Dowagiac’s Justin I. Yakim has been awarded a $500 educational award in a national competition with other students who are members of Modern Woodmen of America.

Modern Woodmen, a fraternal benefit society offering financial services, has local representatives and is based in Rock Island, Illinois.

Yakim, the son of Jeffery and Chasadena Yakim, plans to use the grant to attend the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Yakim is one of 100 grant winners chosen this year.

During the past 46 years, Modern Woodmen has committed millions of dollars in financial assistance to hundreds of students through its Fraternal Scholarship Program.

Applications for the 2016-2017 Scholarship Program will be taken in the fall of 2016.

Founded in 1883 as a fraternal benefit society, Modern Woodmen of America offers financial services and fraternal member benefits to individuals and families throughout the United States. Local Modern Woodmen representative Richard E. Johnson can be reached at (269) 684-3054.