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Montcalm Community College recently presented its 2022 MCC Stanley and Blanche Ash Distinguished Service Award to Linda Stafford and Roger Coles, both of Greenville.

MCC President Stacy H. Young, Ph.D., and Rep. Pat Outman recognized them for their achievements during a gathering of former award recipients and college dignitaries June 14 at the Stanley and Blanche Ash Technology and Learning Center on the college’s Greenville campus.

Stafford is a longtime Greenville resident who has spent her life supporting her community. As third-generation owners of the former Stafford Media Inc., a publishing and commercial printing company that had been in their family for 68 years until its sale in 2019, Linda and her family are part of the fabric of Greenville.

Linda has a passion for young people and those who are underserved. This is evident by the many projects and causes she supports. Linda is an “anonymous angel” who quietly helps students better themselves through education, and who invests in projects and supports arts and cultural offerings for the betterment of the community as a whole.

Dr. Young talked about Stafford’s quiet support of her community.

“I want to tell you a story about Linda,” Dr. Young said. “About two years ago, Linda and I were chatting about our students at MCC. She heard a need that I didn’t even realize we had at the time. Later, she invited me to her house. She told me she was giving the college $25,000 to help students who had immediate needs.”

“Through this pass-through fund, Linda has helped a single mom buy her books, supported a nursing student who did not have enough money to take her nursing certification test and has helped many more students,” Dr. Young said. “Linda has now helped 58 students with her first $25,000. She recently gave MCC an additional $25,000 to continue helping our students. Having the flexibility to use these funds to help students with immediate needs has been an incredible gift and has given us the opportunity to help so many people.”