Sustainable Business Forum to host scholarship golf outing

On Monday, Aug. 13, the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum (WMSBF) will host a golf outing at Stonewater Country Club in Caledonia to raise funds for its annual scholarship.

The group's members include small business owners, sustainability managers at corporations like Steelcase and Alticor, educators from local colleges and universities, community leaders, and students. As a part of the forum's vision for a sustainable West Michigan, it awards a scholarship to a college student in West Michigan who is working to make sustainability a part of their education and lifestyle.

Lisa Locke, WMSBF administrator and principal of Lisa Locke LLC said, "This scholarship is a very tangible expression of the forum's long term commitment to the health and sustainability of our region.  It signals an evolving set of expectations on the part of local employers, emphasizing a transition to more sustainable ways of doing business." 

In the past, scholarships have gone to students from numerous Grand Rapids colleges and universities including Aquinas College and Kendall College of Art and Design. Gayle DeBruyn of Lake Affect Design Studio, and professor of design studies at Kendall College, recognizes the importance of encouraging sustainability in college students.

“I recognize how important it is to provide students with background education in triple bottom line strategies as they relate to design and design thinking,” said DeBruyn. She says the scholarship is important because, “there are a lot of folks trying to get a lot done with very little resources.”

The scholarship is open to college juniors in Kent, Ottawa and Muskegon Counties. The process of applying involves a two-part essay, declaration of overall grade point average, and interviews for the top candidates. It is a tough process that has gotten attention from brilliant students in the past, and is sure to continue in the future, organizers say.

“The students who have submitted have a really good focus on how they want to use sustainability not only in the business world, but also in their personal lives,” says Mike Stemo of Market Technologies Inc. and head of the WMSBF golf committee.

For students interested in joining the forum, student memberships are offered at a discounted rate, and membership is not required to come to the monthly lunch meetings.

“Students would be crazy not to get in the game!” said DeBruyn, “The network alone is phenomenal. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to know these people and call them colleagues. They’re so supportive and encouraging… it’s a remarkable organization to be affiliated with.”

The golf outing is open to the public and costs $75 for the round of gold, the cart and lunch. The price for each participant is $55, so $20 of each entry goes to the scholarship. This year's scholarship amount goal is $5,000. Stemo says another factor that may encourage golfers to participate is the variety of door prizes, as well as prizes for longest drive, longest putt and more.