Michigan Apple Queen Program Updated to Scholarship Program Open to Men and Women
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Apple Committee has announced a scholarship program open to men and women age 17 – 23 with strong connections to the Michigan Apple industry. Up to three recipients will receive $5,000 scholarships from Michigan Apple Committee, announced annually at the Grower Luncheon which takes place at the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo. The scholarship replaces the Michigan Apple Queen program, which the Michigan Apple Committee Board voted unanimously to eliminate in their August 8 meeting.
“On behalf of the board of directors, we have a great deal of respect for the queen program, a tradition that has carried on for decades. After much discussion, the board agrees it is time for us to move into the future, opening up opportunities for all students as an investment in the future of the industry,” said Mike Dietrich, MAC Board Chair. “The scholarship program uses all the earmarked dollars for scholarship funds, a great benefit to the youth of the Michigan Apple industry.”
The scholarship program will be open to men and women, age 17-23 who have strong ties to the Michigan Apple industry. The recipients will be asked to serve as industry ambassadors throughout the year, via social media and other communication channels. In addition to the three $5,000 scholarship awards from MAC, ChoiceOne Bank will continue their support of the program by committing $1,000 each to the scholarship recipients, for a total of $6,000 in awards to each of the three recipients.
“ChoiceOne Bank is pleased to be a supporter of the Michigan Apples Scholarship Program. We have a long history of partnering with many apple growers and understand the importance of educating our youth in this industry,” said Kelly Potes, CEO ChoiceOne Bank.
Declining applications over the course of the last decade was also a consideration in making the change to the program.
“Interest in the Queen program has been declining for years,” said Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee. “Our board is confident that adapting the program into a scholarship program for men and women will modernize the program and breathe new life and enthusiasm into the number of applications we receive, allowing for further investment in the future of the industry.”
Men and women with a strong and definite connection to the Michigan Apple industry are encouraged to apply for the 2025 Michigan Apple Scholarship Program. Three recipients will be chosen to each receive $6,000 to put toward their education. The recipients will represent the Michigan Apple industry for one year and must be the child, sibling, grandchild, or niece/nephew of a Michigan Apple producer. Applicants are required to be between the ages of 17-23 by Dec. 31, 2024. Students interested in applying for scholarship must have extensive knowledge of the Michigan Apple industry, and will be required to write an essay and submit a short-form video as part of their application. Email a request to staff@michiganapples.com to receive a scholarship application.
ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Sparta, Michigan, and the parent corporation of ChoiceOne Bank. Member FDIC. ChoiceOne Bank operates 35 offices in parts of Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo, Lapeer, St. Clair, Macomb, and Oakland counties. ChoiceOne is an approximately $2.6 billion-asset bank holding company making it the eighth largest bank holding company in Michigan based on asset size. ChoiceOne Bank offers insurance and investment products through its subsidiary, ChoiceOne Insurance Agencies, Inc. ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “COFS.” For more information, please visit Investor Relations at ChoiceOne’s website choiceone.bank.
The Michigan Apple Committee is a grower-funded nonprofit organization devoted to marketing, education and research activities to distinguish the Michigan apple and encourage its consumption in Michigan and around the world. For more information, visit www.MichiganApples.com.