East Michigan News

Over 100 golfers and supporters gathered at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme, MI, to participate in the “36th Annual CMU Grand Traverse Scholarship Golf Outing: Remembering Thomas ‘Bud’ Moore.”

Participants engaged in an 18-hole scramble for prizes along with other golf contests. This year’s event raised over $20,000 for Central Michigan University (CMU) students.

CMU alumnus Dan Stoudt, a founding member of the event, recalled how it started during a dinner in Northern Michigan. “A friend (the late Thomas ‘Bud’ Moore) invited about 20 people to his cottage on the Boardman River,” Stoudt said. “Some attendees were CMU graduates, but a number were just friends and work colleagues. After dinner was over, he informed us that we were the initial scholarship outing committee to fundraise scholarships for area students.”

Stoudt, who won the 2023 CMU Alumni Service Recognition Award, said he quickly got involved because “it sounded like a great idea,” and he has been a committee member ever since.

The event has grown over the years and has now awarded more than $330,000 in 151 scholarships to students from Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties.

“We are grateful for the continued support of our alumni and friends in the Grand Traverse area that make a difference in the lives of our CMU students,” said Jennifer Cotter, CMU vice president for advancement. “Their fired-up spirit supports students both on our campus in Mt. Pleasant and through Innovation and Online in the Traverse City area. We truly appreciate the impact they are making.”

The Grand Traverse Alumni Chapter Scholarship application will be available in Spring 2025 through the Scholarship Universe Portal for the 2025-2026 academic year. Interested students can view eligibility criteria on Scholarship Universe – Public Listing.