Breanne Sandstrom grew up along the shores of Lake Superior in the Michigan Upper Peninsula. She always knew she wanted to attend a large university — she wanted to be a Spartan and the Peurach Scholarship made it possible.
Inspired by family and rooted in community, the Peurach Scholarship supports students from the U.P. just like Breanne. When their dreams take them far away from home, the scholarship bridges hometowns to home campus, helping students activate their talents and achieve their dreams.
When Breanne’s dreams were realized, she discovered even more connections between her family, MSU and even the scholarship donor. Jack Peurach attended Menominee High School. Similarly, Breanne's parents also graduated from Menominee and her mom’s whole family hailed from the small town.
“My mom was very excited! She felt that I was representing the family by receiving this scholarship,” says Breanne.
The extra support allowed Breanne to achieve her goals in the classroom while exploring extracurriculars. While she pursued her degree in social work, Breanne worked as a university tour guide, interned at Child and Family Charities, studied abroad in London, conducted research with one of her social work professors and worked with the Lansing community.
“I just love MSU because you can really make your experience your own,” Breanne says. She will always remember the times the Peurach Scholars got together on campus and shared their camaraderie as Spartans from the Upper Peninsula. “As a Peurach Scholar, it felt like I was getting that U.P. name down here, and I was being supported.”
The Michigan Upper Peninsula was always a special place for Jack Peurach. His whole family loved living in the U.P. surrounded by towering pines, crystal-clear lakes and endless skies.
Jack’s parents were dedicated to making a positive difference in Menominee, where his father is fondly remembered as one of the first dentists in the area. But both John and Sharon Peurach were determined that Jack would go to college after high school.
And he did! Just like his grandmother and mother, Jack attended MSU — a third generation Spartan. As an enterprising graduate from the College of Engineering, Jack went on to complete an M.S. from UC Berkeley and an M.B.A. from the Wharton Business School.
Jack’s successful career as an engineer, management consultant and entrepreneur took him from the “northern coast” to the west coast, where he eventually settled with his wife, Meryl Katz, and family.
He never forgot the university along the Red Cedar, and the U.P., where his story began. “Michigan State was way more important in my career, my development, than any other place,” Jack says. He began to talk with Meryl about making a gift to support students.
This resonated with Meryl, whose parents had also prioritized education. “They passed onto me that commitment. Supporting education is the best way to make a positive difference in this world.”
For Jack’s 50th birthday, Meryl surprised him with a gift that meant the world to him. She had secretly created the John and Sharon Peurach Endowed Scholarship at MSU to support students from the U.P.
“I wanted to do something really meaningful. What better way than to create a scholarship honoring his parents’ commitment to education and community in Menominee?” Meryl says.
The Peurach Scholarship has supported 15 students so far, a fact that makes Jack feel more connected to his alma mater than ever before. According to Jack, scholarships are about giving people the opportunity to realize their full potential, supporting them as they learn and grow.
The scholarship has enriched Jack and Meryl’s lives too. “Just knowing that there are scholars out there that we were able to help attain their educational dreams,” says Meryl. “It makes the whole world a better place when people can aspire and achieve.”
Jack now serves as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence with the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. He returns to campus annually to join meetings with Peurach Scholars and attend the Burgess New Venture Challenge, where he sees students making a far better world every day.
As for Breanne, she can’t wait to put her degree from the College of Social Science to work and eventually obtain her master’s. “I've always wanted to help others and advocate for others, especially children,” she says.
The Peurach scholars continue to carry on Jack’s family legacy as they achieve their goals at MSU. But for Jack, the best part of the scholarship is just helping people make the most of what they want to do. “Whether the scholarship was a big part or a tiny part to nudge them in the right direction or give them an opportunity they wouldn't have had, that's worth it.”