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MCC awards degrees and certificates during 58th annual commencement
Montcalm Community College awarded 254 degrees and certificates May 2 during its 58th annual commencement ceremony in the gymnasium on the college’s Sidney campus.
Jusith Amparo, DO, General Surgeon at Corewell Health West Greenville Hospital, and Kailey Ingraham, MCC student addressed the graduates and their guests.
Ingraham, a proud first-generation college student who also serves as president of the college’s Student Government Council, shared her experiences at MCC and how they contributed to her journey.
“Today is not just another day — it’s a significant one. It marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of something even greater,” Ingraham said. “Each and every one of us sitting here has succeeded. We’ve shown up. We’ve pushed through. And today, we’re walking across this stage because we believed in ourselves — and because others believed in us too.
“Let today be your proof — not just that you’ve finished, but that you are capable of anything you set your mind to,” she said. “College is not easy. Balancing life, school, work — some days, it felt like the world asked more of us than we had to give. But we gave it anyway. That’s what resilience looks like. That is what you look like."
She had a long list of people to thank — family, friends, mentors — and to her fellow graduates, she said, “Never forget your internal spark — that deep, powerful force inside you that kept you moving forward. Your determination, motivation, skill and potential hold immense power.
“Montcalm Community College has given us more than a degree — it’s given us confidence, connection, and community,” she said.
“So, take pride in this moment. You’ve earned it,” she added.
Dr. Amparo shared her journey from childhood to the present — having served as a surgeon for more than 28 years — as she encouraged MCC’s graduates to pursue their dreams regardless of the detours along the way.
“I was fortunate that I found what I wanted to do so very early in life,” Dr. Amparo said.
She explained that she grew up in a small town similar to Greenville. When she was about six or seven years old, her younger brother had a bad asthma attack and her town physician came to their house.
“Right there and then I said, ‘I want to be like her,’” Dr. Amparo said. “My goal then was I wanted to become a doctor. My reason was I wanted to save lives and I wanted to help people.”
Dr. Amparo said her career was shaped by life experiences during her journey.
“I studied hard. I prayed a lot. I volunteered a lot at hospitals in order to make my application to medical school much better,” she said.
As she entered medical school, she was unsure of the specialty she would pursue. A life-changing moment occurred when, during Dr. Amparo’s first year of medical school, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and succumbed to the disease. That’s when Dr. Amparo decided to pursue becoming a medical oncologist. During her residency, her career took another turn.
“At that time, I fell in love with surgery,” she said. “I’m not quite sure why. It was really a big surprise to me because I didn’t really like surgery when I was a medical student. Then, all of sudden, I found myself spending a whole lot of time in the surgical ward. Even if I was not on call. Even if I was not in the surgery rotation. I would stop by and ask if they needed help. It was a lot of fun. I loved it!”
Through it all, Dr. Amparo said, “Here I am, 29 years later, and I still love it 99 percent of the time. I wanted to keep it real – I didn’t want to say 100 percent.
“Class of 2025, after graduation, you will be taking different paths. Some of you will continue in your studies. Some of you will continue job training. Some of you are working. Some are still applying. Others may actually take a detour — start a family — and I hope you don’t forget your goals and continue.
“There’s one thing I want to tell you — that when you make a decision as to what you want to do, I hope that you will choose what you love to do,” she said.
Candidates for degrees and certificates included:
Associate of Applied Science - Accounting
Belding
Katelynn Backing, high honors.
Fenwick
Jack Schneider, high honors.
Greenville
Keegan Davis.
Sheridan
Trisha Lillie, high honors.
Six Lakes
Stephanie Herzog, high honors.
Trufant
Amber Waldron, high honors.
Vestaburg
Elizabeth Armstrong, high honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Agricultural Operations
Cedar Springs
Dylan Knauf, honors.
Elwell
Benjamin Cary, honors.
Greenville
Margaret Haight, honors.
Howard City
Ian Kerslake, honors.
Ionia
Carl Seidelman.
Ithaca
Carter Eckelbarger.
Rockford
Amanda Perkins, high honors.
Sparta
Victoria Caine, high honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Business Entrepreneurship
Stanwood
Kyleigh Fields, honors.
Trufant
Amber Waldron, high honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Business Management
Belding
Brandie Brewer, honors.
Carson City
Heather Adkins, high honors.
Cedar Springs
Judy Rademacher, high honors.
Edmore
Shelby Jackson, honors.
Greenville
Annette Fare, high honors; Ailey Neal.
Howard City
Nicole Brown, high honors.
Lakeview
Ali Delamater; Jenna Voelker; Bo Waite, high honors.
Muir
Ashley Doty.
Orleans
Cody Douglas, honors.
