I have been meaning to push out some updates on the scholarship fund, but I have been smacked around with bad news from other folks and I didn’t want to post anything that looked braggadocious. Celebrations feel dirty. Not that this scholarship is anything to brag about… I don’t want to come off as tacky.
This week we sat down with the board of the Mackinaw Community Fund and selected a recipient for this year’s scholarship.
Last year, we had so much urgency and a rush to get the scholarship out before graduation that I don’t think it sunk in. Ang and I were offered the option to not give away the scholarship instead of the short window for applications. We did not want to do that. I had been talking about it and I did not want to wait a year before the first recipient. It was an optics thing. We took in a lot of money, I didn’t want it to look like we were sitting on it.
This year was as it should be. Time for kids to submit and time for us to review the applications.
A week ago, an envelope was dropped off at the house with the essays of a few students graduating from DeeMack High School. The applicants have the hard task of answering the question “What is a life well lived” and they have to supply a work resume. I say its a hard essay in the fact that we are not asking for the answer of 2+2. There is no correct answer. We are asking a 17 or 18-year-old to tell us what is a life well lived. If any of us could walk back the years and place ourselves in the naive brain of a 17-year-old, it would be interesting to see our compositions on the subject. 
My dreams at 17 were completely self-indulgent. I am going to have a nice car. I am going to live in a condo in Florida. I will not have children. There was no consideration of what I might be doing for those around me. Charity? Ha! I work hard for my money… Its mine. I would have fallen way short compared to the essays we were given to look over.
Thankfully, the students who submitted were way more thoughtful than I would have been. The applications showed lots of time volunteering and the essays contained insights about what deems a life well lived that were far beyond my comprehension.
When Summer passed we had an amazing showing of sympathy at her visitation. Through bleary eyes, I had said on this blog that I hoped 1000 people would show up. Well, it was close. The line was long. Hours long. Half our fault at the front for not pushing people through harder.
When we sat down and went through the condolence cards, we were stunned at the donations that were given. We added up something like 11 or 13 thousand dollars in donations to her scholarship fund. (that’s a big variance, but I don’t honestly recall) An inspirational amount to be sure. At the time we didn’t know what to do with it, we hadn’t even figured out what to do to build a scholarship. Also, I had sold a bunch of stickers, patches, and pins, and I took donations from the last week of the GoFundMe and started making deposits at Mackinaw Community Bank.
After talking to the Bill Embry at the community fund, we started making some deposits and moving monies around. Angela, in the meantime, had locked down over 14K in donations in a CD with a 4+% APR over 9 months… And then rolled it back in on itself a second time.
This year, we took that money and dropped it into the community fund. With the current balance and the new funds… We sit at nearly $20,000!!!!
That is so amazing. It was almost amazing enough to want to issue two scholarships this year. But, we held back, so we can be assured of at least a decade of giving. We are staying disciplined and agreed with the community fund to place the current balance in a one-year CD. (we do not hold the money, but they take our input on where to invest. Very nice of them) Odd to say CD as an option for investing, but rates are decent and the market is not very friendly right now. Next year, it will mature before the next batch of scholarships.
All that said, I still feel warm and cozy about giving back to DeeMack. This year felt a bit like a test. I was thinking about how it will feel for years to come and I think we are in a good place.
I have said it before, and its worth repeating… This is all thanks to our many friends and family. Thank you! You have given us a way to remember Summer for many many years to come.
Postscript
I had a friend on Facebook read this post and ask where he can donate.
1. You can throw some money into the golf bag raffle at Fort’s till the end of the month. 100% of the cash from ticket sales will go to the fund. The bag was donated by a member of the Toyota Landcruiser Association (for the second straight year!) and I paid for the roll of tickets. You can Venmo me or Paypal me for tickets. Text or message me. I will not share that info here.
More traditionally, you can donate to the fund directly. Since we were able to get help from the community fund, your donation can be deducted at tax time if you itemize. It’s also a matching contribution from Caterpillar! (Thanks Wes!)
Summer Stahl Memorial Scholarship Fund C/O Mackinaw Community Fund
First Security Bank
101 E Fast Ave,
Mackinaw, IL 61755
Contact me if you have questions. THANK YOU!!!
I don’t see a link to donate to Summer’s scholarship fund.
Well, I don’t think like that! We have the golf bag raffle at the store right now that has 100% of the proceeds going to the fund. Venmo or Paypal to me works for that. Otherwise, its a physical check to the scholarship fund. I am going to check the post to add the address.