Gentex Foundation Awards Scholarship to Support Women in STEM

Gentex Chemist Ally Torres, Scholarship Winner Briella Beemer, Scholarship Winner Regan Keesler, Gentex VP of Human Resources Seth Bushouse

ZEELAND, Mich., May 13, 2024 – The Gentex Foundation selected two recipients of the Amanda Clark Scholarship established for female high school seniors pursuing a college degree in science, technology, engineering, and science (STEM).

For the second year in a row, the scholarship committee selected two winners: Briella Beemer and Regan Keesler. Both students will receive a $5,000 college scholarship for the 2024-2025 school year. The scholarship is renewable for up to three years for a total of $20,000 in college tuition support.

Briella Beemer is a senior at Hudsonville High School who plans to pursue a degree in computer science at the University of Michigan. She is a member of the Hudsonville swim team, student council, and National Honor Society.

Hudsonville High School Senior Briella Beemer

"I am constantly in awe of the new ways we can manipulate technology to do amazing things,” she explained in her essay submission for the scholarship. “I hope to one day take part in the accomplishments shared by the countless extraordinary women in the technology and math field.”

Regan Keesler is a senior at Zeeland East High School. She will attend Ferris State University to major in mechanical engineering. Regan is active in the school’s FIRST Robotics Team program, church youth group, and holds a part-time job in engineering through her internship with CareerLine Tech Center.

Zeeland East High School Senior Regan Keesler

“As I’m continuing my education in engineering, I look forward to any new opportunity that arises,” Keesler wrote in her essay submission. “I seek to make proactive changes in my local community, and to be an inspiration to the younger generation of female engineers.”

The Amanda Clark Scholarship was created in memory of a Gentex employee who earned a manufacturing engineering degree from Kettering University and worked at Gentex for 8 years, using her technical skills in a variety of roles.

The Amanda Clark Scholarship Program will begin accepting new applicants for the 2024-2025 school year on September 1, 2024. Scholarship rules and requirements are available here.

Gentex Foundation

The Gentex Foundation provides grants to support a wide variety of causes, including economic development, business innovation, children’s services, education, public health, mental health, housing assistance, elder care, job training, family assistance, diversity initiatives, and physical and substance abuse programs. The grants support long-term and short-term needs in the community. For more information, visit gentexfoundation.org.