Houghton Lake Education Fund

Income is used for educational needs, including scholarships, for the Houghton Lake Community Schools, its students and faculty.

Houghton Lake Education Fund Grant Recipients

2025 – Houghton Lake Community Schools – $4,245 – Kiln JR/SR High

2024 – Houghton Lake Community Schools – $1,470 – Tigers Game 2025
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $1,470 – Mackinaw Island Field Trip
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $3,800 – Collins Elementary School Library Revitalization

2023 – Houghton Lake Community Education – $3,168 – Mackinaw Island Reward Trip
Houghton Lake Community Education – $1,500 – Race to the Finish!
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $3,990 – AED Request

2022 – Houghton Lake Community Schools – $5,470 – Tigers Game Field Trip

2021 – Houghton Lake Community Schools – $1,885 – Celebrations & Field Trips
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $3,683 – Mackinaw Island Trip

2020 – Houghton Lake Community Schools – $700 – Play Group

2019 – Houghton Lake Community Schools – $2,500 – Library Beautification
Houghton Lake High School – $1,250 – Positive Reinforcement Incentive
Houghton Lake High School – $1,050 – Peer Fun

2018 – Houghton Lake Community Schools – Middle School – $1,600 – Using LEGOS to Engage Student & Foster Creative Group Work
Houghton Lake Community Education – $2,500 – Enrichment Wednesdays for Alternative Education Students
Houghton Lake Early Childhood Education – $1,000 – Trikes for Tikes
Houghton Lake High School – $1,904 – Four Activities to Foster Relationships Between Peers

2017 – Houghton Lake High School – $2,252 – Support Emir Sensini Concert
Collins Elementary – $532.56 – Support Dow Butterfly Garden Field Trip
Houghton Lake Community Schools – Middle School – $900 – Family Science Night by Cranbrook Science on the Go

2016 – Houghton Lake Community Schools – $500 – Support for HLMS-Fourth Grade Camp – MacLeod Rebuilding Wall
Houghton Lake Community Education – $2,000 – Support for Traverse City Historical Field Trip
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $450 – Principal’s 200 Club
Houghton Lake Community Schools – Middle School – $1,150 – 4th Grade Camp

2015 – Houghton Lake Community Schools – Middle School – $950 – Mackinaw Island Field Trip
Houghton Lake Community Education – $1,012 – Lansing Capitol Field Trip
Collins Elementary – $700 – Lexia Lab – Web Based ELA Program
Houghton Lake Community Schools – Middle School – $1,428 – Alternative Seating
Houghton Lake Community Schools – Middle School – $550 – Camp MacLeod
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $297.52 – Pathways to Potential Student Attendance Rewards

2014 – Houghton Lake Community Education – $1,305.46 – Support for UP-Soo Locks/Point Iroquois Lighthouse Spring Field Trip
Collins Elementary – $1,200 – Support for Acting-Up Theatre Company-3rd Grade
Houghton Lake Community Schools – Middle School – $1,400 – Support for KCC Plays and Spring Field Trip
Houghton Lake Community Schools – Middle School – $1,500 – Support for Camp MacLeod-Fourth Grade Camp
Houghton Lake High School – $1,000 – Support for Foundations in Personal Finance by Dave Ramsey-HS Curriculum
Houghton Lake High School – $1,200 – Support for Physical Education Supplies

2013 – Houghton Lake Community Schools – $400 – Support for Acting Up 4th Grade Program
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $400 – Support for Acting Up 5th Grade Program
Collins Elementary – $280 – Support for Have You Filled a Bucket? Project

2012 – Houghton Lake Community Education – $1,830 – Support for Childcare Equipment & Furniture
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $222 – Support for the Forensics Program
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $300 – Support for Special Ed. Kindle Fire
Houghton Lake Community Education – $1,805 – Support for Field Trip
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $857 – Support for Cross Country Uniforms

2011 – Houghton Lake Community Schools – $1,340 – Support for Camp McLeod Program Costs
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $2,043.64 – Support for Technology Innovation Program
Collins Elementary – $163.19 – Computer Lab Headphones
Houghton Lake Community Education – $1,500 – DIA/Detroit Tigers Field Trip

