Thursday, July 16, 2015, 12:15 pm
By the Midland Daily News
Two local students were awarded $1,500 as part of an academic scholarship through the Midwest Independent Retailers Association Foundation.
Amanda Lovejoy, of Coleman, and Stephen Esiline, of Gladwin, were among the 31 students honored by the MIRA at the Joseph D. Sarafa Luncheon at the Detroit Athletic Club in June.
Lovejoy graduated valedictorian from Coleman High School and is currently a sophomore at Saginaw Valley State University. She is pursuing a nursing degree and is involved in the Residents Housing Association and the National Society of Leadership and Success.
Esiline graduated from Gladwin High School and is currently a freshman at Northwood University. He is studying entertainment sports promotion management and pursues his hobbies of hunting and snowboarding outside of school.
Keynote speaker and Earl Ishbia, owner of Sherwood Farms, addressed the audience of students, parents and MIRA members during the luncheon.
“The single most important element to a successful career, and life, is passion,” Ishbia said. “Once have passion for what you are doing, hard work, drive and a commitment to succeed comes very easily.”
Auday Arado, MIRA president and CEO, spoke in rememberance of scholarship recipient Calvin Chao, who died in a boating accident in early June.
The MIRA Foundation awards academic scholarships totaling $51,000 to students living in Michigan and Ohio. As of this year, the MIRA Foundation has distributed over $650,000 to the employees and family members of members businesses and their customers.
