Austin Stemen Scholarship for the Trades
Austin Stemen was born and raised in Sturgis. He graduated from Sturgis High School in 2018, and just four months later purchased a home with his savings. He was always a hard worker who loved building things and working with his hands. Austin was a “fixer” – he looked at things in a different way than many of his peers. He always wanted to know what made things “tick”. He loved to analyze how to take things apart and put them back together.
Austin’s love for the trades began at a young age. In 7th grade, he won the Michigan Industrial Technology Education Society (MITES) 1st place Regional Award and placed 3rd in State for his Wood Coffee Table with a glass display top. In 8th grade he won the first-place Regional and the State Grand Award for Excellence in Craftmanship for his outdoor wrought iron firepit. Later, at the high school level, he continued classes in Computer Aided Drafting (CAD), Manufacturing Technology and the Building Trades programs. During his senior year, he volunteered as a mentor for the high school Robotics team and dedicated time to mentoring younger students in manufacturing technology classes.
To honor his memory and passion, this scholarship was established to provide support to students pursuing careers in trades.