News

Friday, May 6, 2022

MCC awards degrees and certificates during 55th annual commencement

Montcalm Community College awarded 234 degrees and certificates May 6 during its 55th annual commencement ceremony in the gymnasium on the college’s Sidney campus.

Brad Krause, founder of Service Professor Inc., a home services provider of Plumbing, heating, cooling, electrical, duct cleaning, drains/sewer in West and Southwest Michigan, and MCC student Megan Martin, of Goshen, Ind., addressed the graduates and their guests.

Service Professor has experienced more than 40 percent growth each of the past five years, landing on the Inc. 5000 fastest growing companies list seven of the last eight years, and is currently pacing to reach $35 million in sales in 2022. Krause related to the graduates through his business experience, sharing three key takeaways that he said have helped him with his accomplishments.

He urged the graduates to find mentors who will push them to be the best versions of themselves.  

“As Dan Pena said, ‘Show me your friends and I will show you your future,” he said, adding that studies show a person’s income will be the average of their top five friends.

Second, he challenged the students to find gratitude every day.

Finally, he reminded the graduates to continue growing and to give back, quoting Tony Robbins in saying, “’We have to grow in order to give. You can’t give something that you don’t have.’”

Krause is a 1988 graduate of Greenville High School and a 2003 graduate of MCC.

During her comments, Martin, who graduated with an Associate of Science & Arts degree with high honors, told her classmates, “You grow through what you go through.”

“College might have taught me the basics of accounting and the process of natural selection, but I learned so much more about myself and what I am capable of in the process,” she said. “I have learned the importance of time management, working hard, communication, and flexibility (hello, online classes!). But guess what, graduates? All of these life skills will carry us just as far as our degree, if not further.

“Over the last two years, students and faculty at MCC have faced an obstacle much greater than the college itself. Many of us began our education during the COVID-19 pandemic. In-person classes were switched to fully online overnight and the campus became unrecognizable. Common areas that were once filled with students studying and socializing were nearly empty. The up-close and personal relationships between staff and students were now divided by a laptop screen,” she said.

Martin expressed her gratitude to MCC’s instructors, staff and administration for making learning possible during the pandemic.

“Would you believe me if I told you one year ago I was walking across the stage at my high school graduation? And that next year I am on track to graduate with my bachelor’s degree? Thanks to Montcalm Community College, my dreams have become a reality,” she said. “Family and friends - I ask that you take the time tonight to truly celebrate your graduate!

“My fellow graduates – I wish you nothing but success in your endeavors,” she added.

In addition, Mathematics Instructor Brianne Lodholtz, of Sheridan, received the Leslie K. Morford Faculty Recognition Award and part-time Instructor History Instructor Andrea Puskas, of Cedar Springs, received the Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award. In addition, Sally Ann Welch-Spry, of Belding, was honored with the college’s first Distinguished Alumni Award.

Candidates for degrees and certificates included:

 

Associate of Applied Science - Accounting
Edmore
Madison Weedmark.

Greenville
Julie Fox, honors.

Stanwood
Chelsea Roszell, honors.

Associate of Applied Science - Agribusiness
Edmore
Tifennie Haddix, honors.

Associate of Applied Science - Agricultural Operations
Belding
Abigail Wester.

Edmore
Tifennie Haddix, honors.

Elwell
Hayley Cary.

Kent City
Kylie VanHouten, honors.

Middleton
Alyssa Barrett.

Saranac
Emily Mutschler.

Sheridan
Grace Bayer.

Stanton
Sadie Loveless, honors.

Associate of Applied Science - Business Management
Edmore
Madison Weedmark.

Fenwick
Makenna Nash.

Greenville
Kyleigh Mills, high honors and Hannah Petersen, honors.

Ionia
Victoria Gaskill.

Muir
Savannah Russo, high honors.

Newaygo
David Perry, honors.

Riverdale
Emmanuel TenHave.

Rodney
Morgan Weedmark.

Saranac
Kaitlyn DePotty, honors.

Stanton
Michael Moore.

Stanwood
Francesca Perugini, high honors.

Trufant
Chloe Paulson, honors.

Associate of Applied Science - Business Marketing
Belding
Morgan Mason.

Saranac
Karalyn Mooren.

