For the first time in the 29-year history of the Ed & Irene Fleis Education Foundation there were twice as many applicants as there were scholarship winners.

More than 150 students applied in 2025. Seventy-five students were chosen last month to receive $1,200 scholarships. The winners were selected confidentially and independently of the Fleis Foundation and the Fleis family. This year, the Maple City/Cedar Lions Club selected the scholarship winners.

The Fleis Foundation Board, which has deep roots in Leelanau County, awarded $90,000 in scholarships through its foundation to Leelanau County students or those with Leelanau lineage to continue their education via a college/university degree, trade/vocational certificate, or diploma. To date, over $840,000 has been distributed to nearly 500 students since 2006.

This year, a second Fleis family scholarship was named the Cassie Thurow Memorial Scholarship. The winner of the award is Madelyne Whitten, who will attend Western Michigan University.

The other Fleis family scholarship, started years ago in memory of Jim and Rita Cwengros, was given to Chloe Apuzzo, who is headed to Rutgers University.

The Foundation is also exploring the opportunity for other families and businesses to have a permanently named scholarship in their memory or in their name. The program details are expected to roll out later this year.

Scholarships funds are raised annually through donations, a golf outing, and an online auction. The golf outing is open to everyone and will be held on Saturday, Aug. 2, at Sugar Loaf. For further information on the scholarship program, fund-raising activities, click here.

Winners this year, and attending schools:

Max Nielsen, Alma College

Kariesue Taghon, Aquinas College

Miriam Hahnenberg, Ave Maria University

Rachel Hiester, Benedictine College

Esme Durbin, Boston College

Madison Damer, Bryant University

Jenna Salas, California State University, Long Beach

Naomi Elenbaas, Calvin University.

Raja Arnold-Timberman, Savannah DeNamur, Andrew Dezelski, Aaron Lingaur, and Preston Rowley, Central Michigan University

Madeline Pease, Chattahoochee Technical College

Brielle Fitzpatrick, Connecticut State Community College

Katelyn Revett, East Tennessee State University

Marissa Kohler, Ferris State University

Emily Bizon, Grand Rapids Community College

Kaylee Butts, Lily Ewing, Mya, Muriel and Zoe Korson, Ella Metcalf, Braden Roush and Gaige Ticconi, Grand Valley State University.

Abigail Wilson, Hope College

Jamie, Roger and Tessa Steup, Indiana University

Kayla Korson, Kendall College of Art and Design

Dominic Giordano, Lawrence Technological University

Christine Eggert, Madonna University

Katrina Beaton, Isaiah Darling, Margaret Diotte, Justine Greenfelder, Mac Hybels, Megan Przybysz, August Schaub, Ivy Schut, and Emily Wilson, Michigan State University.

Tyler Buchholz, Michigan Technological University

Zinnia Dungjen, New York University

Bastian Sanborn, Northern Michigan University

Kaitlyn Bolger, Violet Claar, Ella Flores, and Leah Plamondon, Northwestern Michigan College

Christopher Apuzzo, Rowan University

Tessa Apuzzo, Rutgers University

Silja Schmidt, Saginaw Valley State University

Natalie Pease, Southern New Hampshire University

Sarah Pleva, Spring Arbor University

Bailey Brzezinski, Texas A&M University

Christina and Maria Evich, Thomas Aquinas College

August Sack, Tufts University Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy

Auburn Schut, undecided

Casey Hintz, University of Arizona

Zack Yeomans, University of Kentucky.

Anna Helder, Jonathan Mikowski, Marie Novak, Sydney Yeomans, University of Michigan

Mark Steck, University of St. Thomas

Autumn Jayce Zwicki, University of Texas at Arlington

Kate Gauvin, Wayne State University

Avalon Davidson and Jessica Roush, Western Governors University, Mill Creek, Utah

Jesse Cwengros, and Graham Martin, Western Michigan University

Alexander Denoyer, Whatcom Community College.