Houghton Portage Township Schools Foundation

The foundation of Our Future

The HPTS Foundation proudly partners with Houghton-Portage Township Schools to provide scholarships and fund classroom projects. We encourage everyone—community members, businesses, civic groups, alumni, school staff, and retirees—to invest in our students’ future by donating to the Foundation. Your support helps us continue creating enriching educational experiences that make a real difference for our students.

Our Foundation Members

The HPTS Foundation is guided by a dedicated all-volunteer board of trustees—community leaders who share an unwavering commitment to educational excellence.

These passionate individuals work tirelessly to ensure our students receive the critical resources and transformative opportunities they need to truly excel. Our trustees firmly believe that a robust education serves as the cornerstone of our students’ future success, empowering them to achieve their fullest potential and make meaningful contributions to society.

The HPTS Foundation is governed by an all-volunteer board of trustees, people who are passionate about providing students the resources and opportunities to excel, individuals who see our students’ education as the foundation to a successful future.

Board Members

Left to right: Brent Burns, Ryan Greenley, Alex Roy, Brent Peterson, Amanda Massaway (School Board President), Anders Hill (School Superintendent)
Missing: Sue Wohlleber

Sue Wohlleber, President

Hello, my name is Sue (Mewbourn) Wohlleber. All four of my children are Houghton alumni. I have worked in the Houghton school district as a para-pro and substitute teacher and continued my support to the district as a Copper Country ISD employee. I was a member of the Houghton All-Sports Booster Club for many years. I thoroughly enjoyed all of these roles and felt a need to keep contributing to the district. I have been a Foundation member since 2016.

Ryan Greenley

Born and raised in Houghton, I have been a proud Gremlin all my life. As a student, our schools’ mentors and resources were invaluable to my growth, personally and professionally. As a parent, I am grateful to have this same educational community to trust. At the foundation, I enjoy helping to support the initiatives that further strengthen our school and its value to our community.

Brent Peterson

I am the proud parent of two graduates from Houghton-Portage Township Schools. For over 20 years, I’ve worked as a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. In my free time, I enjoy our community’s wonderful outdoor recreation activities including mountain biking, golfing, boating, fishing, hiking, and skiing. I also volunteer as a coach for the Houghton Hockey Team.

Brent Burns, Board Liason

Originally, from East Lansing, MI, he first came to the Keweenaw to play Michigan Tech Football and earn a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering (2003). Brent also has a Masters in Engineering Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and PhD in Environmental and Energy Policy from Michigan Tech. He worked as an engineer in both the Appleton, WI and Detroit, MI areas before returning to Houghton in 2007 to work for Michigan Tech as Assistant Director of Alumni Relations, moving to Director of Industry Relations, and is currently the Assistant Vice President for Research Integrity. He has previously held positions in the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce and coached a variety of area youth sports including junior varsity and varsity football at Houghton High School. Brent and his wife, Catherine, live in the City of Houghton with their two children who currently attend the Houghton schools.

Alex Roy

As a parent of young children beginning their education in Houghton, I am committed to supporting the academic growth and development of all students and ensuring that they have the best possible educational opportunities. I am excited to be an active part of the Foundation and to see its success for years to come.

Foundation Highlights

HPTS Foundation Awards Over $30,000 in Scholarships to Graduating Seniors

The HPTS Foundation proudly announced the recipients of over $30,000 in scholarship awards to deserving Houghton High School graduating seniors. These scholarships, presented by the Foundation's all-volunteer board of trustees, recognize academic excellence, leadership potential, and outstanding character among our students.

William J. Hodge Jr. Scholarship

Established by The William J. Hodge Jr. Trust, this prestigious scholarship supports students pursuing Business or Economics at Michigan universities, recognizing both academic excellence and leadership potential.

Recipients:

Carter Campioni
Ethan Haninault
Estella Soumis

Maria Velat GRIT Scholarship

This scholarship celebrates students who demonstrate determination, resilience, and strength of character, embodying the principles of Goals, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork throughout their high school careers.

Recipients:

Brett Gaff
Chloe Serafin
Helene Rinkinen
Jack Rudak
Luke Hill
Ruebyn Mensah
Kathryn Sarau

Timothy Lee Drenovsky Scholarship

Honoring a 1979 Houghton graduate who excelled in academics, athletics, fine arts, and student leadership, this scholarship recognizes young men who demonstrate outstanding character and balance across multiple areas of high school life.

Recipient:

Ruebyn Mensah

Marcia Kay Drenovsky Scholarship

Celebrating the legacy of a dedicated Houghton Elementary educator with a 28-year career, this scholarship supports young women pursuing education degrees who show promise as inspiring future teachers.

Recipient:

Alyssa Niedzwiecki

Teacher Mini Grants

In addition to student scholarships, the HPTS Foundation awarded $6,000 in mini grants to teachers to enhance classroom learning experiences. These grants supported essential educational resources including ukuleles for elementary music programs, chemistry lab equipment, and CPR teaching materials.

The HPTS Foundation continues its commitment to supporting educational excellence at all levels—from providing classroom resources for teachers to investing in the bright futures of our community's students. These scholarships and grants represent not just financial assistance, but our community's belief in the potential of both our educators and remarkable young adults.

Foundation Contributions

Please consider donating to the HPTS Foundation (a nonprofit 501c3 organization). Your contribution makes a powerful difference in our educational community.

Each year, we award nearly $40,000 in scholarships to Houghton graduates continuing their education beyond high school and provide almost $20,000 in grants to teachers for classroom innovation and enrichment. Your generous support directly funds these vital initiatives that enhance the educational experiences of our students and empower our educators to create more dynamic learning environments. Every donation, regardless of size, helps us build a stronger foundation for our students’ future success.

Contact the Foundation

Have questions about making an impact on local education?

The HPTS Foundation welcomes your questions! Whether you’re curious about how your donation will be used, interested in establishing a memorial scholarship, wondering about tax benefits of charitable giving, or have ideas for supporting specific educational initiatives, we’re eager to connect with you. Please reach out so we can show you exactly how your generosity transforms educational opportunities for Houghton-Portage Township students and teachers. Your questions matter to us, and we’re committed to making your giving experience meaningful and rewarding.

Houghton-Portage Township Schools Foundation
1603 Gundlach Rd
Houghton, MI 49931

Anders Hill, Superintendent
906-482-0450
ahill@hpts.us