News
MCC awards 310 degrees and certificates
Montcalm Community College awarded 310 degrees and certificates May 3 during its 52nd annual commencement ceremony in the gymnasium in the Activities Building on the college’s Sidney campus.
Dr. Gary Hauck, MCC Dean of Arts & Sciences Emeritus, and MCC student Emma Skogseth, of Greenville, addressed the graduates and their guests.
During his remarks, Hauck asked the graduates to think about their future.
“The question I have for you today is, who or what is in the cockpit of your life?” he asked. “What guiding principle or principles are keeping you aloft and on course as you graduate from MCC tonight?”
He talked about an ancient body of literature, known as wisdom literature, which highlighted four mindsets: the simple, the scoffer, the fool and the wise.
As Hauck discussed each mindset, he encouraged the students to exercise discernment, recognize people’s strengths and weaknesses and practice critical thinking.
“A wise person keeps an open mind and explores all the options,” he said. “Don’t just focus on the flaws in your life, but what you can become.”
During her comments, Skogseth, who graduated with an Associate of Science & Arts degree with high honors, shared memories of “growing up” at MCC.
“I am honored to address you tonight because MCC has been my home for 18 years. Literally, my parents both moved here and started new jobs in 2001, and my life became intertwined with the college since my first splash in the MCC swimming pool,” she said.
Skogseth began taking MCC classes when she was 12 years old and reverse transferred two science classes from Central Michigan University to graduate from MCC.
“Metaphorically speaking, starting out in the MCC swimming pool is a great place to begin. No matter how you arrived at the doors of MCC, all of us had to jump in. Jumping in meant experiencing something new and unfamiliar – much like a fish out of water,” she said. “However, by being seated here today, you figured it out. You successfully worked through the unknown waters, and after today, you will dive into uncharted territory. Use what you gained at MCC to embrace these new challenges.”
Skogseth encouraged her classmates to build upon their college experience.
“Thanks to our time spent at MCC, the people we’ve met and the connections we’ve made, we have the ability to take on anything and make the world a better place. While our paths may all look different, we can all be proud of the fact that we finally made it – we did it,” she said.
Candidates for degrees and certificates included:
Associate of Applied Science - Accounting
Belding
Mandy Christian, high honors.
Greenville
Amanda McMeeken, honors; and Kenneth Ybabez.
Lyons
Korey Shattuck.
St. Johns
Megan VanDriel, honors.
Sidney
Sarah Spohn, high honors.
Six Lakes
Kathy Ashbaugh, honors; and Tyani Robinson.
Trufant
Curtis Haney.
Associate of Applied Science - Agricultural Operations
Ashley
Jenna Wolfe, high honors.
Coral
Madison Nielsen, high honors.
Associate of Applied Science – Business Administration/Management
Coral
Meredith Olson, high honors.
Greenville
Carly Kellum.
Jackson
Bernadette Trudell, honors.
Sand Lake
Tina Anthony.
Associate of Applied Science – Business Administration/Marketing
Crystal
Elizabeth Richardson.
Associate of Applied Science - Business Entrepreneurship
Greenville
Kristin Balis, honors; and Peighton Rumney.
Hubbardston
Amber Schmitz.
Associate of Applied Science - Business Management
Greenville
Dakota Johnson.
Lakeview
Brookelyn Reed, high honors.
Perrinton
Chad Marecek, high honors.
Stanton
Joshua Bennett, high honors; and Lawrence West, high honors.
Vestaburg
Kailee McGarvey, honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Business Marketing
Belding
Martina Griffioen, high honors.
Greenville
Amanda McMeeken, honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Business Professional Track
Greenville
Carly Kellum.
Associate of Applied Science - Computer Support Technology
Belding
Ethan Moran, high honors.
Hubbardston
Ethan Felzke.
Associate of Applied Science - Criminal Justice
Carson City
Tabetha Shinabarger, honors.
Howard City
Michael Heiss, III.
Ionia
Andrea Bittner, honors.
Middleton
Olivia Garcia.
Six Lakes
Jalissa Swinson, high honors.
Vestaburg
Keegan Scott.
Associate of Applied Science - Digital Arts
Gowen
Mackenzie Miller, honors.
Grand Rapids
Quinn Johnson.
Pierson
Lydia Orcutt, high honors.
Six Lakes
Hannah Crater.
Stanton
Shawna Roberts.
Associate of Applied Science - Early Childhood Education
Coral
Jodi Draher, honors.
Edmore
Kristin Proctor.
Greenville
Dezirae Lincoln.
Lakeview
Vivian Zynda.
Perrinton
Valorie Iung, honors.
Sand Lake
Susan Empie, honors.
Sheridan
Ericka Guernsey.
Stanton
Jennifer Frisbey.
Trufant
Emily Boutell.
Associate of Applied Science - Education Paraprofessional
Coral
Jodi Draher, honors.
Edmore
Kristin Proctor.
Sand Lake
Susan Empie, honors.
