A Grosse Pointe Yacht Club Foundation
Youth Nautical Education Foundation

scholarships

Scholarship Instructions and Application

NOTE: Scholarship Applications deadline is Sunday April 2, 2024, 5pm. Students are eligible for scholarships if they have participated in the DRYA area junior sailing at anytime.

The YNEF will be awarding a minimum of (11) $2,000 college scholarships to young sailors in the community and the Detroit Regional Yacht-racing Association. These scholarships have been created to encourage young men and women to actively participate in sailing activities throughout their high school and college years.

High school seniors and college/university students attending college/university classes in the 2024/25 academic year are eligible to apply.

The assessment process will use three criteria found on the Scholarship Application Form;

  1. Two original essays (topics provided
  2. Applicant’s resume of sailing experience and
  3. Documentation of academic accomplishment (transcripts inc., GPA’s.

The YNEF currently has twelve (12) Perpetual Scholarships supported by endowments that make it possible to award an annual scholarship (indexed for inflation) basically forever, presented  in the donor’s name. Persons interested in a perpetual scholarship should contact
Jim Morrow.

Current Perpetual Scholarship Donors

  • 2012
    Commodore James and Patricia Anderson
  • 2012
    Commodore John and Marlene Boll
  • 2013
    Manuel J. and Nora Moroun
  • 2014
    Commodore James and Sandra Morrow
  • 2014
    Benno Steinborn
  • 2015
    W. W. Williams Company
  • 2016
    Edwin and Felicia Shaw
  • 2016
    Commodore Tymon C. and Sheri Totte
  • 2017
    Commodore Sean and Kristen Schotthoefer
  • 2018
    Commodore Ilja and Kelley Vreeken
  • 2021
    Zach Rockwell Scholarship
  • 2021
    Commodore Gary and Christine Gonzalez
  1. Donors are invited to the Brunch each year for the presentation of the scholarships and to meet the recipients.  Scholarships are presented in the Name of the Donor, example: “Commodore John and Marlene Boll Scholarship”
  2. A recognition plaque is displayed in the GPYC Lobby and a brick and plaque at the Sailor’s Recognition Area.
  3. 100% of the purchase of the naming right to a scholarship is tax favorable and deductible.Questions should be directed to Jim Morrow, YNEF President, (313) 510-4058 Email: jjmorrow4@comcast.net

2023 YNEF Scholarship Recipients

In 2023, eleven Youth Nautical Education Foundation (YNEF) applicants were awarded a $2,000 college scholarship. Since its inception in 2012, there has been a total of 124 YNEF scholarships awarded. Twelve of those scholarships have been funded in perpetuity.

College scholarships are awarded based on a summary of sailing experience in the Detroit Regional Yacht-racing Association Club Junior Programs, high school or college freshman sailing programs and academic credentials. 2022 GPYNEF Scholarship Application may be found at gpynef.org/scholarships. Application Deadline: Grosse Pointe Yacht Club by April 2, 2024, 5 pm.

The 2023 Scholarship recipients (pictured below) were awarded during a special brunch at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club in May 15.

  • Quinn Cassidy
  • Graduated:
    Harbor Springs High School
  • Attending:
    Trinity College Dublin
  • Scholarship:
    Manuel J. and Nora Moroun 

  • Zoey Crossley
  • Graduated:
    Grosse Pointe North High School
  • Attending:
    Michigan State University
  • Scholarship:
    Zach Rockwell Scholarship
  • Daniel Gerhardstein
  • Graduated:
    Grosse Pointe South High School
  • Attending:
    Embry-Riddle Aero University
  • Scholarship:
    Commodore James and
    Patricia Anderson
  • Charles Gonzalez
  • Graduated:
    Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School
  • Attending:
    University of Denver
  • Scholarship:
    Commodore Ilja and Kelley Vreeken

  • Charles Gmeiner
  • Graduated:
    Grosse Pointe South High School
  • Attending:
    Michigan State University
  • Scholarship:
    Commodore James and Sandy Morrow
  • Dane Greenwood
  • Graduated:
    Troy High School
  • Attending:
    University of Michigan
  • Scholarship:
    Commodore Tymon C. and Sheri Totte

  • Colin Hexter
  • Graduated:
    Grosse Pointe South High School
  • Attending:
    Marquette University
  • Scholarship:
    Detroit Regional Yacht-racing
    Association

  • Conner Kirkman
  • Graduated:
    Novi High School
  • Attending:
    University of Michigan
  • Scholarship:
    Commodore Sean and
    Kristen Schotthoefer

  • Eva Ottenbreit
  • Graduated:
    Grosse Ile High School
  • Attending:
    US Naval Academy (USNA)
  • Scholarship:
    Beno Steinborn

  • John Riordan
  • Graduated:
    Brother Rice High School
  • Attending:
    Marquette University
  • Scholarship:
    Detroit Regional Yacht-racing
    Association

  • Anthony Sgrazzutti
  • Graduated:
    L’Anse Creuse High School
  • Attending:
    Ferris State University
  • Scholarship:
    Commodore John and Marlene Boll

  • Braden Vogel
  • Graduated:
    Grosse Pointe South High School
  • Attending:
    University of Michigan
  • Scholarship:
    W.W. Williams
  • Sophia Worden
  • Graduated:
    Troy High School
  • Attending:
    University of South Florida
  • Scholarship:
    Commodore Gary and
    Christine Gonzalez