Michigan Club Awards $1.3M in Scholarships to Teen Workers

For nine teenagers in Charlevoix, Michigan, their summer jobs just paid off in a big way. The Belvedere Club honored student employees with college scholarships at its annual dinner on July 11, celebrating young people who balanced work with school while preparing for their futures.

The scholarship recipients worked everywhere from golf services to lifeguarding to youth activities. Some stayed with the club for as long as six years, building skills and saving for college while serving their lakeside community.

Among the winners is Bryce Boss, who spent six summers in golf services and now heads to Spring Arbor University to study business. Nae Carlson juggled kitchen duties and youth activities for five years before choosing elementary education at Ferris State University. Julianne Dreyer plans to study chemistry at Kalamazoo College after four years leading youth programs.

The scholarships average $5,000 per student and can be renewed for up to four years. That means a dedicated teen who sticks with the program could receive $20,000 toward their education, transforming a summer job into a life-changing opportunity.

The Ripple Effect

Since launching in 1997, the Belvedere Club scholarship program has invested more than $1.3 million in over 160 local students. That's not just money, it's futures built, careers launched, and a community investing in its young people.

The program sets a high bar for participants. Students must work at least three years at the club or golf course, meet annual hour requirements, maintain a 2.5 GPA, and stay enrolled full-time at an accredited college or trade school.

About 100 people attended this year's celebration at Grey Gables restaurant, including scholarship recipients, proud family members, and club members who have watched these teens grow. The dinner represents more than awards being handed out; it's a community saying your hard work matters and we believe in you.

All nine recipients graduated from either Charlevoix High School or St. Michael High School and are heading to schools across Michigan and beyond, studying everything from psychology to public relations to biology.

The Belvedere Club continues accepting applications from students interested in both employment and scholarship opportunities, keeping the pipeline of opportunity flowing for the next generation of hardworking teens.