Stanton
Genevieve Evans, honors; Saige Larabel, high honors.
Vestaburg
Amber Hoyt.
Associate of Applied Science - Business Marketing
Saranac
Spencer Satterlee.
Vestaburg
Joey Hutchins, high honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Computer Network Administration
Greenville
Jesse Mason, high honors.
Ionia
Frank Look II, high honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Criminal Justice
Crystal
Taite Daily, high honors.
Gowen
Layna Gunderson, honors.
Greenville
Alexis Hansen.
Riverdale
Dustin Grosskopf, high honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Digital Arts
Crystal
Diana Demos.
Greenville
Ruthann Nowak, high honors.
Howard City
Alexandra Hunt, honors.
Ionia
Phoenix Bond, high honors; Mary McQuarrie, honors.
Pierson
Mary Scarberry, honors.
Sand Lake
Michealle Petrik.
Associate of Applied Science - Early Childhood Education
Carson City
Ashley Mikula.
Crystal
Isabel Lingeman, high honors; Madison Miller, honors.
Greenville
Heather Lehman; Hannah VanderMey; Danielle Wellman, high honors.
Rockford
Cassandra Kleck.
Sheridan
Alyvia Minnick, high honors.
Vestaburg
Lacey Smith.
Associate of Applied Science - Education Support
Belding
Madison Emelander, high honors.
Ionia
Toni Laarman, high honors.
Lyons
Angela Hull.
Associate of Applied Science - Industrial Automation Maintenance
Sheridan
Shawn Hardy, high honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Information Technology Network Administration
Greenville
Adrianne Sisson, honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Medical Office Administration
Greenville
Selina Powers, high honors.
Pierson
Gracy Kelly.
Six Lakes
Miranda Crittenden, honors.
Trufant
Amber Garbow, high honors.
Vestaburg
Kelsey Helton, honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing Professional Track
Alma
Jacob Nix, honors; Gage Schall, honors.
Ashley
Kristin Mills, honors.
Coral
Ellie Nielsen; Ashlee Porter, honors.
Crystal
Jacob Anderson; Georgina Pickens.
Edmore
Faith Johnston, honors; Addisen Peterman, honors; Chase Taylor, honors.
Gowen
SkyeAnne Sherwood, honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing Professional Track
Greenville
Kristen Allard, honors; Carly Giesseman, honors; Shyanne Martin, honors.
Lowell
Kaelobb Decker; Joshua Underwood, honors.
Muir
Brittany Allen.
Rockford
Emily Czarnopys.
Saint Louis
Jennifer Dill, honors.
Six Lakes
Bailey Snyder, honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Office Administration
Greenville
Kaylee Wade.
Lyons
Kaitlyn Curtis.
Saint Louis
Cooper Daller, honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Registered Nursing (ADN)
Alma
Jacob Nix, honors; Gage Schall, honors.
Ashley
Kristin Mills, honors.
Belding
Mackenzie Byrne, honors.
Belmont
Monica Zeiser, honors.
Big Rapids
Elizabeth Huertas-Andino.
Cedar Springs
Emma Cassiday, high honors.
Coral
Ellie Nielsen; Ashlee Porter, honors.
Crystal
Jacob Anderson; Georgina Pickens.
Edmore
Faith Johnston, honors; Addisen Peterman, honors; Chase Taylor, honors.
Fowler
Paige Hetherington, honors.
Gowen
SkyeAnne Sherwood, honors.
Grand Rapids
Kia Gardner.
Greenville
Kristen Allard, honors; Nichole Bosire: Carly Giesseman, honors; Marisa Halfacer: Shyanne Martin, honors; Jenny Rykse, honors; Lisa Yount, honors.
Holland
Hailey Wahmhoff.
Howard City
Randee Fellows; Michelle Maurer, honors.
Lowell
Kaelobb Decker; Joshua Underwood, honors.
Muir
Brittany Allen.
Rockford
Emily Czarnopys.
Saint Louis
Jennifer Dill, honors.
Sand Lake
Kali Hoag, honors.
Sears
Dorothy Church, honors.
Six Lakes
Bailey Snyder, honors.
Vestaburg
Kelsee King, honors.
Wyoming
Samuel O'Dell.
Associate of Applied Science - Web Developer & Programming
Crystal
Nickolas Pennock.
Greenville
Chad Stanford, honors.
Associate of Applied Science - Welding
Belding
Ryder Houghton.
Lakeview
Nicholas Zilska.
Associate of Arts - MiTransfer Pathway Psychology
Clare
Kaitlynn Townsend.
Eagle
Adriana Schultz.
Greenville
Callie Jensen; Andrea Kash, high honors; Chasity Painter.
Portland
Anna Humphrey.
Stanton
Alyssa Jones.
