Courtesy Photo On July 17, Madeleine McConnell, center, is seen receiving her 2025 Rural Recovery Hero of the Year Award at the Rural Michigan Opioid and Substance Use Summit. Joyce Fetrow, Northern Michigan Opioid Response Consortium project director, is pictured at left, and John Barnas, Michigan Center for Rural Health executive director, at right.

ALPENA — Sunrise Centre CEO Madeleine McConnell was recently honored with an award that recognizes advocacy for substance use and opioid use disorder recovery in rural Michigan.

McConnell was honored with the 2025 Rural Recovery Hero of the Year Award during the Rural Michigan Opioid and Substance Use Summit, according to a Michigan Center For Rural Health press release.

The release states that the award was presented by Joyce Fetrow, Northern Michigan Opioid Response Consortium (NMORC) project director. NMORC is a project of the Michigan Center for Rural Health.

Fetrow stated in the release that the award “recognizes individuals who are true advocates for substance use and opioid use disorder recovery in rural Michigan.”

Recipients are celebrated for their tireless efforts to reduce stigma, expand access to treatment, and build supportive environments for individuals and families affected by substance use, according to the release. McConnell was one of 22 individuals nominated, each recognized for their efforts to support individuals, families, and communities affected by substance use and opioid use disorder.

The release states that McConnell “exemplifies these qualities through her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing recovery services in northern Michigan.”

McConnell told The News that receiving the award and a Senatorial Recognition came as a surprise.

“I was honored and humbled to be recognized in such a meaningful way,” McConnell said. “Over the last decade I have poured my heart into contributing to improved access and programming across the region. It has been a collaboration amongst many, many providers, so it is definitely a ‘we’ thing not a ‘me’ thing and I have been very grateful to be able to support the many projects brought to this area.”

McConnell explained that she has partnered with several service agencies across the region.

“Over the past 10 years, from the ER, health clinics, Jails, to EMS … none of these projects could exist without the community partners that have actively contributed,” she said.

McConnell stated that though the Sunrise Centre has contributed much to the community, there is still more to be done to address the recovery needs of community members.

“We continue to have a lot of work to do to enhance and improve the services that our community members deserve and to ensure that these communities are recovery supportive,” McConnell said.

She explained that since joining Sunrise Centre in late 2022 as the CEO, she has had “an incredibly meaningful experience” while supporting the agency and the clients they serve.

“Those we serve are the true heroes,” McConnell said. “They are the ones that work tirelessly every day to build a life in recovery, while continuing to jump over the many hurdles that continue to exis. They are the reasons that we continue to put this effort in.”

McConnell said that she normally works in the background, so receiving recognition is out of her comfort zone, but she is still proud to have her contributions recognized. She told The News she plans to transition out of her CEO role in the fall and return to private consulting.

“I will continue to collaborate with our community partners in new ways so that we can collectively continue to make a difference for those navigating the many challenges of substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions,” she said.

According to the Michigan Center for Rural Health press release, McConnell was nominated for the 2025 Rural Recovery Hero of the Year Award by Larry LaCross, CEO of Catholic Human Services, Inc.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.