The Berry/Kauffold Scholarship 2024
The Berry/Kauffold Scholarship is designed to help students further their music education. The purpose of our scholarship is to provide monetary incentives to musically talented high school students. The money can be used to purchase/lease new or upgraded instrument(s) or to offset expenses for band camp or for private instrumental instruction from a qualified teacher or program.
The award of scholarship support is based upon completion of the application and the recommendation forms and a two-to-five minute video/audio file.
Through this program, we will be awarding $2000 to deserving high school students in Michigan.
Our goal is to encourage long-term involvement in music performance and to make students aware of the opportunity to continue performance with a community music experience and to pursuing music education after high school.
In order to apply, Scholarship applicants must :
- Attend High School in the state of Michigan
or
be sponsored by a current Michigan District Optimist Club - Be in the ninth (9th) through eleventh (11th) grade
- Current members of their high school instrumental or orchestral music program.
Application and Reference Forms
are due by April 15, 2024
All applicants with complete applications will be on the status of his/her scholarship application process.
SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION OF AWARDS*
- Scholarships will be awarded during the Michigan District Optimists Third Quarter Conference in May.
Time and date TBD. - Should this award presentation be postponed or cancelled due to Covid 19, the award announcements will be made via USPS mail.
- Scholarship Awards will be made at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee and must be used by September 15, 2024. The decisions of the Scholarship Committee and Judges are final.
*If the Scholarship will be used for Private Lessons a Verification Log is required
The Private Lesson Verification Log is to be sent to the address listed below no later than October 1, 2024.
The award will be known to the recipient within thirty (30) days after the log has been received.
Payment will be made directly to the student thirty (30) days after the log has been received and verified .
Send Verification Log to:
Michelle Kauffold
8898 Longview Drive
Stanwood, MI 49346
If you have any questions, please contact the
Scholarship Committee Michigan District Optimist/Optimist International
Debra Berry
(ph)248/467-0592
(email) deb@debinparis.com
or
Michelle Kauffold
(ph) 313-510-6300
(email) newmichelle@att.net
Greater Lansing Optimist Club Supports Lansing Youth Soccer Program
The Greater Lansing Optimist Club’s February meeting was a joyful celebration of the impact one man can make. The club presented Real Lansing FC, a local youth soccer organization, with a check for $1,700 to support one of the club’s teams. The money came from donations made in memory of Robert Franklin Sr., a long-time Optimist and past president of the Miller Road Optimist Club, who was known for promoting youth sports.
Four of Franklin’s children—Judy Franklin, Mike Franklin, Deb Holefka, and Cathy Dionise—shared stories of their father’s Optimism, especially his love for coaching and working with young people in south Lansing. He was well known at North Elementary School, which also happens to be the Greater Lansing club’s “adopted” school.
In a Facebook post, Judy shared:
“He was a member of the Miller Road Optimist Club for many years. While in the club, he wore many hats- secretary, treasurer, vice president, and eventually president. The Optimist Club is an establishment that works to create opportunities for the youth in their neighborhood. Our dad’s area was the Southside of Lansing. In the club he, along with other members, created sporting opportunities for the kids which included football, floor hockey, baseball, and basketball.
When our father passed in September of 2025, we created a fund that friends and family could donate in his name, to help support the Greater Lansing Optimist Club. The funds would be earmarked for youth sports.”
The Greater Lansing Optimist Club was overwhelmed at the many donations that poured in to celebrate Frankin’s life. After discussing many possible ways in which the money could be used with the greatest impact, club members decided to support Real Lansing FC, a newer non-profit organization that supports more than 200 children ages 9-15, many of whom are immigrants and refugees.
The soccer club has a two-fold mission: the first is helping children develop soccer skills, teamwork, focus, dedication, and a feeling of belonging. The second is boosting educational achievement. Partnering with the Lansing School District, the club offers tutoring and academic assistance through after-school programming that goes beyond the soccer field.
The Greater Lansing Optimist Club’s donation will help support a Real Lansing FC team with snacks, uniforms, equipment, and transportation to practices and games. Club members also plan to attend games this spring to cheer on players whose family members are often unable to attend games. Judy Franklin and her siblings said that helping Real Lansing FC is a wonderful way to continue their father’s Optimist legacy of developing young people through sports. “I know if he was alive today, he’d be right out there coaching soccer,” said Judy.
Michelle Kauffold
Scholarship Committee