Joan Smith Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship program is named in memory of Joan Smith. She was a long-time MABA member and was passionate about business development. The Joan Smith Memorial Fund's primary purpose is to promote continuing education to business owners and professionals in all business sectors and business stages through...
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Registration fees for conferences, business seminars and workshops
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Tuition fees for business related courses
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Cover the costs of business related books and software
and you will be redirected to the application page.
About Joan Smith
Joan Smith joined MABA around 1998/99 I think. She was the Director of the Hope Borbas Okemos Library where she served until her illness around 2012 or 2013. She was a stalwart champion for business. She always said, "if you don't see what you're looking for at my branch, I'll get it for you". She served on the MABA Board. She also jumped on board without hesitation to serve on the MTEAM that was responsible for bringing the MARC to Meridian Township. Before we had the standalone building as you are familiar with, the MARC was housed at the Okemos branch of CADL. She served faithfully in the Okemos/Haslett Rotary Club where she again always supported businesses and the community at large.
Upon her death in 2015, the MABA Board agreed to establish the Joan Smith Memorial Fund to honor Joan and her pursuit for assisting business development especially for our MABA members. We formed a JSMF committee and raised the seed money of $5000 (our goal) through private donations from not only MABA members but through Rotary members, personal friends and family of Joan's, Friends of the Hope Borbas Okemos Library and a generous $1000 grant from the Meridian EDC Board. Therefore, those seeking financial assistance to attend conferences, provide training/workshops for their employees, or purchase other tools such as books and software could apply for scholarships through the JSMF.