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
The Governor’s 3 Under 3 – June 24, 2025
Hello, fellow Michigan Optimists! Welcome back to another edition of the Governor’s 3 Under 3, where Governor Sean Mueller will share three important updates in under three minutes. Let’s get right to it!
🌟 District Awards – Final Call for Nominations!
Do you know an outstanding Optimist who goes above and beyond for their club or community? This is your last chance to recognize them through the Michigan District Awards!
Nominations are open for:
All nomination forms, requirements, and details can be found on the Michigan District Website under Members > Nominations.
🗓 Deadline: Monday, June 30
🏅 Winners will be honored at the Summer Summit in August, so let’s take this opportunity to spotlight the people and partners who exemplify optimism in action. Don’t wait—submit your nominations today!
💵 Membership Rebate Incentive – Earn for Growth!
Club Presidents, don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to receive funding through our 3rd Quarter Membership Rebate Incentive!
Here’s how it works:
- For each new member your club brings in between April 1 and June 30,
- Who attends at least three club events,
- Your club will receive a $70 check, sent directly by Treasurer Don Brose.
Important: You must complete and submit a Membership Rebate Incentive Tracking Form for each new member to qualify.
📌 No form, no funds.
⏰ Deadline: Monday, June 30 at 11:59 PM
❗️No late submissions will be accepted—no exceptions!
Let’s continue to grow our Optimist community and reward your club’s efforts! If you have any questions, please reach out to Governor Sean or Treasurer Don Brose for assistance.
📝 District Policy Changes – Your Voice Matters
During our recent Spring District Gathering, the Governance Sub-Committee introduced proposed updates to our District Policies. These proposed changes are now available for review on the Michigan District Website.
📖 We encourage all members to read through the changes and be part of the conversation.
💬 Have questions or feedback? Join us for a District Policy Discussion via Zoom:
- 🗓 Tuesday, July 23
- 🕖 7:00 PM
This is your chance to gain clarity and ask questions before the vote.
🗳 Please note: Club delegates will vote on these proposed changes at the Summer Summit in August.
Thank you for being informed, engaged, and optimistic! Together, we’re building a stronger Michigan District—one member, one club, and one action at a time.
Michelle Kauffold
Scholarship Committee