Trufant
Emily Boutell.
Associate of Applied Science - Electronics Technology
Hubbardston
Thomas Loudenbeck, honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Engineering Technology
Lakeview
Naomi Ostrander.
Associate of Applied Science - Fruit & Vegetable Crop Management
Grand Rapids
Breanna Lamoreaux, honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Information Security
Sheridan
Kody Wood.
Associate of Applied Science - Medical Office Administration
Crystal
Danielle Mills.
Edmore
Teresa Snyder, high honors.
Gowen
Brianna Shanahan and Shaylene Shanahan.
Greenville
Ella Byington; Amanda Eldridge, honors; and Michael Grooters, honors.
Howard City
Anne Wallace.
Lakeview
Tori Cavendish, honors; and Ally Daniels, honors.
Orleans
Samantha Mays, honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Office Administration
Edmore
Teresa Snyder, high honors.
Gowen
Shaylene Shanahan.
Associate of Applied Science - Registered Nursing
Belding
Jodi Church, honors; and Ashley Hawkins, honors.
Caledonia
Manamina Mohamed.
Cedar Springs
Kelsey Ruark.
Comstock Park
Leslie Pena, honors.
Coopersville
Samantha Sitzer.
Crystal
Jaimee Crowley, high honors; Heather Dempsey; and Britney Husted.
Edmore
Christianna Dunn, high honors; Clorissa Greenhoe; and Ashley Walker, honors.
Grand Rapids
Mustafa Habib, Sr; David Jacques, high honors; Patience Karsten; and Jordon Price, honors.
Greenville
Lisa Anderson, high honors; Mckenna Campbell; Brett Hostetler; James Joyce; Laurie Kooistra; Sophia Korson; and Hope Rassat Jackson, honors.
Howard City
Amanda Perry.
Ionia
Amanda Ezinga, honors; Kenneth Hubbard, honors; Derek Manning, honors; and Jessica Winsor, honors.
Jenison
Elizabeth VanDalsen, high honors.
Lowell
Christen Hatheway, honors.
Mishawaka, Ind.
Taylor Baker, honors.
Morley
Alisha Bentley, honors.
Mt. Pleasant
Maria Pannullo.
Muir
Victoria Clark, honors; and Taylor Cooper.
Ovid
Amber Monahan, high honors.
Remus
Alyssa Diehm, honors.
Rockford
Candace Chalmers, honors; Kate Miller, high honors; Angela Tuin; and Angelyssa Walker, honors.
Sand Lake
Kelli Bratcher, honors; Tesha Lake, honors; and Julie Reyburn, honors.
Sheridan
Taylor Geister, honors; Brandon Larned; and Amber Marchese.
Stanton
Danielle Pemberton; Elizabeth Shanks; and Chelci Whorley, high honors.
Stanwood
Rachel Stevens, honors.
Trufant
Ashley Adams.
Wyoming
Tracy Pearson, honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Technical Drafting & Design
Stanton
Austin Heinlen.
Associate of General Studies - General Studies
Howard City
Jessica Fuller and Joshua Gage.
St. Louis
Robert Morrow, honors.
Stanton
Zack Thompson, honors.
Associate of Liberal Studies
Ionia
Brenda Charles, high honors.
Sand Lake
Rachelle Jahic.
Associate of Science & Arts
Ashley
Jenna Wolfe, high honors.
Belding
Halle Derosha and Taylor Martin.
Belmont
Rachel Weakley.
Carson City
Molly McAlvey and Patricia Oyler.
Cedar Springs
Jodi Huizinga; Gabrielle Kok and Gabriel Ploeg.
Coral
Rylee Nielsen, high honors; and Jacob Tanis.
Crystal
Elise Parks; Trevor Richardson; and Shawntae Wood, honors.
Edmore
Saydee James, honors; Whitney McCracken, honors; Tatianna Perkins, honors; and Hanna VanBlaricum, high honors.
Fenwick
Andrew Nelson and Thomas Ross, high honors.
Greenville
Kayla Bartosiewicz, honors; Carley Brimmer, high honors; Faith Campbell, honors; Hayley Diehl, high honors; Chelsey Duff; Haley Ferguson, honors; Drew Johnson, high honors; Sheri Kanouse, honors; Carly Kellum; Yanin Larez Banuelos; Katelin Mansel; Jered Milner; McKayla Mourer, honors; Laura Muniz; Elizabeth Raven, honors; Kiersten Rebhun, honors; Gabriel Rodriguez, high honors; Zachary Schofield; Emma Skogseth, high honors; and Nikolas Worden.
Howard City
Lauren Corwin, high honors; Sierra Kanouse; Abigail Owen; and Taylor Wagner.
Hubbardston
Heather Fox.
Ionia
Amanda Block; Laurynn Henry; Nicole Pittman; and Heidi Simon, honors.
Lake Odessa
J Elena May, honors.
Lakeview
Hannah Estelle, high honors; Danielle Palmer, honors; and Jacob Palmer.
