Carri Dykstra and the Oliver Products Company
This scholarship was established by Carri Dykstra and the Oliver Products Company in loving memory of Scott Michael Dykstra, a faithful husband, cherished son and brother, valued friend and colleague. This scholarship was established to give others opportunities similar to Scott’s for an education and career in the field of engineering. It is our desire in establishing this scholarship that we would be able to provide to the recipients a glimpse of the person Scott was and his love for always giving of himself for those around him.
Scott grew up in the Grand Rapids area where he graduated from Jenison High School in 1990 with “gold cord” honors. Scott was awarded the Kirkhof scholarship to the Padnos School of Engineering at Grand Valley State University where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering over the next four years. While at Grand Valley, his required internship was completed at Oliver Products Company, where he worked in the area of Medical Packaging. Following graduation, Scott was hired on full time as a Research and Development Engineer.
Within four months after graduation from Grand Valley, Scott was introduced to Carri Ter Haar; they were married in September of 1997. A bright and happy future together seemed within grasp. However, three short years later in October of 2000, at the age of 28, Scott was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Armed with the knowledge of the potential of a 95% cure rate and his unshakable zeal for life, Scott and Carri moved on without complaint and attacked their intruder with three months of aggressive chemotherapy treatments. After his three months of treatments ended he went back to work full time and was looking forward to the everyday activities that brought so much joy into Scott and Carri’s life. All the while not knowing the cancer had metastasized to his brain. Within four short months of finding the tumor in his brain, Scott was gone.
Scott Michael Dykstra loved life, which included first and foremost Carri and his family. He thoroughly enjoyed playing hockey, NASCAR racing, and being an engineer. Scott looked beyond himself and gave of himself not only in his personal life but also in his professional life. Scott was highly esteemed by his co-workers and by the management at Oliver Products Company. Scott’s professional efforts allowed him the opportunity to receive a United States patent for a Medical package design. It is in the spirit of who Scott was as a person and the effect he had on the many lives he touched that we, Carri Dykstra, the Dykstra family and Oliver Products Company provide this scholarship for the intent of giving to others and creating an opportunity for an education in engineering from Grand Valley State University’s Padnos School of Engineering.