Hometown Dreams

Scholarship program helps Bay City native launch teaching career

Mallory Rivard dreamed of being a teacher since she was in the third grade.

Thanks to some love from her teachers and family and a little financial support along the way — in the form of assistance and a scholarship from the Bay Area Commitment Scholarship — Rivard is living her dream.

Rivard is one of more than 1,000 students who have received a $2,000 scholarship over the past decade from the Bay Commitment Scholarship Program, established for first-generation college students by the Bay Area Community Foundation.

She is an elementary school teacher at MacGregor Elementary School in the Bay City School District where she once attended. She looks back on her time there fondly.

“The reason I stayed here in Bay City is because this community has given so much to me, I wanted to return the favor,” Rivard said.

Teachers were her heroes

Our support for the community foundation’s scholarship program included a $125,000 grant in 2012 to help celebrate our 125th anniversary. The goal then was to make Bay City and Michigan stronger by empowering students such as Rivard.

While in grade school, her teachers encouraged her to pursue activities beyond academics, including gymnastics and cheerleading.

“They helped me so much,” she said. “I want to be like them. On the front lines, helping students any way I can.”

Competing for Miss Michigan crown

Outside the classroom, Rivard is part of the Miss America Organization, which provides scholarships and helps young women make a difference in their communities.

She has also finished as first runner-up for the past two years for Miss Michigan. She hopes 2019 is the year she captures the crown and gets to live another dream.

Rivard is excited to compete in a field of 24 vying for Miss Michigan. The competition is slated for June 13-15 in Muskegon.

“No matter what happens next in my life, I am thankful for my family supporting me endlessly no matter what I do,” Rivard said. “My main goal is to make a difference in children’s lives.”