Keith Kirkdorfer Memorial Scholarship
Application Deadline: April 11, 2025
Award: Five (5) $1,000 scholarships
The Edwardsburg Public Schools Foundation has been honored to be chosen as the vehicle to oversee the Keith Kirkdorfer Memorial Scholarship.
His widow generously endowed the Foundation with funds to offer up to five $1000 scholarships on an annual basis to those seniors who meet the criteria and who plan to enter a post secondary career designated by the donor.
Mr. Kirkdorfer was the owner/operator of the Kirkdorfer Farms in Edwardsburg and a well known resident who gave of his time and talent in serving his community and his vocation as a farmer. Besides working at Miles Laboratories in Elkhart and with the White Farm Equipment Company, he was a member of Michigan Bio-Diesel in Bangor, MI and served on the board of managers with Liberty Renewable Fuels of Ithaca, MI. He also served on many local government boards and agencies including the Jefferson Township Board, the Jefferson Township Planning Commission and the Edwardsburg Fire Department.
He also served as treasurer of the Cass County Tractor Pullers Association, responsible for building the track for pulls at the Cass County Fair. He and his workers built the stage at the fairgrounds and he was on the sponsorship committee for the fair.
Keith served as a lifelong member of the 4-H and 5-H horse clubs. His commitment to insuring the future of farms is demonstrated by his work in helping pass the Cass County Farmland Preservation ordinance in 2007. His farm was the top soy bean producer in the state in 2006 and 2007. It was also the largest seed corn grower for Pioneer Seeds in their Plymouth, IN plant in 2007.
Keith is remembered as the kind of person who was always there for those in need, and the first to offer help.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the Edwardsburg Public Schools Foundation Keith Kirkdorfer Memorial Scholarship is to recognize students who demonstrate significant improvement in academic performance while attending Edwardsburg High School and plan to pursue post secondary training in the following areas:
Highest level of consideration given to students pursuing a career in farming which would include:
Agri-business. Agronomy, Animal Science, Entomology, Environmental Studies, Food Industry Management, Food Science, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Technology Systems, Crop and Soil Sciences, Trades focusing on Mechanics, Marketing, Veterinary Medicine, Research in areas of bio-fuels, crop or pest management, and Student from a Farm Family.
Also considered in the scholarship award will be his/her educational commitment, and involvement in school and community activities.
General Guidelines
The $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a graduating senior of Edwardsburg High School.
Applicants cannot be part of the Early Middle College program offered through the Edwardsburg High School.Scholarship applicants must be enrolled full-time in a college, university or post-secondary vocational school for the upcoming fall term. The scholarship award will be paid to the institution and is to be used for tuition, room and board or other related college/university expenses.
The recipient must exhibit academic improvement in their high school career to qualify for the scholarship.
The Scholarship Committee of the Edwardsburg Public Schools Foundation will decide who is to receive the scholarship based on the attached application information.
- A representative of said committee will announce the winning senior at the Honors Convocation, with the actual scholarship funds received for the following fall semester.
Get in Touch
Let us know if you have questions regarding our mission, the scholarship application or how to donate.