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Mott Community College: MCC Recognizes Top Achievers For 2021 

Mott Community College honors its outstanding academic achievers for 2021. Awards include the College's top two honors, Honors College d ...

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Press release from Mott Community College:

Dawn Hibbard

Apr 27th, 2021

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Mott Community College honors its outstanding academic achievers for 2021. Awards include the College’s top two honors, Honors College diploma recipients and departmental award recipients.

Top honors awarded by MCC include the Phil Braun Award, the Paul Karr Cup, MCC Honors Program Diplomas, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society members and academic division awards. 

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The Phil Braun Award recipient for 2021 is Andrew Tolles, of Flint. The Phil Braun recognition is given annually to the student who has obtained the most outstanding academic achievement of all graduating students. The award was originally established in 1941 by Phil Braun, local businessman.

Tolles is graduating with an Associate’s Degree in General Studies, with a History focus, with a 4.0 GPA. He is a member of the Honors College and Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, Alpha Omicron Iota Chapter. Tolles works as a substitute teacher in Genesee County and offers tutoring services after school as a volunteer.

He will be transferring to UM-Flint to pursue a degree in Social Studies for Secondary Education. Future plans include a graduate degree. His career goals include teaching at the collegiate level.

The Paul Karr Award recipient for 2021 is Mickeely Dias, of North Branch. The Paul Karr Award is given each year to the graduate chosen to represent the class as its best citizen on the basis of scholarship, character and service. This honor is noted on the student’s permanent record.

Dias is graduating Mott Community College with an Associates in General Studies with a 3.9 GPS. She was awarded the 2019 Trustees’ Scholarship for her two years at MCC and she was named a 2021-22 Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact, a national student leadership organization focused on service. While at MCC she also worked as a Human Resources Assistant at Shively Brothers. Dias served as the Chapter President of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, Alpha Omicron Iota Chapter. She also served on the MCC President’s Student Advisory Council, and the Campus Life Enrichment Fund Committee.

Dias plans to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a focus on Human Resources at UM-Flint. Her career goal is to lead a Human Resource Department.

The Honors College Diploma is awarded to students who have completed a minimum of four honors sections including the Honors Colloquium, have completed all the criteria for an associate’s degree and are graduating with a 3.5 or better GPA. Students who will receive the Honors College Diploma at commencement are:

  • Megan Baugher, of Flint
  • Gabrielle Briscoe, of Fenton
  • Timothy Brooks, of Linden
  • Jazlynne Cathey, of Grand Blanc
  • Jessica Dequise, of Fenton
  • Mickeely Dias, of Flint
  • Molly Doty, of Flint
  • Olivia Gark, of Swartz Creek
  • Morgan Gilkes, of Burton
  • Hannah Green, of Linden
  • Halle Greenwald, of Fenton
  • Rebekah Harmon, of Flushing
  • Peyton Hobson, of Montrose
  • Airieal Jabiro, of Fenton
  • Kalynn Kennedy, of Byron
  • Carly Kozlowski, of Holly
  • Rachel Kuczera, of Flint
  • Carolann Lessnau, of Flushing
  • Lisa Lie, of Lapeer
  • Mitchell Phelps, of Columbiaville
  • Sophia Phillips, of Lapeer
  • Faith Raver, of Flint
  • Amiria Rouamba, of Burton
  • Tiffany Rouser, of Flint
  • Nikkita Salyers, of Davison
  • Kayla Spencer, of Imly City
  • Hunter Stephens, of Clio
  • Olivia Stoddard, of Linden
  • Darla Swanson, of Fenton
  • Jordan Taylor, of Grand Blanc
  • Therese Thelen, of Metamora
  • Bailey Thompson, of Flushing
  • Andrew Tolles, of Flint
  • Myrna Walters, of Lapeer
  • Sierra Wiencek, of Goodrich
  • Leighanna Wiskur, of Clio
  • Rebecca Witt, of Clio

    • Additionally, College divisions recognize students for academic performance. These awards are given at separate recognition ceremonies within the division or department and include:

