Recently we had the honor to speak with Chris Cummins, a fresh graduate at Spring Arbor University whose educational path was almost entirely funded thanks to the power of scholarships — including the Wade & Clio Van Valkenburg Scholarship and Earl Haas Scholarship awarded through Kalamazoo Community Foundation in 2023 as well as the Clarence L. Remynse Scholarship in 2024. Chris’s story reminds us what’s possible when a community believes in education and builds infrastructure to help students succeed.
Barriers Before Breakthroughs
Chris Cummins’ educational journey has been one filled with challenges. From overcoming addiction, a battle that started far too young, to navigating the effects of time spent in jail, Chris tapped into a steely perseverance and desire to help others in similar situations, leading him to launch a career in social work.
“I picked social work specifically because of my long history of substance abuse. I was very appreciative of the people that were there for me when I got clean.”
— Chris Cummins | Multi-scholarship Recipient
“I didn’t have any money at all. So I was required to take out student loans. I started seeing my debt go up … the interest on student loans is ridiculous. I was honestly thinking about dropping out,” Cummins said.
Hope, Determination & a Community of Support
That’s when Chris discovered the all-in-one scholarship application that Kalamazoo Community Foundation developed to guide students to 60+ different funds, many in specialized areas that can offer unique incentives to people in situations like Chris. He was pleasantly surprised to receive financial awards such as the Wade and Clio Van Valkenberg Scholarship, which is named for a former Kalamazoo circuit court judge, the Honorable Wade Van Valkenberg, and helps students with past legal issues. In the same year, Chris qualified for the Earl Haas Scholarship, which was established by the estate of Earl Haas to honor his legacy and is awarded to Kalamazoo County high school graduates, GED recipients and alternative school graduates like Chris. The following year, he applied again and got the Clarence L. Remynse Scholarship, established by a local resident and business owner and designed to help students attain a bachelor’s degree.
Being given money for college from local families with a desire to see other residents succeed made a difference that was more than monetary. “That really hit home. Not many people have believed in me because of the way I chose to live my life for such a long time. It is nice to know there are people in our community that are supportive and understanding of how people move through life differently,” Cummins said. 
Future in Motion
Chris is nearly done with an accelerated bachelor’s degree program at Spring Arbor University and has his eyes on a master’s. Spared from much of the strain of crippling college debt, he has been able to find fulfilling employment, rebuild his credit, buy a house and forge new relationships. In just a few short years, his life has turned around considerably and he is excited to pass the goodwill on to others thanks to a deepened perspective that aids his chosen vocation.
“Sometimes you just need to be treated like a human being, to know you’re worth something, that you still have value.”
— Chris Cummins | Multi-scholarship Recipient
