Gerrish-Higgins Educational Fund

This Fund was started by the Gerrish-Higgins School District in 1998 and the income is used for education needs, including scholarships, for the Roscommon Area Public School District, it students and its faculty.

Gerrish-Higgins Educational Fund Grant Recipients

2024 – Roscommon Area Public Schools – $3,000 – Water Sampling and Analysis

2023 – Roscommon Area Public Schools – $2,500 – High School Student Water Sampling and Analysis Project
Roscommon Area Public Schools – $3,000 – Small Schools National Quiz Bowl Tournament

2022 – Roscommon Area Public Schools – $3,000 – Art Club
Roscommon Area Public Schools – $500 – RHS Pantry

2021 – Roscommon Area Public Schools – $2,029.89 – Weight Room Equipment Replacement
Roscommon Area Public Schools – $1,545 – Concert Choir Uniforms
Roscommon Area Public Schools – $3,000 – RES Art Club

2020 – Roscommon Area Public Schools – $3,000 – Roscommon Elementary School Art Club

2019 – Roscommon Area Public Schools – $777 – Uniforms & Entrance Fees
Roscommon Area Public Schools – $1,939 – RHS Library New Books
Roscommon Area Public Schools – $3,000 – RES Art Club

2018 – Roscommon High School – $2,500 – RHS Care Pantry
Roscommon Area Public Schools – $1,000 – Brian Pruitt Presentation – Suicide Prevention & Positive Motivation
Roscommon Elementary School – $2,500 – RES Art Club 2018-2019

2017 – Roscommon Area Public Schools – $1,000 – Support Summer Team Camps

2016 – Roscommon Area Public Schools – $1,000 – Support for RHS Varsity Boys & Girls Bowling Club
Roscommon Area Public Schools – $1,000 – Roscommon Spirit Club – Purchase Welcome Kits/Supplies Only

2015 – Roscommon Area Public Schools – $2,500 – Roscommon Community Book Read
Roscommon Area Public Schools – $1,803.03 – Summer Learning Lab Field Trip to Camp Westminster
Roscommon Area Public Schools – $596.34 – Crafts, Musical and Cultural Activities in Spanish Classroom

2014 – Roscommon High School – $2,500 – Support for Girls Basketball Program Summer Team Camps
Roscommon Area Public Schools – $1,291.50 – Support for Roscommon County Book Read
Roscommon Area Public Schools – $832 – Support for Cooking Club at RMS & RHS Roscommon Area Public Schools – $2,500 – Choir Code Celebration
Roscommon Area Public Schools – $2,500 – Middle School Steel Band

2013 – Roscommon Area Public Schools – $2,131.27 – Support for RHS Community Book Read
Roscommon Area Public Schools – $284.52 – R.A.P.S. Club School Program

2012 – Roscommon Area Public Schools – $295.75 – Support for Soccer Safety Equipment
Roscommon Area Public Schools – $925.92 – Support for Coaches Plus iPad
Roscommon High School – $289 – Grant in Support for Buzzer for Quiz Bowl Team

2011 – Scholarship Recipients – Ashley Seames, Alexa Luck, Olivia Lopez, Ian May, Olivia Meadows, Jennifer Stone, and Garrett Sharpe

2010 – Scholarship Recipients – Austin Weiler, Casmera Gendernalik, Samantha Workman, Cody Hinds, and Sydney Harris

2009 – Scholarship Recipients – Bethanie Wojey, Keith Osentoski, Garret Neville, River McIntosh, Stephanie Mitchell, Anya O’Brien, and Jenna Moreau

2008 – Scholarship Recipients – David Westphal, Meghan Sucaet, Kendra Menghini, Danielle Clear, Farah Al-Khersan, Peter Tomaser, Rachel Peterson, Michael Reitmeyer, and Jamie Hollingshead

2007 – Scholarship Recipients – Peter Kidd, Elizabeth Godin, Rachel Wiltse, Kimberly Sherman, Daniel Noack, Jessi Harden, and Jazmyn Morgan

2006 – Scholarship Recipients – Kaylee Grech, Frederick L Lawrence IV, Michael Mitchell, Lynsey Tomak, Philip M Weiler, Catarina Gulledge, Erica Peterson, Desiree Neveau, Crystal Weber, Emmalynn Preuss, and Aaron D. Hinds

2005 – Scholarship Recipients – Ericka Kamprath, Greggory W. Neville, Vanessa Ann Tyler, Allison Hork, Lisa Dosson, Kimberly Stoutenburg, Jeffrey A Katalenich, Katie L. Miller, Amanda Scott, and Jessica Halverson

2004 – Scholarship Recipients – T. J. Neveau, Matthew D. Gubancsik, Meghann Carr, Danial J. Reitmeyer, Ashley Freese, and Mariah L. Frye

2003 – Scholarship Recipients – Brian Donald Thomas, Emily Rose Scow, Kelley Anne Halverson, Courtney Elise Hinds, Jennifer Anne Marshall, Sarah Marie Hagle, Ericha Lynn Diem, Erin Kaye Bolen, and Max Ellison Ballou

2021 Grant Award: Roscommon Elementary School Art CLub Receives Grant from RCCF

The Roscommon County Community Foundation (RCCF) recently awarded a grant of $2,982.98 to the Roscommon Elementary School Art Club. Funding for the Art Club was provided by the Gerrish-Higgins Educational Fund.

