Community Foundation scholarships go beyond tuition

This story was originally published by the Community Foundation of St. Clair County.

Michigan Tech University (MTU) graduate Abi Ruthenberg has a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry thanks in part to the extra attention, mentoring and unique financial support she received from staff at her local Community Foundation in St. Clair County.

Following graduation from Port Huron Northern (PHN) in 2021, Ruthenberg attended college to study chemical and bioprocess engineering. Over four years, she received a total of $17,000 from the Kenneth and Verl Fleury Foundation Scholarship, the Beth Linscheid Duff Memorial Scholarship, and the Howard A. Acheson Memorial Fund.   

The scholarships paid for a portion of Ruthenberg’s tuition, room and board, and other miscellaneous expenses.

“Those scholarships were a huge part of me being able to go to Michigan Tech and being able to live there, so it helped me, “she said. “I was able to take out fewer loans and graduate with a lot less debt than if I hadn’t had them.”

Jessica Flann is the Program Officer for Post Secondary Success at the Community Foundation and is empowered with broad discretion for providing unique long-term support to the Foundation’s cohort of “High Priority (HP)” students.

“Supporting Abi through her four years at Michigan Tech has truly been an honor,” Flann said. “She was a standout student at PHN, earned academic scholarships from both MTU and our own Howard A. Acheson scholarship for chemistry and engineering students,” Flann added.

Since the Foundation first launched its HP program in 2017 it has become acutely aware of the fact that traditional academic scholarships don’t always cover everything. For Abi, that gap was housing.

“Thanks to our available life needs funding, we were able to help with rent in her final years—ensuring that financial barriers didn’t derail her dreams. Imagine a student with Abi’s talent being forced to leave college simply because she couldn’t afford a place to live. This is why life needs support is essential,” Flann said.

Ruthenberg made the most of her college experience by joining the rowing team and enjoying all campus life had to offer, her parents, Brian and Tamara Ruthenberg, said.

“I feel very proud of myself and I feel incredibly grateful for all of the support that I received. I know that all the people around me feel that way as well, especially my parents,” Abi Ruthenberg said. “It makes life a lot easier, and it makes it so that (college debt) is one less thing I have to worry about as I start my career.”

She recently moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, to work for Sequence, a pharmaceutical engineering consulting firm. She helps companies launch pharmaceutical manufacturing operations, ensuring they follow safety regulations and implement quality control systems.

“I love being in an industry where I’m able to help people, and pharmaceuticals is also interesting to me. I loved the biology aspects of it, which you don’t get in other industries with chemical engineering,” she said. “But the main thing is being able to help make medicine that could save lives or help people feel better.”

Ruthenberg’s love for engineering stems from long hours in her father’s workshop, where she played assistant by fetching tools or tinkering with whatever electronic gadgets they could find.

Brian Ruthenberg worked as a handyman, truck driver, and tobacco pipe maker. Tamara Ruthenberg has worked at Kroger for nearly 40 years. Gushing with pride, they described their daughter as intelligent, hardworking, and fiercely independent.

“We’re just so proud of her,” they said.

The family expressed gratitude not only for the Foundation’s financial assistance, but for the Foundation staff’s mentorship as Abi – the first in her family to attend college – navigated the complexities of financial aid, student loans, and college life.

“Asking for help isn’t easy. That’s why, through our High Priority Student program, we take the initiative to reach out to students throughout the academic year,” Flann said. “A quick check-in email, a birthday greeting, or even a small care package—these simple gestures help build trust and connection. By creating consistent, compassionate touchpoints, we make it easier for students to come forward when they’re facing challenges.”

Help Open Doors for More Students Like Abi

Stories like Abi’s are only possible because of the generosity of donors who believe in the power of education. Yet each year, many students still face financial gaps that threaten their ability to stay in school—especially when it comes to housing, transportation, food, and other basic needs. You can help change that. By supporting scholarships or contributing to our life needs funding, you can ensure more students not only get to college—but graduate with stability, confidence, and a brighter future.

To make a gift or explore creating your own scholarship fund, visit stclairfoundation.org/give or contact Jackie Hanton at jackie@stclairfoundation.org.