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Montcalm Community College awarded 239 degrees and certificates May 5 during its 56th annual commencement ceremony in the gymnasium on the college’s Sidney campus. 

Diana Sieger, president of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, and MCC student Amber Ridgway, of Greenville, addressed the graduates and their guests. 

Sieger talked about growing up in the late ’60s and ’70s and how Gerald Ford spoke at her college graduation, before he was president. She also compared how different life is today from a time back in 2000 when she gave a commencement speech. 

“I am heartened by the leadership your generation is demonstrating,” she said. “Whether you are continuing your education at a four-year university, starting a new career, or embarking on some other adventure, remember you have the power to shape your own future. You have the ability to overcome obstacles, to learn from your mistakes, and to make a positive impact on the world around you.” 

She also talked about the spirit of service her generation and today’s students have demonstrated. She said MCC has a commitment to service and everyone who has walked through its doors has experienced it. 

“Remember that the most important measure of success is not how much money you make or how famous you become, but rather the impact you have on the lives of others,” Sieger said. “Take what you have learned here and use it to make a positive difference in your community, your country, and your world.” 

Ridgeway, who graduated with an Associate of Applied Science in Office Administration with high honors, spoke about how in 2020 she came to a crossroads. She could either give up and end her life, or hang on and try to make a better life for herself. She chose to end her life. She wasn’t successful and spent some time in psychiatric care. 

“While psychiatric care was number one, a different career path was second. I had no idea what to do to change that, as college was never on my radar,” she said. “I was never going to be smart enough to attend, and I could never afford it. The possibility for college only came to mind when I learned that Michigan was going to start a scholarship for those who worked on the ‘front lines’ during the COVID-19 lockdown. Surprisingly, to not only myself but everyone in my life, I applied for the scholarship without any hesitation or second thought of what it might mean. I highly doubted I would qualify anyway.” 

She received the Futures for Frontliners scholarship and was accepted to MCC. At age 32, she said she was terrified and worried about being the oldest person in her classes. She realized, though, that all she could do was her best and dive right in. 

“It’s been a long, rough road here,” Ridgeway said. “For some of you, your road is just beginning. For others like me, we’ve been driving for a while now, with Michigan-sized potholes we didn’t think we could make across. I know because there’s been too many times that I’ve nearly not made it myself. Wherever you are on your road, keep going. You’ll never be ready. You’ll never be ready for all the things that life will throw at you. Through deaths, heartbreak, new family members, weddings, and everything in-between. Look for hope. Not just on the mountaintops, but in the valleys as well. I promise, it’s there too.” 

In addition, Biology Instructor Michelle Gibson, of Greenville, received the Leslie K. Morford Faculty Recognition Award; Health Careers Lab Supervisor and Adjunct Instructor Nancy Seals, of Carson City, received the Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award; and Christa Baldwin, of Stanton, was honored with the college’s Distinguished Alumni Award. 

Candidates for degrees and certificates included: 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Accounting 

Crystal 

Marcy Baker, honors. 

 

Greenville 

Claire Scott, high honors. 

 

Ionia 

Kasondra Triggs, high honors. 

 

Rodney 

Morgan Weedmark. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Agricultural Operations 

Saranac 

Emily Mutschler. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Business Management 

Crystal 

Marcy Baker, honors. 

 

Fenwick 

James McGraw; Claudia Medrano. 

 

Greenville 

Sawyer Bowers; Autumn Eldridge, high honors; Jordan Wilson, honors. 

 

Stanton 

Madison Holland, honors; Christopher Moss. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Business Marketing 

Greenville 

Sawyer Bowers. 

 

Stanwood 

Madison Morgan-Crater, high honors. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Computer Network Administration 

Big Rapids 

Michael Church, honors. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Computer Networks & Systems  

Crystal 

Andrew Tissue. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Criminal Justice 

Greenville 

Haley Nauta, honors. 

 

Howard City 

Courtney Fliearman, honors. 

 

Six Lakes 

Brittany Cooper. 

 

Sumner 

Frank Funsch. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Digital Arts 

Edmore 

Laura Boerma, honors. 

 

Gowen 

Michael Beard. 

 

Grand Rapids 

Tanner Boonstra. 

 

Greenville 

Valerie Coon; Ailey Neal, honors; Paul Nowak III, honors. 

 

Kent City 

Reta Burdette, high honors. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Early Childhood Education 

Belding 

Kelsey Bartholomew, honors. 

 

Coral 

Waverly Burns, high honors. 

 

Fenwick 

Mariah Sorensen.  

 

Greenville 

Mici Bos, honors; Kathrine Wilson, high honors. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Education Support 

Cedar Springs 

Eleanor Colvin. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Engineering Technology 

Ionia 

Joshua Trierweiler, high honors. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Industrial Automation Maintenance 

Howard City 

Robert Gerwig, honors; Zachary Johnson, high honors. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Medical Office Administration 

Carson City 

Elizabeth Miller. 