Lyons
Hannah Nevills.
McBride
Lynsey Blonshine, honors.
Orleans
Raina Cochran and Alexis Moulter.
Pewamo
Haley Perrien, high honors.
Remus
Destiny Snyder.
Rockford
Ashlee Johnson.
St. Louis
Robert Morrow, honors.
Sand Lake
Lindsay Hornbacher, honors and Christian Johnson, high honors.
Saranac
Sydney Gage.
Sheridan
Abigail Donally, high honors; Sophia Johnson, high honors; and Lacey Taylor, honors.
Sidney
Wenona Brown, honors; Hyacinth Chavez, high honors; Toni Davis; and Brooke Hollenbeck, honors.
Six Lakes
Allison Adams; Matthew Aldridge; Jordan Betham; Emil Lahti; Andrew Naranjo, high honors; and Adam Sigsby.
Stanton
Kiara Eager, honors; Alisa Loew, high honors; Andrew Mason; Jacklyn Muniz, honors; Alexandra Saladin, honors; Anne Thompson, honors; and Kendra Whipkey, high honors.
Sumner
Jared Davis, honors.
Trufant
Meagan Bear, honors.
Vestaburg
Kayla Feneis, honors; Riley Loper; and Brooke Peterman, high honors.
Certificate - Apprenticeship Training
Belding
Thomas Olney, honors.
Crystal
Kenith Preston, Jr., high honors.
Fenwick
Johnathon Heath, honors.
Grand Rapids
Matthew Mazei.
Greenville
James Thompson, II, honors.
Howard City
Arryn Lyday, honors.
Lake Odessa
Holden Hummel, honors.
Lansing
Christopher Merrill, high honors.
Lowell
Keith Neubecker, honors.
Muir
Chris Egan, honors.
Sheridan
Travis Dickinson, high honors; and Zacharey Wright.
Stanton
Nathan Gibson.
Vestaburg
Timothy VanBlaricum, III, high honors.
Woodland
Larry Sheldon, honors.
Certificate - Business Management
Greenville
Elizabeth Schwartz.
White Cloud
Richard Shank.
Certificate - Computer Support
Fenwick
Andrew Tissue.
Certificate - Criminal Justice/Corrections
Belding
Ian Frisbie.
Greenville
Renee Durant.
Certificate - Early Child Development
Ithaca
Julie Smith.
Perrinton
Valorie Iung, honors.
Certificate - Information Processing Assistant
Belding
Lisa Miller, honors.
Gowen
Brianna Shanahan.
Lakeview
Tori Cavendish, honors; and Lynnsey Ellafrits.
Gowen
Shaylene Shanahan.
Certificate - Liberal Studies
Ashley
Samantha Northrup, high honors; and Jenna Wolfe, high honors.
Belding
Sarah Nummer, high honors.
Carson City
Molly McAlvey.
Crystal
Elise Parks; Trevor Richardson; and Shawntae Wood, honors.
Edmore
Saydee James, honors; Whitney McCracken, honors; and Kristin Proctor.
Fenwick
Elizabeth DeWald, high honors; and Andrew Nelson.
Greenville
Faith Campbell, honors; Haley Ferguson, honors; Drew Johnson, high honors; James Joyce; Carly Kellum; Yanin Larez Banuelos; Elizabeth Raven, honors; Gabriel Rodriguez, high honors; Haylee Sigafoose, honors; and Kathryn Youmans.
Howard City
Lauren Corwin, high honors; Ashley Marek; Amanda Perry; Kayla Stevens, high honors; and Taylor Wagner.
Ionia
Amanda Block; and Amanda Ezinga, honors.
Lake Odessa
J Elena May, honors.
Lakeview
Katherine Lindsey.
Lowell
Christen Hatheway, honors.
Newaygo
Kathleen Smith, honors.
Ovid
Amber Monahan, high honors.
Rockford
Kate Miller, high honors; and Angela Tuin.
Sand Lake
Christian Johnson, high honors.
Sidney
Wenona Brown, honors; and Hyacinth Chavez, high honors.
Stanton
Alisa Lowe, high honors; and Anne Thompson, honors.
Sumner
Jared Davis, honors.
Trufant
Meagan Bear, honors; and Curtis Haney.
Vestaburg
Ashlyn Jerome, high honors; and Brooke Peterman, high honors.
Certificate - Medical Assistant
Edmore
Ashley Evitts, honors; and Emily Jensen, honors.
Fenwick
Jazmine Currier, honors.
Greenville
Elizabeth Brush, honors; and Paula Huffman.
Lakeview
Kassi Mull.
Lyons
Sara Croel, high honors.
Shepherd
Bonnie Perez, high honors.
Six Lakes
Valerie Hopkins, honors.
Stanton
Morgan Bates.
Certificate - Pre-Nursing
Crystal
Shawntae Wood, honors.
Certificate - Skilled Trades - Maintenance Mechanic
Coral
John Orvis, honors.