Associate of Applied Science - Computer Information Technology Management
Carson City
Alexander Grant.

Associate of Applied Science - Computer Network Administration
Sheridan
Gunther Ebels.

Associate of Applied Science - Computer Networks & Systems
Sidney
Caleb Drake.

Associate of Applied Science - Computer Support Technology
Ionia
Caleb Green, honors.

Associate of Applied Science - Criminal Justice
Gowen
Travis Carlson Sr., honors.

Greenville
Nathan Downing.

Six Lakes
Logan Clack, honors.

Associate of Applied Science - Digital Arts
Sidney
Mitchell Myers.

Associate of Applied Science - Early Childhood Education
Belding
Erin Taylor.

Coral
Waverly Burns, high honors.

Howard City
Tommie Phinney, honors.

Associate of Applied Science - Engineering Technology
Greenville
Brent Laux, honors.

Associate of Applied Science - Medical Office Administration
Greenville
Alicia Tiffany, honors.

Howard City
Kelsea Cook, high honors.

Stanton
Sandra Ailles, honors.

Associate of Applied Science - Nursing Professional Track
Greenville
Brenda Winters, honors.

Associate of Applied Science - Office Administration
Blanchard
Kellie Lobert, honors.

Associate of Applied Science - Registered Nursing (ADN)
Bannister
McKenzie Martin, honors.

Belding
Stefanie Harig, honors and Elizabeth McQuillan, honors.

Big Rapids
Jessica Schutte, honors.

Carson City
Kaitlyn Johnson, high honors.

Cedar Spring
Isaiah Dykstra.

Crystal
Bree Brasington, honors; Monica Burnett and Rachel Ferris, high honors.

Edmore
Cenni Becher; Jessica Hinton, honors and Jesse Rasmussen.

Gowen
Courtney Page, honors; Rebekah Sandborn, honors and Tamara Schmeltzer, high honors.

Grand Rapids
Blessing Okafor-Gilmore.

Greenville
Erin Johnson; Madeline Lake, honors; Kathryn Schofield; Lauren Thebo; Ally Tozer, honors; Samantha Vanderroer, honors and Brenda Winters, honors.

Howard City
Ashlyn Sutton

Hubbardston
Heather Fox.

Ionia
Katelyn Bentley, honors and Donna Starks, high honors.

Ithaca
Jamie Block.

Lexington
Alexis Liebler, honors.

McBride
Cheyenne Jeffery.

Pierson
Alyssa Goodwill.

Rockford
Jessica Johnson, high honors and Jeremy Wolf, honors.

Sand Lake
Miguel Lagunas, honors.

Six Lakes
Alyssia Blanzy.

Spring Lake
Lexi Chouinard, high honors.

Stanton
Briana Cox; Gabrielle Crane, honors; Nikayla Guerrero; Miranda Russell, honors and Kathryn Wilbur.

Associate of Applied Science - Technical Drafting & Design
Ionia
Michelle Dettloff.

Associate of Applied Science - Web Developer & Programming
Rockford
Derek Tramper.

Six Lakes
Matthew Brundage II.

Associate of Applied Science - Welding
Edmore
Kyle Deal.

Greenville
Nicholas Taft, honors and Steven Tripp Sr., honors.

Sheridan
Austin Allenbaugh, honors.

Stanton
Morgan Scott.

Associate of Arts - MiTransfer Pathway Psychology
Trufant
Curtis Haney.

Associate of Science - Pre Animal Health Technology
Greenville
Chloe Petersen, honors.

Associate of Science & Arts
Belding
Mackenzie Geister, honors; Annabel Maag, high honors and Love Wisniewski, high honors.

Blanchard
Zoey Barnes; Ashley Brady; Gavin Hurt, honors; Trevor Rogers; Elizabeth Underhill, high honors and Staci Wood.

Carson City
Tracy Altoft, honors; Anne Fitzpatrick, honors: Deanna Gallagher, high honors and Paige Wadle.

Crystal
Giovanny Alpizar, honors; Jacob Anderson; Tiia Chambers, high honors; Bryce Genson and Rylee Parsons.

Edmore
Olivia Outman.