 

Ionia 

Shannon Kelly, honors. 

 

Sheridan 

Vivian Ridgeway, honors. 

 

Stanton 

Samantha Swan. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Nursing Professional Track 

Belding 

Mackenzie Geister, honors. 

 

Carson City 

Leah Springsteen. 

 

Cedar Springs 

Mabel Brooks. 

 

Fenwick 

Courtnee Nicholson. 

 

Greenville 

Faith Campbell, honors. 

 

Hastings 

Annamarie Beck. 

 

Howard City 

Kiana Hackbardt. 

 

Ithaca 

Mary Everts. 

 

Lyons 

Melissa VanDerske. 

 

Saranac 

Emily Mulnix, honors. 

 

Stanton 

Alyssa Gillson, honors. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Office Administration 

Greenville 

Amber Ridgeway, high honors. 

 

Pierson 

Grace Ebenhoh. 

 

Sand Lake 

Heather Secor, high honors. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Registered Nursing (ADN) 

Belding 

Mackenzie Geister, honors. 

 

Carson City 

Leah Springsteen. 

 

Cedar Springs 

Mabel Brooks; Trevor Johnston. 

 

Crystal 

Miguelita Avery. 

 

Fenwick 

Heather Moore; Courtnee Nicholson. 

 

Grand Rapids 

Christianna Hultink; Alexandra Michael. 

 

Greenville 

Faith Campbell, honors; Anna Dutmers; Noah Gager, honors; Robin Kleck; Hailey MacMillen, honors; Alexandra Swanger, honors; Hayley Zoerman. 

 

Hastings 

Annamarie Beck. 

 

Howard City 

Kiana Hackbardt; Emily Simmons, honors. 

 

Ithaca 

Mary Everts. 

 

Lakeview 

Kirsten MacDonald. 

 

Lowell 

Andrew Meacham. 

 

Lyons 

Melissa VanDerske. 

 

Newaygo 

Dana Crawford, honors. 

 

Pierson 

McKenzie Crandall, honors. 

 

Portland 

Rebecca Snarski. 

 

Rockford 

Amanda Wilson, honors. 

 

Saginaw 

Steven Hermann. 

 

Sand Lake 

Samantha Oakes. 

 

Saranac 

Emily Mulnix, honors; Jessica Ricket, honors. 

 

Six Lakes 

Zoe Helmer. 

 

Stanton 

Chelsey Birman, honors; Haley Edwards; Alyssa Gillson, honors; Johnathon McCracken. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Skilled Trades 

Belding 

Travis Colter, high honors. 

 

Edmore 

Timothy VanBlaricum III, honors. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Web Developer & Programming 

Trufant 

Parker Wheaton, high honors. 

 

Associate of Applied Science – Welding 

Edmore 

Kyle Deal. 

 

Sand Lake 

Zachary Patin, honors. 

 

Trufant 

Kevin Brecker. 

 

Associate of Arts – MiTransfer Pathway Art 

Gowen 

Trynity Green. 

 

Associate of Arts – MiTransfer Pathway Psychology 

Fenwick 

Royce Spencer. 

 

Greenville 

Jack Cooper, high honors; Charlie VanderMel, honors. 

 

Ionia 

Brian Chartrand, high honors. 

 

Associate of Arts – MiTransfer Pathway Social Work 

Fenwick 

Ana Jennings, high honors; Brooklyn Plaisier, honors. 

 

Associate of Arts – MiTransfer Pathway Criminal Justice 

Sidney 

Grace Choponis. 

 

Associate of Science & Arts 

Alma 

Sarah Headley. 

 

Belding 

Teague Griffioen; Justin Taylor. 

 

Big Rapids 

Brittany Brown; Celestine Hiltunen, honors; Megan Raison. 

 

Blanchard 

Kayla Fisher; Gabrielle Gilman, honors. 

 

Cedar Springs 

Ana Bauer; Rachael Kren, high honors. 

 

Edmore 

Wyatt Cook, high honors; MaLinda Johnston; Gabriella Krzymicki, high honors; John Mazurkiewicz IV; Celena Rosset, honors. 

 

Fenwick 

Chloe Haring. 

 

Gowen 

Sandy Dang; Trynity Green; Adison Nichols, honors; Jakob Phillips, high honors. 

 

Grand Rapids 

Ethan Christensen. 

 

Greenville 

Annika Barnes; Garrett Bell; Mici Bos, honors; Onyx Bromley, honors; Jessica Butler; Taryn Creasap, honors; Tyler Cripps; Rhiannon Cummings, high honors; Josephine Lake, honors; Dylan Linton; Benjamin Peacock, high honors; Alexandra Seng. 

