The Bernie Smillie Memorial Scholarship was established in 2010, in memory of Freeland resident and business owner Bernie Smillie. Bernie passed away in 2000, due to complications from a lung transplant he had received in 1994. In 2005, family and friends of Bernie established the Bernie Smillie Memorial Golf Outing. Proceeds of this outing has helped to promote organ donor support and awareness and establish this scholarship fund.
Bernie was born January 9, 1938 in Saginaw, Michigan. He graduated from St. Andrews High School in 1956. In 1959 he married Sharon A. Call. The two moved to the Freeland area and raised five children. After working as a plumbing foreman for a local Saginaw business for 20 years, Bernie opened Smillie Plumbing and Heating, which continues to operate today.
The recipients of these scholarships should consider some of the beliefs of Bernie Smillie. He believed in hard work, whether it’s using your brain or your hands. Have fun at home and at work. Have a sense of humor. Listen to others and show respect. Give others the benefit of the doubt. But mostly, don’t be so serious.
Bernie Smillie Memorial Scholarship - Freeland Graduate
Qualifications
- Graduating senior from Freeland High School
- Full-time enrollment
- Pursuing undergraduate or associate degree or Career and Technical Education (CTE) training
Evaluation Criteria
- Special skills (20)
- Work experience (20)
- Overall involvement in work, school or community activities (20)
- Career goals as demonstrated in essay (20)
- Letters of recommendation (20)
- Financial need will be considered only in the event of a tie (50)
Bernie Smillie Memorial Scholarship - HVACR Program at Ferris State University
Qualifications
- Graduating high school senior
- Pursuing an undergraduate degree in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) at Ferris State University
- Resident of the lower peninsula of Michigan
- Full-time enrollment
Evaluation Criteria
- Work experience (25)
- Overall involvement at work, school and community activities (25)
- Career goals as demonstrated in essay (25)
- Letters of recommendation (25)
- Financial need will be considered only in the event of a tie (50)
Bernie Smillie Memorial Scholarship - Medical
Qualifications
- Minimum 3.5 GPA
- Graduating high school senior
- Pursuing an Undergraduate or Graduate Degree in Medicine
- Resident of the lower peninsula of Michigan
- Full-time enrollment
Evaluation Criteria
- Leadership ability
- Financial need
- Academic performance
- Standardized test scores
- Special skills
- Awards and honors
- Community service
- Work experience
- Extracurricular school activities
- Overall involvement
- Career goals as demonstrated in essay
- Letter of recommendation.
Bernie Smillie Memorial Scholarship - Michigan Resident
Qualifications
- Graduating high school senior
- Full-time enrollment
- Pursuing an undergraduate or associate degree or Career and Technical Education (CTE) training
- Resident of the lower peninsula of Michigan
Evaluation Criteria
- Financial need (20)
- Work experience (20)
- Overall involvement at work, school and community activities (20)
- Career goals as demonstrated in essay (20)
- Letters of recommendation