The Roscommon Art Club hosts students grades K-3. There are two sessions allowing a basic skills course for grades K-1 and a more intermediate course for grades 2-3. By hosting an art club, the students benefit by having a fun, safe, and educational method to learn about art and explore their creativity. In addition to regular “in person” needs, the purpose of this grant is to provide kids the materials they need to be successful with their sent home projects as well.

2020 Grant Award: RCCF Awards Grant Funding for RAPS Library Books

The Roscommon County Community Foundation is happy to announce that the Roscommon Area Public Schools has received a $2,500.00 grant to assist with the RHS Library New Books Project. Funding for this project was provided by the Sarah Eulaine Tucker Fund and the Gerrish-Higgins Educational Fund.

The purpose of this grant is to update the Roscommon High School Library books to increase literacy and an interest in reading. The entire high school community, staff and students, will benefit through access to the newest books and the enjoyment of a good book. At large, it will benefit through improved literacy as students move beyond high school and into the community as adults.

2020 Grant Award: Roscommon Area Public Schools Receives Grant for Elementary Art Club

The Roscommon Community Foundation (RCCF) is proud to announce that Roscommon Area Public Schools received a grant of $2,500.00 for the Roscommon Elementary Art Club. Funding for the project was provided by the Gerrish-Higgins Education Fund.

The purpose of this grant is to allow students to grow and explore their creativity through art work by providing the tools they need to practice different methods. With the Art Club constantly growing, having enough supplies for two sessions is crucial.

2020 Grant Award: RAPS Cross Country Ski Team Receives Grant

The Roscommon County Community Foundation (RCCF) is happy to announce that the Roscommon Area Public Schools has received a grant of $1,000.00 for new cross country ski team uniforms and entrance fees. Funding for the project was provided by the Gerrish-Higgins Educational Fund and the Linda Chwan & Ken DePerro Memorial Fund.

The purpose of this grant was to buy 5 new uniforms for the anticipated growth of the team both in numbers and sizes as well as paying for student entry fees. Since the students purchase their own equipment, paying for their entrance fees to races will hopefully offset some of their costs.

2019 Grant Award: RAPS Receives Grant from RCCF

The Roscommon County Community Foundation is pleased to announce that Roscommon Area Public Schools (RAPS) has been awarded a $1,000.00 grant. Funding for the project was provided by the Gerrish-Higgins Education Fund.

Funding supported a Suicide Prevention and Positive Motivation presentation by Brian Pruitt. According to Mitch Koehn, “With the increase of mental health issues in our population, this is a much needed program.” RAPS students and everyone in attendance benefited from his message. According Roscommon High School students, “It was by far the best assembly they had ever had been to. Brian Pruitt was very entertaining and it wasn’t awkward like you would think a Suicide Prevention assembly would be.”

2015 Grant Award: Roscommon Area Public Schools receives grant from RCCF

To Roscommon High School Spanish teacher, Amanda Grusecki, a Spanish classroom differs greatly from a traditional classroom. “Activities and cultural understandings and appreciation” are a daily part of curriculum.

The $596.34 grant provided by the Gerrish-Higgins Educational Fund of RCCF will help purchase the supplies needed to give students a hands-on approach to the Spanish culture. Over the next three years, Ms. Grusecki’s class will be having “food days,” where students will be cooking and enjoying Spanish cuisine. The classes will also be participating in various arts and cultural days, such as piñata making, and Cinco de Mayo and Day of the Dead crafts.

2015 Grant Award: RAPS Summer Learning Lab receives grant from RCCF

The Roscommon Area Public Schools were able to send students of the Summer Learning Lab on a field trip to Camp Westminster with the help of a $1,803.03 grant from the Gerrish-Higgins Educational Fund of RCCF.

The RAPS Summer Learning Lab is for students K-8, who need additional instruction and support. During the month of August, students attend small group sessions four days a week. According to Superintendent Cathy Erickson, “One of the highlights of the SLL is the field trip.” This year, students took a trip to Camp Westminster in Higgins Lake.

The goal was to work on team building. Along with this goal, students enjoyed outdoor activities such as archery, swimming, canoeing, and parachute games. RCCF awarded funds allowed 22 kids to attend, as well as covering transportation expenses.

2015 Grant Award: Roscommon Area Public Schools Receive Grant from RCCF for Roscommon Choirs’ Choir Code Celebration

The Roscommon County Community Foundation (RCCF) recently provided a $2,500.00 grant to Roscommon Area Public Schools to assist with the expenses associated with the Roscommon Choirs’ Choir Code Celebration.  Grant funding was provided by the Gerrish Higgins Educational Fund.

Over one hundred members of the Roscommon Choirs attended the Choir Code Celebration, a twelve hour day dedicated to learning and developing their Choir Code and The Pyramid of Success, which has been implemented by choir director, Emerick Dee.

The Choir Code Celebration included a very special guest, Ken Medema. Ken Medema is a blind pianist, singer, and songwriter. Throughout the day, students were able to interact with and learn from Mr. Medema.

Mr. Dee states that “The Choir Code Celebration was a HUGE success!” and that he is “extremely grateful for the generosity of RCCF and the donors who have made this all possible.”

To learn more about all of the funds at the Roscommon County Community Foundation please visit our Fund Directory.