 

Howard City 

Joseph Huizing; Kendra Matzen, honors; Daniel Shadley. 

 

Hubbardston 

Hannah Dalton; Karyssa Suchek, honors. 

 

Ionia 

Madalyn Bush, high honors; Amanda Fleming; Austin Murray. 

 

Lakeview 

Kimberly Carstens, high honors; Gavin Holmes, honors; Kasey Shilling. 

 

Lowell 

Hannah Diamond, high honors; Oliver Grilley. 

 

Maple Rapids 

Walker Eyer, honors. 

 

Muir 

Damon Jackson. 

 

Pierson 

Marjorie Starr, honors. 

 

Reed City 

Jasmine Plum. 

 

Rockford 

Jacob Fitzmaurice. 

 

Saint Johns 

Gabriella Andersen, honors. 

 

Sand Lake 

Brian Corbett. 

 

Sheridan  

Sophia Allenbaugh, high honors; Jasmine Delafuente; Harold Joslyn; Kristin Lacy, honors; Cailin Lambart, honors; Colten Lambart, high honors; Shelbie Ramirez, honors; Ivy Ridgeway, honors; Trenton Shaffer, high honors; Amber Wubbeling, high honors. 

 

Sidney 

Grace Choponis. 

 

Six Lakes 

Kathryn Porter, honors. 

 

Stanton 

Megan Brokaw, high honors; Amanda Johnson, honors; Austin Laper; Emily Throop, high honors; Alyssa Walwark, honors; Nathan Winters-Horton; Rainier Woodman, honors. 

 

Stanwood 

Destiney Covey 

 

Vestaburg 

Alexys Cannady, honors; Whitney Hoover, high honors; Dylan Jones-Wrisley, high honors; Brady Kilchermann, honors; Michaelann Turner, honors; Lily Walker. 

 

Wyoming 

Caroline Garcia. 

 

Certificate – Apprenticeship Training 

Cedar Springs 

Christopher Carr, high honors; Bill Hammer III. 

 

Grand Rapids 

William Patterson. 

 

Lakeview 

Theodore Grant, honors. 

 

Morley 

Brian Olsen, high honors. 

 

Pierson 

David Hoekstra. 

 

Sheridan 

Tonya Lucier. 

 

Sidney 

Mitchell Mills, honors. 

 

Stanton 

Jared Fountain, high honors. 

 

Certificate – Business Management 

Stanton 

Christopher Moss. 

 

Certificate – Criminal Justice/Corrections 

Sumner 

Frank Funsch. 

 

Certificate – Liberal Studies 

Belding 

Justin Taylor. 

 

Blanchard 

Grayson Austin, high honors; Gabrielle Gilman, honors. 

 

Coral 

Sydnie Nielsen, honors. 

 

Edmore 

Gabriella Krzymicki, high honors. 

 

Gowen 

Mackenna Gunderson, honors; Jakob Phillips, high honors. 

 

Grand Rapids 

Tanner Boonstra; Ethan Christensen. 

 

Greenville 

Garrett Bell; Taryn Creasap, honors; Rhiannon Cummings, high honors; Lindsay Muniz; Benjamin Peacock, high honors. 

 

Howard City 

Caleb Nave, honors; Madison VanCleave. 

 

Ionia 

Madalyn Bush, high honors; Amanda Fleming; Austin Murray; Joshua Trierweiler, high honors. 

 

Lakeview 

Kimberly Carstens, high honors. 

 

Lowell 

Hannah Diamond, high honors. 

 

Reed City 

Jasmine Plum. 

 

Saint Johns  

Gabriella Andersen, honors. 

 

Sand Lake 

Brian Corbett. 

 

Saranac  

Abby Bushre, honors; Emily Mutschler. 

 

Sheridan 

Colten Lambart, high honors; Vivian Ridgeway, honors; Trenton Shaffer, high honors. 

 

Sidney 

Grace Choponis. 

 

Stanton 

Austin Laper. 

 

Stanwood 

Destiney Covey. 

 

Vestaburg 

Alexys Cannady, honors; Whitney Hoover, high honors; Dylan Jones-Wrisley, high honors; Brady Kilchermann, honors; Michaelann Turner, honors. 

 

Certificate – Medical Assistant 

Howard City 

Jan Harmon. 

 

Certificate – Skilled Trades – Machinist 

Fenwick 

James Brumbley, honors.  

 

Certificate – Welding Technology 

Lowell 

Adam Yuhas, honors. 

 

Pewamo 

Clyde Hawbaker, honors. 

 

Media contact:
Shelly Springborn
Director of Communications and Public Relations
shellys@montcalm.edu
989-560-0833