Rep. Bill Rogers Honored at Cleary University's Summer Commencement

On Saturday, State Rep. Bill Rogers (R-Brighton) was recognized with the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Michigan’s (AICUM) Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Leadership during Cleary University's summer commencement ceremony.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes commitment and dedication to independent colleges.

“Rep. Bill Rogers is a true champion of education,” said Edward Blews, AICUM president. “During the last four years, he stood in the breach and courageously led the charge to save the need-based Michigan Tuition Grants financial aid funding, which enables Michigan citizens to attend independent colleges—like Cleary University—at a tremendous savings to the state and its taxpayers.”

Rogers currently chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittees on Education and School Aid, as well as the Education Omnibus Budget Conference Committee, which adopted an education funding budget Friday.

“It is a tremendous honor to receive this award from the AICUM,” Rogers said. “I am dedicated to helping Michigan students achieve their dreams of earning a degree at one of our state’s outstanding independent institutions. I am humbled by this acknowledgement of my work and would like to thank the AICUM as well as Cleary University’s graduates, students, faculty and staff for recognizing me today.”

The Michigan Tuition Grant (MTG) was established in 1966 to provide students with increased access and choice to attend independent, degree-granting Michigan postsecondary institutions. MTG is available to undergraduate students and is based on financial need for use at Independent non-profit degree granting colleges and universities in Michigan. Awards are restricted to the cost of tuition and fees.

“We are thrilled to be able to recognized Rep. Bill Rogers at our summer commencement,” said Cleary University President Tom Sullivan. “Cleary University is committed to helping students fund their collegiate program of choice and annually awards more than $8 million in institutional grants and scholarships. Representative Bill Rogers is an outstanding leader and an unsung hero to our students and graduates who have benefited from the Michigan Tuition Grant.”