2010 – Houghton Lake Community Schools – $250 – 2010 Fall Grant for Choir Uniforms
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $1,066 – 2010 Fall Grant for LabQuest Equipment
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $516 – Houghton Lake Ambassadors of Music European Tour 2010 Program Grant

2009 – Houghton Lake Community Schools – $1,200 – 2009 Fall Grant Middle School Mentoring Program
Houghton Lake Community Education – $1,047.39 – Childcare Management Software

2008 – Houghton Lake Community Schools – $708 – Middle School Balance-Auditory-Vision Exercise Kits
Houghton Lake Community Education – $792 – Bell System for School & Intercom System for Rooms
Houghton Lake High School – $1,247 – Art Dept. 3-Dimensional Clay Media Program Grant
Houghton Lake Community Education – $1,000 – New Equipment and Toys for Daycare Program
Houghton Lake High School – $1,000 – Advancing in Technology Program Grant for Software, Monitor & Wiring
Houghton Lake High School – $2,000 – 2008 Winter Grant Cycle – British Lit. Shakespearean Trip to Toronto
Houghton Lake High School – $1,019 – 2008 Winter Grant Cycle – Commercial Kitchen Equipment & Protective Clothing
Collins Elementary – $912.44 – 2008 Winter Grant Cycle – 3rd Grade Reading Assessment Booklets
Houghton Lake Community Education – $2,500 – 2008 Winter Grant Cycle – Educational Trip c/o Melisa Akers
Voyageur’s MI Ambassadors of Music Roscommon – $985.8 – 2008 Winter Grant Cycle – Uniforms for Europe Trip

2007 – Houghton Lake Community Schools – $2,500 – Instant Security Software
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $1,147.95 – Classroom Textbooks

2006 – Houghton Lake Community Schools – $871.42 – New Textbooks in Care of Melisa Akers, Teacher
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $360 – Community Education Responsible Living Class
Prudenville Elementary School – $751.95 – Voice Recognition Software
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $2,500 – High School British Lit Medieval Studies Program
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $1,447.58 – High School Art, Library, & Phys Ed Programs
Houghton Lake Community Schools – $1,430 – Middle School Science Dept. Programs
Merritt Elementary School – $1,500 – History Nights Program
Collins Elementary – $1,400 – Library Supplies

2003 – Ferris State University – $1,000 – Scholarship to Megan Lindsay Gilson
Michigan State University – $1,000 – Scholarship to Rebecca Lynn Roberts
Central Michigan University – $1,000 – Scholarship to Amy McNeill
Mid Michigan Community College – $1,000 – Scholarship to Kendall Leigh Johnson

2020 – Houghton Lake High School Upgrades Library

The Roscommon Community Foundation (RCCF) is proud to announce that Houghton Lake High School received a grant of $2,500.00 to upgrade its library. Funding for the project was provided by the Houghton Lake Education Fund of the Roscommon County Community Foundation.

The purpose of this grant was to create a space where students could come and feel comfortable enough to sit and focus on reading and school work. This will not only benefit all students but the staff as well. All grade levels, 7^th-12^th, will have a comfortable place for reading and learning and the staff will be able to bring their classes down and use the two new computer pods for teaching.

Thanks to Kirtland Community College’s generous donation of tables and chairs, the students now have more seating than ever and it has made the atmosphere of a high school library morph into a college one.

Chelsey Matteson, the Library Media Assistant, has put her heart and soul into making the library an open safe space for the students. “RCCF helped create three sitting areas where kids can sit and work,” said Matteson. By moving the bookcases to the back wall and adding bean bag chairs and couches there are multiple places for the kids can sit and enjoy. “This was a collaborative effort and we are so proud to be a part of it,” said Suzanne Luck, Executive Director of RCCF.

As of now, there are more upgrades planned for the future with one being to replace the 70’s style carpet with something more up to date.

Want to get involved? You can support the Houghton Lake Education Fund by sending your donation to RCCF at P.O. Box 824, Roscommon, MI 48653 or visiting our website at www.myrccf.org to make a donation online.

2018 – HLCS receives Grant from RCCF

The Roscommon County Community Foundation (RCCF) is pleased to announce that Houghton Lake Community Schools was awarded a $900.00 grant for a presentation by Cranbrook Institute Science during Houghton Lake Middle School’s Science Night. The Houghton Lake Education Fund provided the funding for this grant.

