Huntington Ford gives local students head start in college

By Eric Reikowski, media relations assistant

As part of an ongoing effort to keep higher education accessible for local students, Huntington Ford of Rochester Hills partnered with Oakland University in 2012 to establish an annual full-tuition scholarship for an incoming freshman from one of four area high schools – Adams, Stoney Creek, Rochester and Avondale.

This year's winner is Chandler Swink, an Auburn Hills native and graduate of Avondale High School. To qualify for the award, Swink submitted a letter of recommendation and a personal letter sharing academic and extracurricular interests. He plans to pursue a nursing degree at OU with a career goal of becoming an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.

Calling the scholarship a “dream come true,” Swink said the award would allow him to fulfill his lifelong aspiration to help others.

He is the second recipient of the Huntington Ford scholarship, following Jacqueline Yee, a graduate of Rochester High School. Her award has been renewed for the upcoming academic year. Pat Scoggin, owner and president of Huntington Ford, conceived the scholarship program as a way to engage the community and give students a head start toward becoming contributing members of society.

“Oakland County community leaders like Pat Scoggin are what make our community of Rochester so special,” said Luke Fleer, regional development officer for OU. “Mr. Scoggin is paying it forward while giving back to our community at the same time."

Scholarship candidates are evaluated based on financial need, academic performance and extracurricular involvement. The scholarship is renewable for an additional three years for a student who continues to demonstrate financial need, completes full-time credits during each fall and winter semester and maintains a minimum 3.30 GPA.

Learn more about the Huntington Ford Scholarship program and its impact on Oakland students in the video below.

 

For information about additional Oakland scholarships, view the website at oakland.edu/scholarships.