Muskegon Area Promise
Who is Eligible for The PROMISE?
PROMISE scholarships are available to students attending the following high schools:
Calvary Christian
Fruitport
Holton
Mona Shores
Montague Area
Muskegon Catholic Central
Muskegon Covenant Academy
Muskegon
Muskegon Heights Public School Academy
North Muskegon
Oakridge
Orchard View
Ravenna
Reeths-Puffer
Western Michigan Christian
Whitehall
The Muskegon Area Intermediate School District (MAISD) is committed to serving all students who reside within the MAISD service area. We welcome homeschool student participation in countywide programs and services like the Muskegon Area Career Tech Center and the Muskegon Area Promise.
To register your student, or for additional information regarding Promise eligibility requirements for homeschool graduates, please link to our form below.
HOMESCHOOL REGISTRATION FORM
What Do You Need To Do?
LIVE within the boundaries of the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District.
GRADUATE with a qualifying GPA from one of the 16 eligible high schools. Homeschool graduates may qualify by completing a MAISD Registration.
APPLY for student aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and complete the verification process as requested each year (www.fafsa.gov).
ENROLL at either Muskegon Community College or Baker College of Muskegon.
No scholarship application is needed for the Promise award. Graduates will be notified with a letter of eligibility.
Each year, PROMISE scholars must accept the award by completing and returning the online form on or BEFORE July 1.
Students must successfully complete their coursework to maintain eligibility. Each college’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policies apply.
Why do YOU need to further YOUR education?
In the past, the West Michigan job market offered a good living without college or even a full high school education. Today we live in a globally-oriented, knowledge-driven world where the majority of job postings require a certificate, an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree.*
By 2025, this number is projected to rise to 64%.**
Of Muskegon’s current workforce, only 39% have these types of post high school degrees.***
This is where the Muskegon Area Promise comes in.
* W.E. Upjohn Institute 2014, **TalentFirst, ***Stronger Nation 2022
How Does The PROMISE Work?
Scholarships will fund either a certificate program, a two-year associate degree or the first two years of a bachelor’s degree at Muskegon Community College or Baker College of Muskegon. The PROMISE provides the financial assistance necessary to earn up to 72 credits in an effort to obtain a two-year degree or its equivalent when used in conjunction with federal, state and institutional grants.
The PROMISE Scholarship, working in tandem with other state or federal awards, will be for an amount up to the cost of attendance for full-time enrollment over three terms (Fall, Winter and Summer) per year.
Students will have a maximum of five years from high school graduation to use their PROMISE Scholarship award. Based on any revised financial aid information, the amount of the PROMISE Scholarship may be adjusted each year.
See Scholarship Terms at a Glance
Welcoming a New Investment
For more than 10 years, Michigan Promise Zones have been leaders in providing scholarship opportunities to address some of the most critical problems we face in our communities: helping disadvantaged students close the achievement gap, assisting cities in retaining and attracting middle-class families, and drawing knowledge-based businesses to distressed communities. We welcome the new investment from the State of Michigan to grow this work and ensure every student gets the support needed to go to college and earn a degree or certificate!
To learn more visit miachievement.org or preview the Michigan Achievement Scholarship Updates for changes to the State of Michigan's flagship financial aid program at a glance, and/or visit Muskegon Community College to learn how the investment affects local students.
Muskegon Area Promise Zone Authority Board
Muskegon Area Promise Development Plan
Development Plan - September 2015
Development Plan - as amended March 2016
Development Plan - as amended April 2020
Development Plan - as amended February 2023
Development Plan - as amended March 2024
Member Name | Organization Represented |
Christopher Dean | Community Representative |
Rachel Gorman | Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce |
Justin Grill | Trinity Health |
Keith Guy | Muskegon Public Schools |
Holly Hughes | Community Representative |
Randy Lindquist | Muskegon Area Intermediate School District |
Aaron Maike | Baker College of Muskegon |
Gary Nelund | State Farm Insurance |
Steve Parker | LongView Management Consulting |
John Selmon | Muskegon Community College |
Laurel Zwit | Greenridge Realty |
Megan Byard Karaba | Career & College Readiness Program Director |
Muskegon Area Promise Zone Meeting Dates & Minutes
2024-25 Meeting Schedule
07/09/24 - Agenda; Minutes
09/10/24 - Agenda; Minutes
11/12/24 - Agenda; Minutes
01/14/25 - Agenda; Minutes
03/11/25 - Agenda; Minutes
05/13/25 - Agenda; Minutes
2023-24 Meeting Schedule
07/11/23 - Agenda; Minutes
08/08/23 - CANCELLED
09/12/23 - Agenda; Minutes
10/10/23 - Agenda; Minutes
11/14/23 - Agenda; Minutes
12/12/23 - Agenda; Minutes
01/09/24 - Agenda; Minutes
02/13/24 - Agenda; Minutes
03/12/24 - CANCELLED
03/22/24 - Special Meeting - Agenda; Minutes
04/09/24 - Agenda; Minutes
05/14/24 - Agenda; Minutes
06/11/24 - CANCELLED
2022-23 - Previous Years' Minutes may be obtained by contacting the Superintendent's office at 231-767-7201 or by email request to Barbara Irey.
Making the PROMISE possible
Thank you to all of our donors for making this journey of tuition free scholarships a reality! Our PROMISE is financially supported through commitment by pillar organizations, area business, higher education partners, state treasury and more. Every gift has made a difference, and every experience builds talent!
For more information contact:
Megan Byard-Karaba, Career & College Readiness Program Director
231-767-3623
mbyard@muskegonisd.org
Lindsay Pulsipher, Student Engagement Specialist
231-767-3664
lpulsipher@muskegonisd.org