With the funds granted, the Cranbrook team was able to come to the Middle School and set up several different stations based on various branches of science. This brought an educational, hands on experience for the students and parents to participate in.

2016 – Houghton Lake Community Schools Receive Grant Funding From RCCF – Collins Elementary Lexia Lab

Thirty students from Collins Elementary School were given the opportunity to work with a special reading program, thanks to a grant from the Roscommon County Community Foundation. Funding was awarded from the Houghton Lake Educational Foundation Fund ($700), and the Alexa A. Luck Memorial Fund ($500).

The Lexia Reading Lab is a licensed program that is used to “increase phonics capabilities and increase reading comprehension,” according to Jan Morganstern, teacher at Collins Elementary. “Each student is able to work at their own level and at their own pace on the specific reading skills that they lack.”

RCCF provided funding to purchase thirty licenses for students in the third and fourth grades at Houghton Lake Schools. Students began using the program in early March and have been enjoying it immensely. “It is challenging, but it is fun and I know I am learning,” Lexia Lab student, Cam’ren Brown told RCCF Executive Director, Suzanne Luck. Programming will continue in the 2016-17 school year.

2016 – Houghton Lake Community Education receives grant funding from the Roscommon County Community Foundation

The Roscommon County Community Foundation (RCCF) recently presented a $1,588.00 grant to Houghton Lake Community Education (HLCE) to assist with the cost of a field trip to Lansing. The Houghton Lake Educational Foundation Fund ($1,012.00) and the Houghton Lake Community Schools Support Fund ($576.00) awarded the funds to support this grant.

Students from Houghton Lake Community Education had a fun and educational experience on their Lansing Field Trip. They began the day with a trip to the Broad Art Museum on the MSU campus. After lunch in the botanical garden and a treat from the MSU dairy store, students were given the opportunity to meet and speak with State Superintendent Brian Whiston. Four of the students, according to teacher, Theresa McMunigal, prepared statements detailing why alternative education has been the right fit for them to find success. Ms. McMunigal reports, “They did a great job. Quite often, our students do not feel represented in public education; exchanges such as this help them to feel valued and capable.”

Natasha Schieman, one of the field trip participants, says the trip was one of her best memories of the school year. “The field trip gave us students a chance to spend time together outside of school. Not only was it fun for us, but we got to learn a lot as well,” she says in a letter to RCCF.

2015 – Houghton Lake Community Education receives Grant Funding

The Roscommon County Community Foundation (RCCF) recently presented a $1,305.46 grant to Houghton Lake Community Education (HLCE) to assist with the cost of the Soo Locks/Point Iroquois Lighthouse Field Trip. The Houghton Lake Educational Foundation Fund awarded the funds to support this grant.

Being a small program, Houghton Lake Community Education students don’t have many extracurricular activities to participate in. The students were able to take a field trip to the Soo Locks and the Point Iroquois Lighthouse. Funds covered transportation fees, a boat tour, and dinner at the BML Café. The restaurant was closed for the students, who were treated like special guests.

HLCE teacher, Theresa McMunigal stresses how important it is for these students to have “fun, enriching opportunities during their high school years. ”RCCF’s Executive Director, Suzanne Luck, emphasizes Ms. McMunigal’s statement of importance for students to have these opportunities. “Field trips like the Soo Locks/Point Iroquois trip provide students with experiences they will take with them throughout their lives. The Foundation is proud to be able to provide grant funding to make these trips possible.”

2015 – RCCF Awards Grant Funding for 3rd Grade Acting-Up at Houghton Lake Community Schools

The Roscommon County Community Foundation (RCCF) recently granted $1,200.00 to Houghton Lake Community Schools. The grant award, from the Houghton Lake Educational Foundation Fund, assisted with the 3rd Grade Acting-Up program.

The 3rd grade students worked with the Acting-Up Theatre Company to reinforce grade-level content expectations on Michigan’s state government and constitution. Working together the students created a skit on this topic and presented it to an audience in the high school auditorium. The students not only deepen their understanding of Michigan’s state government and Constitution, they benefit from working collaboratively with their peers and strengthen their listening and speaking skills.

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