Parker Newell receives a Wayne Scholarship

International Academy Okma graduate Parker Newell earns a Sandbox Foundation Wayne Scholarship. Parker intends to enroll at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, School of Engineering for the Fall 2023 semester.

This is the first Sandbox Foundation scholarship awarded a graduate of the International Academy Okma. Parker received notice of his Scholarship by email. Unfortunately, foundation advisors were unable to present Parker’s award in person. Parker has a long history of work and service to the community, including Boy Scouts, Vacation Bible School, Marching Band, and Tutoring. Parker spent a portion of last summer working on his Eagle Scout project.

Cullen Detrick earns a Barbara Faye Scholarship

L’anse Creuse North 2023 graduate Cullen Detrick was awarded a Barbara Faye scholarship from the Sandbox Foundation on Wednesday, May 24th. Cullen is headed to Grand Valley to study mathematics. Cullen’s well rounded essay touched deeply on Work, Service and Inspiration. But it was Cullen’s testament to the ethics he would live by that caught the attention of foundation advisors. Cheryl and Rock went “home again” to present Cullen his scholarship in person.

Anne May becomes the first Lutheran High North recipient

2023 high school graduate Anne May becomes the first Lutheran High North student to earn a Sandbox Foundation Scholarship.

Anne is the recipient of a Barbara Faye Scholarship based on Faith and Principles. Her essay caught the attention of all foundation advisors immediately, making her a unanimous decision during the first round of discussions. Anne’s achievements at school, in church and in sports are a lengthy list of worthy accomplishments. We wish Anne and her family well as she attends college, seeking a Mechanical Engineering degree.

Armada High School Graduate earns Inspiration Scholarship

Parker Westfall earns Inspiration Scholarship

Armada High School 2023 Graduate Parker Westfall is the second student from his school district to earn the Inspiration Scholarship from the Sandbox Foundation. Parker is a fine young man who received several scholarships from local entities during Armada School’s annual Honors Night. Parker will be studying Business Administration at either the University of Michigan or Grand Valley in the fall. Rock Kuchenmeister was on hand to deliver summary information about the Sandbox Foundation and to present Parker in person.

Romeo HS Grads take home two Scholarships

Two Romeo High School 2023 graduates were awarded scholarships by Rock and Cheryl at the RHS Honors night, held May 15th. Olivia Encisco received the first publicly announced Sandbox Foundation Scholarship for 2023 HS graduates. Olivia is receiving one of two Wayne Scholarships to be awarded this year. She is headed to New York, NY to study Music Theater next fall.

Andrea Esqueda received this year’s Kuchenmeister Family Scholarship. Andrea is headed to Wayne State to begin her college studies this fall. By receiving the Kuchenmeister Family Scholarship, Andrea has qualified to reapply in January for a Sandbox Continuing Scholarship. Three Continuing Scholarships were awarded to returning collage students for 2023 earlier in May.

2023 Continuing Scholarships Announced

Advisors of the Sandbox Foundation proudly announce 2023 Continuing Scholarships.

Quinton Schurig (Almont HS, attending Macomb Community College),

Sarah Spitz (Romeo HS, attending Saginaw Valley), and

Sean Sellars (Romeo HS, attending Oakland University).

Each of the 2023 Continuing Scholarship recipients were a 2022 High School graduate and receive either a Sandbox Foundation scholarship or the Kuchenmeister Family scholarship. These (now) college students applied earlier this year. They were among less than a dozen Continuing Scholarship applicants. Foundation Advisors congratulated each of them with an email announcement earlier this month. We look forward to hearing an update from them, as they complete a first year in college this spring.

RHS Graduates Win Big with the Sandbox Foundation

Rock, Gabriella, Chloe and Sarah

Romeo High School Graduates scored big with the Sandbox Foundation. Four 2022 graduates took home scholarships during the RHS Honors and Scholarship night, held May 16th. Gabriella Kirsh received an Inspiration Scholarship. Chloe Anderson took home a Wayne Scholarship. Sarah Spitz was awarded a Kuchenmeister Family Scholarship, celebrating the grant’s 25th year. Senior Sean Sellars also earned a Wayne Scholarship from the Sandbox Foundation.

Sean Sellars receives his scholarship from Rock Kuchenmeister


That night, four RHS students took home scholarships presented by Rock. Two other Sandbox Foundation scholarships were presented at other local schools. L’Anse Creuse North (LCN) senior Grant Kovacs received a Barbara Faye scholarship during his school’s Honors Convocation held May 25th. Rock also presented a second Barbara Faye scholarship to Quinton Schurig during Almont High School’s Senior Academic Awards ceremony. Almont HS held their ceremony on May 18th and this was the first year an Almont senior received a Sandbox Foundation scholarship.

The Sandbox Foundation also awarded two Continuing Scholarships to past recipients Brooke Bennett of RHS and Avery Brown of LCN. In all, the foundation awarded seven scholarships, in addition to the Kuchenmeister Family Scholarship first established by Rock and Cheryl Kuchenmeister in 1997.

Foundation advisors include Rock and Cheryl, their daughter in-law Marie Kuchenmeister and Pastor Jeff Draeger of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (Washington Twp, Michigan).

LCN Senior Grant Kovacs Awarded Scholarship

L’Anse Creuse North (LCN) 2022 graduating senior Grant Kovacs earned one of two Barbara Faye Scholarships in 2022. The scholarship was awarded by Rock during the LCN Senior Honors Convocation held May 25th at the Armstrong Center for the Performing Arts. Grant is a well accomplished young man headed to the University of Michigan in the fall. Grant’s submission paper focused on the challenges of maintaining core values and captured the attention of all four Foundation Advisors.

1st Almont HS Scholarship Awarded

The Sandbox Foundation awarded it’s first Scholarship to an Almont High School student, Quinton Schurig. Quinton demonstrates strong principles and is inspired by his younger brother Benjamin. Rock delivered Quinton’s scholarship certificate in person at the Almont HS Honors night held on Wednesday, May 18th. Though Almont is one of the smaller districts Rock has visited, he noted the strong support from local scholarship providers, with about half of them offering subsequent grants to students for additional years at college. Similar to the Sandbox Foundation’s “Continuing Scholarship”, local scholarships provided at most other districts, do not provide a possible continuation. Congratulations Quinton, a well deserving young man.

Brooke Bennett, 1st Scholarship of 2022

Brooke Bennett has received the first Continuing Scholarship awarded by the Sandbox Foundation for 2022. Brooke is a student at Hope College and continues to reflect the Inspiration, Work Ethic and Principles sought by foundation advisors. Below is a short update received from Brooke.

Since starting my second year of college I have made a ton of progress toward discerning what I want to do for my future career. With the support of the many resources, I have at Hope I decided to double major in psychology and global health. I also had the honor of giving a TEDxHopeCollege talk entitled “Why the Price of Insulin is a Danger to Diabetics“. That process taught me a lot about myself and allowed me to speak on a topic that is so important to me. Other than those things I spend time in chapel, working as a resident assistant, and hosting prospective students for a night on campus. Hope has given me incredible opportunities to learn and grow throughout my two years here on campus!