About Us
The OASF was established in 1984 by three civic minded individuals from the Ontonagon area who wanted to provide an opportunity for Ontonagon Area School District graduates to continue their education after high school. They decided the best way to achieve this goal was to establish an endowment fund to grant annual scholarships in both good and bad financial times. The dream they started is now shared by hundreds of others, and continues to grow today in the form of the “OASF Promise – Scholarships for All!”.
The OASF Board is comprised of volunteers from the local communities served by the Ontonagon Area School District. Board members are interested in assisting local, qualifying graduates achieve their own goal of furthering their education. Members of the community currently serving on the OASF Board include:
OASF Board
Meredith Strong
President
Meredith is a graduate of Ontonagon Area Schools and the daughter of one of the OASF founding members, Louis Gregory. She attended the University of Michigan for a Bachelors of Science in Natural Resources and then Michigan Technological University for a Masters of Science in Forestry. She and her husband, Dr. Joseph Strong, happily call Ontonagon home and work together at their rural dental practice. She is committed to helping other Ontonagon Area graduates succeed in obtaining the advanced education needed to better their lives and become active members of their communities. When at home, she is often found curled up with a good book, a cup of tea, and two labrador retrievers.
Tammy Lancioni-Perrin
Vice President
Betsy Guilbault
Secretary
Betsy Guilbault, from Greenland, is a graduate of Ontonagon Area School District (OASD) and since 1993 has worked as a paraprofessional at OASD. As the yearbook advisor and junior and senior class co-advisor, she knows each of the students personally. This knowledge is especially helpful in encouraging graduates to apply for the OASF scholarships each year. If not attending a school event, she enjoys crafting, sewing, painting and especially spending time with her family, including her new grandson, Everett.
Sue Preiss
Co-Treasurer
Willie DuPont
Co-Treasurer
Marilyn Anderson
Sally Berman
Sheri Hirvela
Linda Karttunen
Ken Raisenen
Ken Raisenen is a retired Ontonagon Area Schools teacher and taught Geography/Earth Science and Physical Science to grades 6, 7, 8, & 9 for 43 years. He began working with the school radio station, WOAS-FM, in the 1980s and became the volunteer manager in 1997. He is still involved with the station since his retirement in June of 2018. As a teacher, it was his job to bring knowledge of the applicants from personal experience. As a retiree, that job now falls to the board members still working and his input is now more of an emeritus nature. He and his wife are very active in St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Mass City and the OCAP animal shelter in Ontonagon. They enjoy snowshoeing in the winter and gardening in the warmer months.