The four awards given out by the schools foundation are:

• Excellence in Teaching
  • Through the Excellence in Teaching Award (EIT) the Foundation awards $1000 each to two teachers, one at the Elementary level and one at the Secondary level. These awards recognize and encourage superior professional effort to improve instruction and to cultivate the continuation of educational excellence in our schools. The award is presented each year at the opening meeting for staff in August.  A committee comprised of representatives from the Foundation, and from the elementary and secondary schools meets in May to determine who will receive the awards. Click here for nomination form.
  
  
• Vi Chem
  • The Vi Chem award for Science, Mathematics and Technology is an award to recognize an outstanding teacher of science, mathematics and technology in the East Grand Rapids Public Schools.  The award is a $1,500 grant to be used by the recipient to further enhance his/her teaching of science, mathematics and Technology.  Click here for nomination form.
    
• VandenBerg
  • This fund was established in 1996 by the VandenBerg family upon the death of Dr. VandenBerg. The scholarship is given annually to one or more full-time staff in the EGR school district to be used for class, seminar or workshop that will directly enhance the quality of teaching in that person's current specific academic area. It will fund up to $4000. The Foundation and the VandenBerg family appoint a joint committee to review applications and select the recipient(s). This fund is in an active fund and receives annual contributions.  Click here for nomination form.
  
  
• Ridenour Scholarship
  • The Charles B. “Chip” Ridenour Memorial Scholarship is given annually to:
    • a graduating senior;
    • who will be attending post-secondary school;
    • one who has shown the capacity repeatedly throughout his/her school career to make others feel good about themselves; and
    • one who best exemplifies the qualities that Chip showed in his many friendships: caring, nurturing, and his regard for the dignity of the individual.
  • The scholarship will fund up to $500 for post-secondary education costs.  Nominations may be submitted by faculty, administrators, staff. Clergy, friends, family or neighbors.  The announcement of the scholarship will be made at the Senior Honors Assembly.  Click here for nomination form.


• VanGelderen Student Scholarship
  • The Reid VanGelderen Memorial Fund was started by a group of Reid’s friends. Their goal is to perpetuate Reid’s character, courage, and perseverance through donations to the DeVos Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Oncology Resource Team (P.O.R.T.), and an annual $1,000 academic scholarship for an East Grand Rapids High School student  
  • The Reid VanGelderen Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to:
    • a graduating senior
    • who will be attending post-secondary school;
    • and has displayed high moral character and integrity throughout his/her high school career;
    • and has practiced academic excellence, and involvement in extra-curricular activities;
    • all while facing adversity (such as illness, injury, family crises, distinct disadvantages, etc.)

• STAR Awards
  • Are you looking for the perfect gift to honor your classroom teacher this year? Please consider giving your teacher an East Grand Rapids Schools Foundation (EGRSF) STAR Award. STAR stands for Staff, Teacher, Appreciation & Recognition. For a donation of $20.00 or more to the EGRSF, you will receive a beautiful, personalized STAR certificate to present to your honoree, and your “star” will be recognized by name in the annual Foundations Newsletter.
  • The EGRSF enriches the educational experience of our students by funding excellence in teaching and learning. Let your teacher, para-educator, or support staff employee know that he/she is a STAR! For more information, contact EGRSF Executive Director Amy Stuursma at 616-235-3535. Click here for more information