Auburn Hills, Mich. – October 3, 2017 - Holiday Extravaganza Advisory board is now accepting applications for their scholarship program. This collaborative event between Auburn Hills, Pontiac, Waterford and White Lake will take place on Saturday, December 2 in Downtown Pontiac.
Fran Anderson- Making A Difference Scholarship
Genisys Credit Union is funding four one-time, $1,000 “Fran Anderson Making a Difference Scholarships.” One of these scholarships will be awarded to a qualified high school student who resides in Auburn Hills; the second will be awarded to a qualified high school student who resides in Pontiac; the third will be awarded to a qualified high school student who resides in Waterford; and the fourth will be awarded to a qualified high school student who resides in White Lake. Each of these scholarship recipients will also represent his/her respective community as a Junior Grand Marshall for the Holiday Extravaganza Parade.
The late Fran Anderson, in whose memory the scholarships are named, was an inspirational woman who epitomized the phrase, “making a difference”. She was a superb teacher in the Pontiac School District and an extraordinary volunteer and advocate for numerous civic and community organizations, including the Holiday Extravaganza, on whose Board of Directors she served with distinction.
To qualify for this scholarship, an individual must write an essay that explains in his/her own words how they have or how someone they know has made difference in the community. Plagiarized essays will be disqualified from consideration for the scholarship. The Mayor or Township Supervisor from each Auburn Hills, Pontiac, Waterford, and White Lake will evaluate essays that high school students from their respective communities submit on or before the due date, and select their community’s scholarship recipient, based solely on the quality of his/her essay. The essays will be submitted as anonymous entries to the officials, whose decision is final.
Post-Secondary Education Scholarship
The Holiday Extravaganza and its participating communities, including Auburn Hills, Pontiac, Waterford, and White Lake, announce a one-time, $2,000 Post-Secondary Education Scholarship for a qualified applicant who attends an Oakland County post-secondary educational institution and resides in either Auburn Hills, Pontiac, Waterford or White Lake.
To qualify, an individual must write an essay answering the prompt, “How will artificial intelligence (AI) impact education, the labor market, and the labor force? How can educational institutions prepare their students for employment in an AI-influenced economy?” Plagiarized essays will be disqualified from consideration for the scholarship.
A panel of District Court judges who serve one or more of the Holiday Extravaganza’s participating communities will evaluate Post-Secondary Education Scholarship essays that eligible applicants submit before the due date, and then select the scholarship recipient, based solely on the quality of his/her essay. The winning essay may be published in one or more online or paper publications in Oakland County and/or the surrounding area.
These scholarship applications and essays are due by October 16 to Wisetta Neil at WNeill@pontiac.mi.us. Each of the Holiday Extravaganza scholarships will be awarded during a program that will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at the 50th District Court in downtown Pontiac. Recipients must be present. To find more information or apply for a Holiday Extravaganza scholarship, please visit http://www.holidayextravaganza
Holiday Extravaganza is comprised of two parts: the WinterFUN Festival from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., held at the Crofoot Ballroom and on Saginaw Street between Huron and Water Streets. The parade steps off at the Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency on Cesar Chavez at 11 a.m. and continues down Saginaw Street ending at the Phoenix Center. The WinterFUN Festival provides endless free entertainment including a petting zoo, live Santa’s reindeer, face painters, balloon artists, photo opportunities with Michigan ice sculptures, Oakland Community College’s live ice carving competition, s’mores, hot chocolate sites, and much more. Children can enjoy interactive activities at the WinterART Festival inside the Crofoot Ballroom from 8:00- 10:30 a.m.
For more information about Holiday Extravaganza activities, call the Holiday Extravaganza Santa hotline at (248) 322-9800 Ext. 2571 or visit www.holidayextravaganza.org. If you are interested in sponsoring, participating in, or volunteering at the 36th Holiday Extravaganza, please send an email to us at HolidayExtravaganza@genisyscu.
