The Monroe-Brown Foundation Scholarship and Internship is open to all in-coming juniors, seniors or graduate students who will be full-time students during the fall of the year in which they’re applying.  Students must attend Kalamazoo College, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo Valley Community College (second-year students), Davenport University (Kalamazoo campus only), Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.  Students attending Michigan State University and the University of Michigan must have graduated from a high school located in Kalamazoo County.

Students attending Michigan State University or University of Michigan must have graduated from:

• Climax-Scotts High School
• Comstock High School
• Galesburg-Augusta High School
• Gull Lake High School
• Hackett Catholic Central High School
• Heritage Christian Academy High School
• Kalamazoo Central High School
• Loy Norrix High School
• Kalamazoo Christian High School
• Mattawan High School
• Parchment High School
• Portage Central High School
• Portage Northern High School
• Reformed Heritage Christian School
• Schoolcraft High School
• Vicksburg High School

Yes, students are allowed to participate in the program in multiple years if they meet the above eligibility requirements and are selected by one of the participating host companies.

Each participating host company chooses their interns using their own hiring methods and criteria.  Interested students should contact the companies directly and ask them how to apply for a Monroe-Brown Scholarship and Internship.

Students receive at least minimum wage from the company for working a minimum of 400 hours during the summer. Upon completion of the internship, they are then given a $1,000 bonus; $500 from the Monroe-Brown Foundation and $500 from the participating company. One payment of $2,500 will also be awarded at the end of the semester immediately following the internship. The payment will be made directly to the student’s account at their school.  Altogether, interns selected to participate in the program will receive $3,500 in scholarship funding, plus the hourly wage paid by the employer, totaling at least $6,900.

Upon successful completion of the internship, the employer pays the student a $500 bonus. The Monroe-Brown Foundation then provides a $500 scholarship that must be paid directly to the school into the student’s account. One $2,500 payment will also be made to the school in the student’s account at the completion of the first semester following the internship. This money is paid directly to the school because the Monroe-Brown Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. Therefore, it cannot provide any direct funding to an individual.

Yes, each payment of the scholarship from the Monroe-Brown Foundation must go through the school, regardless of whether the student owes money on his or her tuition, or if the account is paid in full. Scholarship money will be applied to any outstanding balances or fees in the student’s account.  In the case that there is no remaining balance to be paid on a student’s account, the school should issue a check for the surplus directly to the student.

Students who participate in the Monroe-Brown Foundation Scholarship and Internship Program will build valuable relationships in Kalamazoo County’s business community, not only at their workplaces, but also at exclusive program events and activities. More importantly, a Monroe-Brown Scholarship and Internship enables learning beyond textbooks and hands-on experience, helping to ignite a successful career.