This fall, many area graduates will be entering their college dorms with carloads full of supplies they received upon high school graduation – a new tablet, storage containers, furniture, etc. Some are fortunate enough to have some scholarships to help pay for college. Two local young ladies are entering Michigan State University (MSU) with a wonderful gift – four years of tuition and board paid for through the Gordon W. and Loyse B. Hueschen Scholarship.
Kate Kretzschmer, daughter of Mark and Brenda Kretzschmer of Pigeon, and Holly Tait, daughter of Michael and Mary Tait of Caseville, are the 2014 recipients of the Hueschen Scholarship. This scholarship opportunity is available to Laker High School seniors accepted into a school of science at MSU. It provides up to four years of full tuition, fees, room and board, as long as the recipients maintain appropriate academic standing in a qualifying science curriculum and appropriate progress toward a bachelor’s degree.
Tait will be working toward a degree in nursing. She chose this field because it will be a wonderful opportunity to help others, she said. Since the fifth grade, she’s been volunteering at Courtney Manor in Bad Axe.
Upon hearing the news she was one of the Hueschen Scholarship recipients, Tait said she was excited and relieved. She said receiving the scholarship has “taken away my nervousness” about going to college.
“I’ll have some savings once I get out of college,” she said.
During her four years at Laker High, Tait has been quite busy with a variety of activities: FFA, student council, National Honor Society, Science Club, Science Olympiad, cross country, and track and field.
One of the Laker teachers who has been a major inspiration for Tait is Don Wheeler, the FFA adviser.
“He helped me become more outgoing and he helped strengthen by leadership skills,” she said.
In fact, she said her FFA experiences are her most treasured Laker memories.
Another inspirational teacher, she said, is Deb Hasselschwert, who teaches several science classes.
“She helped me broaden my science appreciation,” Tait noted.
While she’ll miss the small community feeling at Lakers, she’s looking forward to many new experiences at MSU. She plans to join the collegiate FFA and the MSU skiing club, as she enjoys downhill skiing.
As for Kretzschmer, she’s been busy in high school with National Honor Society, ballet, theater, Science Club and Science Olympiad. Once at MSU, she’ll be studying neuroscience. She plans to go on to medical school to specialize in neonatology. She said her mother, Brenda, a nurse practitioner, provided the inspiration to enter the medical field.
Upon hearing she was one of the Hueschen recipients, Kretzschmer said she couldn’t believe it.
“It’s a relief,” she said. “Now, I can focus more on my studies.”
Kretzschmer has been accepted into MSU’s Osteopathic Medical Scholars Program, which integrates an early exposure to physician and clinical skills, community involvement and leadership roles. She said she’ll be doing a lot of job shadowing in this program.
Kretzschmer said her favorite Laker memories involve her science classes and her most inspirational teacher, Mrs. Hasselschwert.
“She’s very passionate about science,” Kretzschmer said. “She’s not afraid to show her ‘nerdy’ side.”
Kretzschmer said her science courses at Lakers, along with her experiences with the College Direct dual enrollment program, have prepared her well for college. She said something else that really helped her is doing mock job interviews with local professionals, which was part of the Senior Strategies class taught by Laker teacher Karen Smith.
This summer, Kretzschmer will be working at Scheurer Hospital while preparing to head off to college.
“I’m nervous about being far away from home, but I’m also looking forward to getting out in the world and meeting new people,” she said.
For next year’s senior class, Kretzschmer offers a bit of advice.
“Don’t slack off in your senior year,” she said. “Hard work will pay off.”
To qualify for the Heuschen Scholarship, a Laker student needs to: Be accepted by MSU into a school of science prior to Oct. 1 of the student’s senior year; be in good academic standing (including having a strong ACT score and a high grade point average in science and math courses and earning science honors and awards) ; plan on pursuing a four-year course of study within the colleges of Natural Science, Engineering, Nursing or Agriculture and Natural Resources; submit a letter of intent by Oct. 1 to the Laker High School guidance office. On the basis of these qualifications, semi-finalists are selected. The semi-finalists need to submit a 300-word essay and have an interview with a panel of judges. The panel includes Laker representatives and local business representatives.
