RIVERVIEW REGISTER • JUNE 10 - JULY 7 2026 • Page 15
U of M Club of Downriver honors scholarship recipients he University of Michigan Club of Downriver recently hosted its annual scholarship dinner at Arnoldo's Banquet Center. The event celebrated scholarship recipients while also introducing some of the brightest juniors from Downriver high schools to the opportunities available at the University of Michigan campuses in Ann Arbor and Dearborn. Nearly two dozen Downriver-area high schools were invited to send two junior students to attend the dinner, learn about the admissions process, and explore the advantages of attending a world-class university close to home. Following a group photo of the student guests, the evening officially began with a brief business meeting during which Steve VanEvery and Ray Yee were re-elected to three-year terms on the club's board. Kelly Cox, Director of Recruitment and Operations for the Ann Arbor campus, spoke about the value of a Michigan education and offered advice on the admissions process, including application timelines and scholarship opportunities for in-state students. Dr. Urana Pridemore, Director of Undergraduate Management at the Dearborn campus, highlighted the unique advantages of the Dearborn campus experience compared to the larger Ann Arbor campus. Both representatives encouraged students to visit campuses early, apply promptly, and continue striving for academic excellence through graduation. Katie Hartwell, scholarship chairperson for the club, then introduced the four graduating seniors selected to receive $2,000 merit scholarships for the upcoming academic year. Hartwell was assisted in presenting the awards by co-chair Rebecca Markus. Matthew Bond, a senior at Woodhaven High School, received a new scholarship established in memory of Dr. Don VanEvery and his wife, Lea. Dr. VanEvery founded the Downriver club and was remembered as its "Music Man" for his piano performances and spirited renditions of"The Victors." A music graduate of the University of Michigan who later earned a doctorate in education from Wayne State University, VanEvery also served
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as superintendent of Riverview Schools. Bond, graduating in the top 1% of his class, was active in the marching band as a section leader and uniform manager and founded his school's astronomy club. He plans to attend Michigan's College of Engineering.
Left to right: Matthew Bond, Ava Gray, Cooper Mears (Ava Hook not pictured)
Ava Gray received the Lloyd Carr Scholarship, named in honor of former Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr. Graduating in the top 1% of her class at Riverview Community High School, Gray balanced academics with working two restaurant jobs throughout high school while also serving as co-captain of the volleyball team and contributing to theater productions. Inspired by volunteer work at the Downriver Community Clinic, she plans to pursue a pre-med curriculum in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts. Ava Hook of Trenton High School received the John and Sue Ghindia Leaders and Best Scholarship.
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The award honors a longtime Downriver family with strong University of Michigan ties and a history of supporting the club's scholarship efforts. Hook graduates in the top 2% of her class and has demonstrated leadership in numerous activities, including band, varsity soccer, and student council. She also earned national recognition for community service and plans to attend the College of Literature, Science and the Arts in Ann Arbor. Cooper Mears, valedictorian of Belleville High School, received the Kenneth Hartwell Scholarship, named in memory of former scholarship chairman Kenneth Hartwell, a World War II veteran, community leader, and Michigan engineering graduate. Mears has been deeply involved in music programs and FIRST Robotics, where he served as lead programmer, while also participating in National Honor Society leadership. He will also attend the College of Literature, Science and the Arts. Following the scholarship presentations, attendees watched a 20-minute video celebrating the past, present, and future of the University of Michigan. Edited by former club president Bill Richardson, the presentation concluded with highlights from Michigan's men's basketball NCAA championship season and the raising of the championship banner at Crisler Center. The evening concluded with remarks from 2025 Lloyd Carr Scholarship recipient Tommy Cappellino, now a student at the Ross School of Business. In a speech titled "TransforMAIZEtion," Cappellino reflected humorously and thoughtfully on his first year at Michigan, telling the audience, "Michigan didn't just give me an education. It gave me a community, a challenge, a city, and a version ofmyselfl didn't know was possible yet." The University of Michigan Club of Downriver hosts a variety of activities throughout the year for alumni and friends of the university, including sporting events, watch parties, and musical theater outings in Ann Arbor. For more infonnation, visit University of Michigan Club of Downriver.