Associate of Arts - MiTransfer Pathway Social Work
Gowen
Maleena Moreno.
Greenville
Madison Hart; Natahsa Thomas.
Sheridan
Gabrielle McGowan, honors.
Associate of Science - MiTransfer Pathway Biology
Howard City
Christine Willett, high honors.
Associate of Science - MiTransfer Pathway Business
Greenville
Kailey Ingraham, honors.
Lakeview
Gregory Olmstead, honors.
Pierson
Jeremy Portell Jr.
Portland
Piper Groesser.
Sheridan
Emily Scott, honors.
Six Lakes
Jack Snyder.
Associate of Science & Arts - Associate of Science & Arts
Belding
Felix Purcey.
Big Rapids
Megan Raison.
Blanchard
Genny Farrell.
Canton
Robert Milleville, high honors.
Edmore
Taylor Harkness; Sonja VanVlerah.
Fenwick
Zoey Guernsey; Carrie Kalnins, honors.
Gowen
Chayse Brown, honors; Catherine Grimm, high honors; Layna Gunderson, honors; Kaitlyn Nelmark; Abigail Reynolds.
Greenville
Kaylee Behrendt; Heather Coe; Lauran Cusack, honors; Rebecca Flores, high honors; Whitley Hester, high honors; Riley Holdbrooks; Andrea Kash, high honors; Heather Lehman; Tailey Peterman, honors; Nicholas Soucie, high honors; Timera Tiffany, high honors; Madison Wilson; Ty Zamarron.
Holland
Alex Meyers, honors.
Howard City
Matison Newman, honors; Christine Willett, high honors.
Ionia
Blake Feehan, honors; Andrew LeForge; Paige Lowery, high honors; Melanie Perez.
Lakeview
Cora Grawburg, high honors; Sophia Hammock; Cynthia Palethorpe; Vivian Zynda.
Lowell
Grace Chase, high honors.
McBrides
Savannah White, honors.
Morley
Lindsay Varrero.
Mulliken
Reagan Guilford.
Portland
Aubree Faulkner; Alli Sower.
Riverdale
Dustin Grosskopf, high honors.
Rockford
Ivy Sisson, honors.
Sand Lake
Brien Reeder-Secord, honors.
Saranac
Alyssa Albert; Stuart Satterlee III, honors.
Sheridan
Kelsey Antcliff; Megan Bean, high honors; Lily Bohen, honors; Shawn Hardy, honors: Megan Hopkins: Tiana Whitacre, high honors; Karley Wilkie.
Sidney
Maia Sexton.
Six Lakes
Mathew Brigham, honors; Katlyn Hyde.
Sparta
Jerald Brownell, honors.
Stanton
Andrea Frost; Kodey Nicewicz, honors; Amber Nichols; Avreonna Robinson.
Stanwood
Alyssa Raines.
Trufant
Aubrey Marlin; Aleyna Moleski.
Vestaburg
Ashlea Fuhrman; Rose Rogers, high honors.
Certificate - Apprenticeship Training
Carson City
Dillon Ahrens, high honors.
Fenwick
James Fancett, high honors.
Ionia
Dathan Hall, high honors.
Lake Odessa
Jesse Dye, honors.
Muir
Tyler Akin, honors.
Sheridan
Sean Cottle, high honors.
Six Lakes
Jordan Knapper, honors.
Trufant
Scott Christensen, honors.
Vermontville
Robert Grinstern, high honors.
Certificate - Business Management
Stanton
Amber Nichols.
Certificate - Digital Arts
Stanton
Sarah Swartz, high honors.
Certificate - Early Childhood Development
Stanwood
Shanna Plum, honors.
Certificate - Liberal Studies
Belding
Felix Purcey.
Gowen
Chayse Brown, honors; Layna Gunderson, honors.
Greenville
Callie Jensen; Taylor Rumsey, high honors; Nicholas Soucie, high honors; Elizabeth Stellman, honors; Timera Tiffany, high honors.
Howard City
Christine Willett, high honors.
Ionia
Blake Feehan, honors.
Lakeview
Alyssa Unger, high honors; Vivian Zynda.
Pierson
Jeremy Portell Jr.
Portland
Aubree Faulkner.
Sheridan
Megan Bean, high honors; Lily Bohen, honors; Shawn Hardy, honors; Gabriella MacMillen; Gabrielle McGowan, honors; Tiana Whitacre, high honors.
Six Lakes
Mathew Brigham, honors; Katlyn Hyde.
Stanton
Andrea Frost.
Vestaburg
Taylor Mier.
Ypsilanti
Kaitlin Huisken, honors.
Certificate - Skilled Trades - Tool & Die Maker/Designer
Carson City
Tabitha Randolph, high honors.