation advisors proudly announce 2020 Scholarship recipients.

Class_of_2020

2020-1 Inspiration Scholarship: Brooke Bennett

2020-2 Inspiration Scholarship: Lillian Schneider

2020 Barbara Faye Scholarship: Gavin Kirsh

2020 Wayne Scholarship: Dominic Giancarli

These high school seniors have earned scholarships to assist in first year college or trade school expenses.  Scholarship/Grants are normally announced during HS Honors Night ceremonies.  Unfortunately, COVID-19 pandemic Stay-at-Home orders have cancelled ceremonies for all of these recipients.  The foundation notified all of this year’s winners by email on May 9, 2020.

 

Continuing Scholarships for 2020 are being awarded to:

Natalie Mladenovik and Parker Brown

Continuing Scholarship recipients typically join foundation advisors at the Wine and Cheese fundraiser, held annually on the Friday before Mother’s Day.  Unfortunately, this year’s event has been postponed due to COVID-19 Stay-at-Home orders as well.  Foundation advisors anticipate rescheduling the event later this year.

Update: Audrey Fouts (SVSU)

The foundation receives it’s first update from Audrey Fouts;

Audrey proud to be a SVSU Cardinal

I am into my second semester here at Saginaw Valley State University. I have more classes this semester requiring more study time. Classes are going great and I am keeping my grades up. I was granted early admission into the College of Education and expect to start those classes in the next two semesters. I love living on campus for the convenience of classes, study groups, and all of the activities they offer! I am getting involved on campus through various volunteer opportunities. One group I am involved in is called Cardinal to Cardinal where we mentor other students.
I am very thankful for the Kuchenmeister family and Sandbox Foundation for providing me with this scholarship, giving me the opportunity to attend SVSU. I have been able to focus on school without the burden of financial needs. Thank you for being a part of my success in college. Go Cardinals! 

Spartan Update: Austen Malczewski

Austen shows off MSU to two of his visiting cousins.

Austen Malczewski (and cousins)

The following is a January 2020 update from Austen:  College has been nothing short of an incredible experience so far! I was recently accepted into the Information Technology school where I will receive my IT minor eventually. With these Information Technology classes I have become proficient in coding and website design. As far as my major goes, I have been cranking out accounting classes each semester and it has put me ahead of schedule, I will graduate next spring with 150 credits rather than the regular bachelors degree requirement of 120 credits. The C.P.A. exam requires that you have 150 credits.  That is the reason I have loaded up on classes each semester.  I am still a member of the Honors college and the NCAA wrestling team at MSU.  I currently have a 3.7 GPA.

As far as this summer goes, I have locked down an internship with ZFTRW a tier-1 automotive supplier back home (Romeo, MI).  Recently, I have been working on the creation of an app that helps individuals “break the ice” with others.  I will keep you updated on this project my partner and I have recently taken on.  This idea has introduced me to a ton of resources around campus, and really opened my eyes to all the resources that a college campus has to offer.

Time has been flying by.  I can’t believe I will be a senior soon.  I appreciate you and the Sandbox Foundation and appreciate all that you have done for me!

Update: Natali leaps ahead at Oakland University

Natali's 2nd year at Oakland
Natali at Oakland

I am currently a second year student at Oakland University—but with the advanced placement credits I acquired at Romeo High School, and being a year round student, I am a year ahead in my studies. This means my next semester at O.U. will be a lighter load as I need only nine more credits to apply to Wayne State’s Law school. I work two jobs which has definitely sharpened my time management skills. I am still in the process of finding a political and legal internship which I hope to pursue in the spare time from my lighter school load. The summer of 2020 will be spent hovering over books as I plan to take my Law Schools Admission Test in the early fall in order to have my score in advance to my Wayne State application due on June 1st 2021. I am very excited for all the future has to offer me. It is very exhilarating knowing my hard work will soon pay off.

I am most of all grateful for the Kuchenmeister family and Sandbox Foundation for having endorsed my education. Without their kind help, I would not be able to have gotten so far ahead of my graduating class in such a short period. This opportunity presented by their family has allowed me to remain focused on my course work and less stressed on my tuition payments. It has made a tremendous difference in my college experience, I am forever grateful for their help.

 

Editor’s note: Natali first received a 2018 Kuchenmeister Family Scholarship.  She then received a 2019 Sandbox Foundation Continuing Scholarship.

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.

Kuchenmeister Family Scholarship

The Kuchenmeister Family Scholarship is awarded annually to a Romeo High School (RHS) senior pursuing further education.  The grant was first awarded in 1999 and continues to this day.  Applications for the Kuchenmeister Family Scholarship must be submitted through the RHS Counseling office.

The grant is funded by local residents Rock & Cheryl Kuchenmeister and is administered by the RHS Scholarship Fund of the RHS Counseling office, using predefined selection criteria of the family.

Though not specifically linked to the Sandbox Foundation, all of the most recent five recipients of the Kuchenmeister Family Scholarship are also eligible to apply for the Sandbox Foundation Continuing Scholarship, upon completing one semester of supplemental education.

The past five recipients were:

2016 Serena Salsido
2017 Jacob Mullin
2018 Natalia Mladenovik
2019 Kayla Owens
2020 Andrew Selewski