Kate Kretzschmer, daughter of Mark and Brenda Kretzschmer of Pigeon, and Holly Tait, daughter of Michael and Mary Tait of Caseville, are the 2014 recipients of the Hueschen Scholarship. This scholarship opportunity is available to Laker High School seniors accepted into a school of science at MSU. It provides up to four years of full tuition, fees, room and board, as long as the recipients maintain appropriate academic standing in a qualifying science curriculum and appropriate progress toward a bachelor’s degree.
Tait will be working toward a degree in nursing. She chose this field because it will be a wonderful opportunity to help others, she said. Since the fifth grade, she’s been volunteering at Courtney Manor in Bad Axe.
Upon hearing the news she was one of the Hueschen Scholarship recipients, Tait said she was excited and relieved. She said receiving the scholarship has “taken away my nervousness” about going to college.
“I’ll have some savings once I get out of college,” she said.
During her four years at Laker High, Tait has been quite busy with a variety of activities: FFA, student council, National Honor Society, Science Club, Science Olympiad, cross country, and track and field.
One of the Laker teachers who has been a major inspiration for Tait is Don Wheeler, the FFA adviser.
“He helped me become more outgoing and he helped strengthen by leadership skills,” she said.
In fact, she said her FFA experiences are her most treasured Laker memories.
Another inspirational teacher, she said, is Deb Hasselschwert, who teaches several science classes.
“She helped me broaden my science appreciation,” Tait noted.
While she’ll miss the small community feeling at Lakers, she’s looking forward to many new experiences at MSU. She plans to join the collegiate FFA and the MSU skiing club, as she enjoys downhill skiing.
As for Kretzschmer, she’s been busy in high school with National Honor Society, ballet, theater, Science Club and Science Olympiad. Once at MSU, she’ll be studying neuroscience. She plans to go on to medical school to specialize in neonatology. She said her mother, Brenda, a nurse practitioner, provided the inspiration to enter the medical field.
Upon hearing she was one of the Hueschen recipients, Kretzschmer said she couldn’t believe it.
“It’s a relief,” she said. “Now, I can focus more on my studies.”
Kretzschmer has been accepted into MSU’s Osteopathic Medical Scholars Program, which integrates an early exposure to physician and clinical skills, community involvement and leadership roles. She said she’ll be doing a lot of job shadowing in this program.
Kretzschmer said her favorite Laker memories involve her science classes and her most inspirational teacher, Mrs. Hasselschwert.
“She’s very passionate about science,” Kretzschmer said. “She’s not afraid to show her ‘nerdy’ side.”
Kretzschmer said her science courses at Lakers, along with her experiences with the College Direct dual enrollment program, have prepared her well for college. She said something else that really helped her is doing mock job interviews with local professionals, which was part of the Senior Strategies class taught by Laker teacher Karen Smith.
This summer, Kretzschmer will be working at Scheurer Hospital while preparing to head off to college.
“I’m nervous about being far away from home, but I’m also looking forward to getting out in the world and meeting new people,” she said.
For next year’s senior class, Kretzschmer offers a bit of advice.
“Don’t slack off in your senior year,” she said. “Hard work will pay off.”
To qualify for the Heuschen Scholarship, a Laker student needs to: Be accepted by MSU into a school of science prior to Oct. 1 of the student’s senior year; be in good academic standing (including having a strong ACT score and a high grade point average in science and math courses and earning science honors and awards) ; plan on pursuing a four-year course of study within the colleges of Natural Science, Engineering, Nursing or Agriculture and Natural Resources; submit a letter of intent by Oct. 1 to the Laker High School guidance office. On the basis of these qualifications, semi-finalists are selected. The semi-finalists need to submit a 300-word essay and have an interview with a panel of judges. The panel includes Laker representatives and local business representatives.