Marine City native Nikki Leonard achieved a lifelong dream as she walked across the stage of SC4’s Fine Arts Theatre – she became a nurse. She also became the second Complete Your Degree graduate. Launched in fall of 2017, CYD is a scholarship program that goes beyond providing just tuition and book support for SC4 students pursuing an associate degree or certification. It also helps remove barriers to degree completion by providing financial support for a wide range of “life needs” to students accepted into the program. Life needs support includes helping CYD participants overcome temporary obstacles such as food, clothing, medical care, transportation, daycare and housing. They also have access to a success coach who can help connect them to additional resources on the SC4 campus or in the community. Leonard has been a CYD participant since December 2017, when she was accepted into SC4’s Licensed Practical Nursing program. She was able to earn her certification thanks to financial support from CYD and its Alexander & Celestine Lamere Fund.
The Lamere fund was established in 2009 by the couple to provide support to graduates of Marine City High School attending SC4.