    The Fine Arts & Social Sciences Division Awards are given annually to students in Fine Arts & Social Sciences disciplines, community members and outstanding faculty. Student awards criteria require the recipient to be a graduating sophomore, have at least a 3.0 overall GPA, they must have completed two or more classes within the discipline and have earned a 3.5 GPA in each of those classes. The 2021 awards and recipients are:

  • The Meredith Mead Memorial Award in Early Childhood Education is given to Brunette Takin, of Burton. 
  • The Psychology Award recipient is Jasmine Banks, of Saginaw.
  • The Media Arts & Entertainments Outstanding Student Award is given to Nicholas Morisette, of Davison.
  • The Outstanding Music Freshman Year Student is Kira Mailey-Parker, of Davison.
  • The Outstanding Music Sophomore Year Student award is given to Darren Maschino, of Flint and Eric “Will” Blake, Jr., of Swartz Creek.
  • The Criminal Justice Award is given to Justin Tomkinson, of Flint.
  • The Ginger Edwards Social Work Award is given to Sabrina Searles, of North Branch.

    • The Technology Division Awards are given annually to students enrolled in one of the technology-related occupational degree programs at MCC who exhibit outstanding effort and professionalism in their field of study. This year’s recipients are:

    Automotive Technology

  • Outstanding Graduate - Kristen Shannon, of Davison

    • CAD and Design Technology

  • Outstanding Graduate in CAD and Design - David Bengala, of Howell
  • Product Design Challenge First Place - Michael Tinnan, of Clio
  • ASBE Outstanding Design Student Recognition Scholarship - Scott Marx, of Grand Blanc

    • Electronics and Electrical Technology

  • Outstanding Graduate in Electronics and Electrical Technology - Ghassan Chaar, of Grand Blanc

    • Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology

  • Outstanding Graduate - Joshua Pankey, of Imlay City
  • Outstanding New Student - Nicholars Bentley, of Linden
  • Most Improved Student - Imad Odeh, of Flint

    • Information Technology

  • Skylar Aderhold, of Clio

    • Welding Technology

  • Timothy Fabian, of Lapeer

    • The STEM Scholars Program will graduate 12 scholars. MCC's STEM Scholars Program is for academically talented students interested in a STEM related field and who plan to attend college full-time completing an Associate in Science degree. They must maintain a 3.0 GPA. This year’s STEM Scholars are:

  • Nyrelle Boles-Lee, of Flint, Electrical Engineering
  • Steven Brown, of Grand Blanc, Computer Science
  • Jazlynne Cathey, of Grand Blanch, Bio-Chemistry
  • Jessica DeGuise, of Goodrich, Biology
  • Guadalupe Guerrero, of North Branch, Biology
  • Kilnesha Jamison, of Flint, Bio-Chemistry
  • Morgan King, of Grand Blanc, Biology
  • Juliana McGrane, of Flint, Bio-Chemistry
  • Summer McIntosh, of Flint, Bio-Chemistry
  • Aaron Moore, of Lennon, Physics
  • Brooke Read, of Flushing, Biology
  • Tyler Swaisgood, of Davison, Biology

    • Service Learning Awards:

    Four students were recognized this year for "Leadership in Sustaining Community Partnerships" during the pandemic. The student leaders are:

  • Mickeely Dias, of Flint, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society President and Campus Compact Newman Civic Engagement Fellowship Awardee, was recognized for her work to sustain the MCC partnership with Vicinia Gardens Assisted Living in Fenton through the Electronic Pen Pal Project.
  • Noel Halberstadt, of Flushing, President of the Dental Hygiene Club, recognized for helping to sustain the campus partnership with the Lenore Croudy Family Life Center at MCC through the Ellen's Closet Project.
  • Kathleen Mellinger, Swartz Creek, Social Work Intern, recognized for helping to sustain the campus partnership with the Lenore Croudy Family Life Center through the Mott Eats Food Pantry, and for launching the pilot Campus Peer Advocate Program, Connect 2 Complete.
  • Lawrence Phillips, of Grand Blanc, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Vice President of Service and Fundraising, recognized for his work sustaining the MCC Partnership with Carriage Town Ministries in Flint through a Service Saturday Project.

    • This press release was produced by Mott Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.

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