Fenwick
Kaelan Haring, honors; Savana Jones, honors; Jon-Paul Rosier; Brice Spencer, honors and Rylee Weber.

Goshen
Allison Horner, high honors and Megan Martin, high honors.

Gowen
Dawn Brenton; Travis Carlson Sr., honors and Shay Jensen.

Greenville
Alyssa Bailey; Devon Bramen, honors; Katelyn Corey, honors; Shaye Cox: Tara Crawford, high honors: Nathan Downing; Keith Frank; Arron Gillman: Kellsey Green: Katherine Henry, high honors: Kaitlynn Kent; Cassandra Kleck; Sarah Martin: Gabriel McDonnell; Kevin Powell, honors: Abigail Quinn, honors; Samantha Robinson, high honors: Aspen Scheid: Alison Skogseth, high honors: Kurtis Vinton, high honors and Madilyn Wondergem.

Howard City
Alicia Bowen, high honors; Cole Brinks, honors; Nathan Busch; Michelle Danh, honors and Sadie Derusha, high honors.

Ionia
Mckenzee Meadows.

Kent City
Kylie VanHouten, honors.

Lake Odessa
Taylor Yancey.

Lakeview
Karli Commans, honors; Jonathan Diefenbach, high honors; Akalia Feazel; Trenton Harvey; Jaiden Meyer, honors; Noah Petersen and Kasey Shilling.

Lansing
Paige Mobley.

Portland
Sierra James.

Remus
Toni Richter, high honors.

Rockford
Kaitlyn VanEss.

Saranac
Zachariah Yonker, high honors.

Sheridan
Hunter Bannister; Grace Bayer; Ashleigh Cardenas; Shelbie Ramirez, honors and Trenna Smith, honors.

Sidney
Aubree Spohn.

Six Lakes
Tiffany Pajares, honors.

Stanton
Briana Cox; Micah Johnson, honors; Amanda Marvin, honors and Kristina McQueen, high honors.

Sumner
Blake Muscott, high honors.

Vestaburg
Kaylee Bucholtz, high honors; Bailey Peterman; Brandi Smith and Michaelann Turner.

Wyoming
Baleigh Boni, honors.

Certificate - Apprenticeship Training
Ionia
Matthew Smalley.

Lowell
James Hunter, high honors.

Muir
Emily Listerman.

Reed City
James Bechtol III, honors.

Sheridan
Justin Ross, high honors.

Stanton
Aaron Poulson.

Certificate - Business Management
Greenville
Julie Fox, honors.

Certificate - Early Childhood Development
Crystal
Selena Ring.

Certificate - Liberal Studies
Belding
Abigail Wester.

Blanchard
Trevor Rogers.

Carson City
Tracy Altoft, honors and Deanna Gallagher, high honors.

Edmore
Jeanette Pizarro-Ahumada, high honors.

Fenwick
Jon-Paul Rosier and Rylee Weber.

Goshen, Ind.
Allison Horner, high honors and Megan Martin, high honors.

Gowen
Travis Carlson Sr., honors.

Greenville
Tara Crawford, high honors; Nathan Downing; Arron Gillman; Erin Johnson and Abigail Quinn, honors.

Howard City
Michelle Danh, honors; Sadie Derusha, high honors and Jacob Nave, honors.

Kent City
Kylie VanHouten, honors.

Lakeview
Akalia Feazel.

Lansing
Paige Mobley.

Pierson
Marjorie Starr, honors.

Portland
Emma Johnson, high honors.

Sand Lake
Miguel Lagunas, honors.

Sheridan
Grace Bayer and Megan Hunt.

Stanton
Briana Cox; Micah Johnson, honors and Emily Throop, high honors.

Vestaburg
Alexys Cannady, honors and Brandi Smith.

Wyoming
Baleigh Boni, honors.

Certificate - Medical Assistant
Sheridan
Samantha Verheek, honors.

Certificate - Skilled Trades - Machinist
Sand Lake
Travis Garner.

Certificate - Skilled Trades - Maintenance Mechanic
Lowell
Angelica Barnhart, high honors.

Certificate - Skilled Trades - Tool & Die Maker/Designer
Sand Lake
Travis Garner.

Certificate - Welding Technology
Hubbardston
Aaron Wohlfert.