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SAGINAW, MI — Saginaw Community Foundation has begun accepting applications for its 2026 scholarship program, which earlier this year provided more than $1.7 million to students pursuing higher education. Students have until Friday, Feb. 13, to complete an online application that can make them eligible for more than 200 scholarships, including the Saginaw Promise Zone scholarship, Saginaw Community Foundation officials said. “Education is vital to the growth and future of every community. Scholarships can help people in our region obtain a degree, certificate or other training that will help further their aspirations and goals,” Reneé Johnston, president and CEO of the Saginaw-based foundation, said in a statement. The foundation’s scholarship program reached record levels in 2025, with 898 scholarship awards presented to 518 high school, college, and nontraditional students totaling more than $1.7 million, officials said. While many scholarships serve Saginaw County residents, the foundation also offers opportunities for students from Bay and Midland counties and other parts of Michigan, organizers said. Students can receive multiple awards through the program. The foundation also launched a new scholarship opportunity specifically for students in accelerated career training programs, officials said. This initiative offers awards of up to $2,000 per recipient with five application cycles throughout the year to align with class schedules. Eligible career training programs include hands-on education ranging from HVAC to cosmetology to EMT training. The new scholarship aims to reduce financial barriers for students pursuing these career paths, foundation officials said. Since its founding in 1987, the Saginaw Community Foundation has awarded more than $12.4 million to support students’ educational goals, officials there said. For more information about scholarship opportunities or to apply, students can visit saginawfoundation.org/scholarships or contact Chamika Ford at 989-755-0545 or chamika@saginawfoundation.org. Generative AI was used to organize information for this story, based on data provided by Saginaw Community Foundation. It was reviewed and edited by MLive staff.
