Kathy Vought

ALPENA — When longtime Alpena Community College staffer Kathy Vought passed away suddenly on July 23, friends, family, students and coworkers were shocked.

The 64-year-old had dedicated over 30 years of her life working in the ACC Registrar’s Office, where she connected with many students over the years.

Vought’s friend since childhood, Paul Baker, wanted to do something very special to honor the legacy of a woman who dedicated her life to serving others. He decided to look into starting a scholarship in Vought’s name, and with the help of Sue Fitzpatrick and the ACC Foundation, the scholarship has been established.

“She was extremely kind to everyone she met,” Baker said of Vought.

He said he asked himself, “How do we remember her for all those good deeds that didn’t necessarily always get recognized?”

A scholarship seemed like a very fitting way to do just that.

Baker explained that the scholarship is available to any ACC student in any program, either part-time or full-time. He said it is currently for $500 per year, and the only stipulation is that it should go to someone in need. Baker added that it is an endowed scholarship, so as more donors give to the fund, it will grow and the amount awarded each year can increase.

“Kathy worked in the registrar’s office for at least three decades,” ACC President Don MacMaster said. “She was a lovely, competent, phenomenal people person. Much beloved by her coworkers, and respected, and did a great job with students. In every way, she was a delight to have as part of the ACC team. She treated people beautifully. She was a positive spirit. She always had a smile on her face.”

MacMaster said she was reliable and hard-working.

“She believed in what we’re trying to do here and how we can help students change the trajectory of their lives,” MacMaster said. “She was just a wonderful presence.”

He called the scholarship “a perfect gesture.”

“Kathy loved to grow things, and that’s what we do here, collectively,” MacMaster said. “Students come and they have aspirations and dreams, which are, kind of, organic, growing, living things, and we help them attain those goals. So, a scholarship is really the ultimate planting a seed.”

He said the scholarship will offer an opportunity to students who may not otherwise be able to attend college.

“This is something I think Kathy would be entirely aligned with,” MacMaster added.

Vought’s mother, Regina “Reggie” Vought, agreed that Kathy would be glad about the scholarship.

“I know Kathy would be happy,” Vought said. “I know that she loved those kids.”

She said she and her daughter shared the gift of genuinely caring about people.

“She was like me,” Reggie Vought said. “Sympathetic to everyone.”

She said so many people came to Kathy’s funeral that it was overwhelming, yet a blessing to see all the people she had an impact on.

“This scholarship is probably the greatest thing we could have done for her,” Reggie Vought said. “It will be good for years to come.”

She added that Kathy told her all the time how much she enjoyed working at ACC because of her coworkers and the students.

“She was a beautiful person, and it’s a beautiful gesture,” MacMaster said. “So that’s the best we can take from this sad circumstance. But clearly, she was a beloved person. We feel fortunate to have had her around, and we are grateful for what she did, and we want to honor her.”

Reach News Community Editor Darby Hinkley at 989-358-5691 or dhinkley@TheAlpenaNews.com.