Local students earn honors, graduate from Ferris State University, Kendall College of Art and Design

Many local students earned honors at Ferris State University and Kendall College of Art and Design for the semester ending in May 2020. Some local students also graduated from FSU and Kendall.

Those who earned academic honors included the following local students who were among the more than 4,500 students earning a 3.5 or higher grade-point average achieved with a minimum of 12 credit hours at the 100 level or higher.

Alpena: Ella Brownell, Eric Brownell, Noah Kent, Kourtney Jones, Emily Code, Sydney Heise, Lauren Smith, William Rings, Lexxis Klee, Sarah Lijewski, Camden Cosbitt, Maija Aikens, Andrew Grabiel, a 2016 Alpena High School graduate in the College of Pharmacy, Emily Chrzan and Kiara Frank. Danielle Perez, a 2003 graduate of Alpena High School, majoring in Elementary Education, earned a 4.0.

Glennie: Brandon Sweet.

Hillman: Trevor Roznowski, Delton Ableidinger, Jake Kangas, Jay Webster and Eden Hunt.

Hubbard Lake: Chloe Lacombe.

Lewiston: John Michael Lortet, RaeAnn Kievit and Sarah Korff.

Millersburg: Whittnie Smillie and Destanae Smillie.

Onaway: Audrey Oberlin, Bradley Moore, Jordan Bischer and Samantha Pasella.

Ossineke: Morgan Woloszyk.

Posen: Noelle Strzelecki and Erin Zaborney.

Rogers City: Hannah Dittmar, Katelyn Beebe and Alana Wirgau.

The following local graduates were among the more than 1,700 earning degrees and certificates from Ferris State University and Kendall College of Art and Design.

Alpena: Noah Kent, double majoring in Business Administration and Marketing; Michael Mischley, majoring in Welding Engineering Technology; Aubrey Dyer, majoring in Business Administration; Sydney Heise, majoring in Dental Hygiene; William Rings, majoring in Criminal Justice; Emily Code, majoring in Dental Hygiene, and Emily Chrzan, majoring in Gerontology.

Hillman: Jay Webster, majoring in Welding Engineering Technology; and Delton Ableidinger, majoring in Welding Technology.

Lewiston: RaeAnn Kievit, majoring in Welding Technology; and Sarah Korff, majoring in Mathematics Education.

Millersburg: Destanae Smillie, majoring in Biology.

Posen: Austin Chojnacki, majoring in Criminal Justice.

Rogers City: Sarah Meredith, majoring in Marketing.

Presque Isle student among winners at FEMA conference

ALMA — At the time Taylor Alexander, of Presque Isle, Alexander Kingsley, of Grand Ledge, and Quinton Moeggenborg, of Elwell, created their project for the Emergency Management Higher Education Symposium, they did not know how much it would fit in with the theme of future events. Tragically, it did.

The three Alma College students won the Overall People’s Choice award for their project, “Equitable Disaster Relief Can be Hindered by Appearance,” at the 22nd annual symposium, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), on June 1-4.

The students’ project — a poster illustrating how first responders in emergencies can be subject to racial and gender biases — was completed long before protests erupted throughout the United States following the death of George Floyd, a Black man, at the hands of a white police officer, on May 25. Kingsley said the project ended up fitting an unfortunate theme of prejudice that can affect everyone, regardless of profession.

“It’s terrible that biases occur in first responders, but they do, and we need to be aware of it so we can recognize it, and learn, grow and improve as a society. Growing up, I dealt with a lot of prejudice,” said Kingsley, a Latino American and sophomore at Alma College. “Unfortunately, that’s how it was. But it doesn’t always have to be.”

The symposium is normally held at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg, Maryland, but was entirely online this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alexander said although it was disappointing to not be able to travel and take part in the event in-person, it was still special to win the award.

“This was my first year presenting and I was incredibly nervous. I didn’t think I was prepared for the questions (judges) would ask. It turns out I was wrong for doubting my own abilities,” Alexander said. “Winning the award made me feel like I do know what I’m doing, my hard work is paying off and that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to.”