James Vander Ark Scholarship

James Vander Ark grew up as a ’preacher’s kid’, which meant moving to different Christian Reformed Churches in Iowa, Washington, Wisconsin, and Michigan. As an adult, Jim resided in Holland and Grand Rapids, MI. Born prematurely and having polio as a young boy taught him to be fiercely independent, private, and self-sufficient. These attributes contributed to his professional success in the automotive leasing business, Vander Ark Leasing and owning a variety of rental properties. Jim moved to his dream home on Torch Lake in Central Lake, MI, which is where he passed away, surrounded by those who cared for and loved him. He held firm to his faith and belief in the Lord God Almighty throughout his lifetime. His family established this scholarship to honor his strong commitment to Christian education and his deep respect and appreciation for Calvin University and the education many of his family members received.

Basic criteria:

• entering junior or senior year
• cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher
• pursuing a STEM major
• financial need as defined by government programs is not required, but the scholarship is intended for students who need to take out student loans to pay for their education; pell-eligible students do not qualify

Renewal criteria: This scholarship is automatically renewable if the student continues to make satisfactory academic progress. Renewal is subject to funding availability.