MCCA Recognition and Awards

The Michigan Community College Association honors recipients at the annual Summer Conference Awards Dinner.

 
 
Outstanding Alumnus

Created in 1985, The Outstanding Alumnus Award is presented to an alumnus of one of our member institutions in recognition and appreciation of professional achievement, service to humanity, honors received and a strong commitment to the purpose and philosophy of the community college mission.

2024 Outstanding Alumnus Recipient: Randel Richner, North Central Michigan College

Photo of Outstanding Alumnus 2024 Award winner Ranel Richner

 

Past Outstanding Alumnus Recipients

Year Name College
2023 Susanne Janis Northwestern MI College
2022 Katherine Lorenzo Macomb Community College
2019 Pam Faris Mott Community College
2018 Diana McKnight-Morton Washtenaw Community College
2017 Terri Tchorzynski Muskegon Community College
2016 Louis Kasischke Delta College
2015 Douglas Estry Jackson College
2014 Steven Day Gogebic Community College
2013 Dick Shaink Mott Community College
2012 Karl Tomion St. Clair County Community College
2011 Andrew Feustel Oakland Community College
2010 Bart Supak Northwestern Michigan College
2009 Linda Davis Macomb Community College
2008 Woodrow Stanley Mott Community College
1987 William Frieder Grand Rapids Community College
1986 James McDivitt Jackson College
1985 John Hannah Grand Rapids Community College
Outstanding Faculty

The Outstanding Faculty Award is presented to a full-time teaching faculty colleague at one of our member institutions in recognition and appreciation of professional achievement, service to humanity, honors received and commitment to the purpose and philosophy to the community college mission.

2024 Outstanding Faculty Recipient: Jennifer Ott, Kalamazoo Valley Community College

Photo of Outstanding Faculty 2024 Award winner Jennifer Ott

 

Past Outstanding Faculty Recipients

Year Name College
2023 Coley McLean Schoolcraft College
2022 Claude Townsend Oakland Community College
2019 Ronald Sharp Delta College
2018 Kristi Laird Jackson College
2017 Tom Penird Washtenaw Community College
2016 Charles Bowden Mid Michigan College
2015 Mike Faleski Delta College
2014 Sheila Matthews Kellogg Community College
2013 Patricia Wallace-Little Wayne County Community College District
2012 Linda Spoelman Grand Rapids Community College
Outstanding Staff

Presented for the first time in 2025, the Outstanding Staff Award is presented to a full-time staff colleague from one of our member institutions who is also an active member of an MCCA affiliated affinity group and is presented in recognition and appreciation of professional achievement, service to humanity, honors received and commitment to the purpose and philosophy of the community college mission.

Special Recognition

The Special Recognition Award is presented on occasion in recognition and appreciation of exemplary contributions and commitment to supporting the mission of Michigan’s community colleges.

2024 Special Recognition Recipient: Thomas Butch, Bay College Trustee

Photo of Special Recognition 2024 Award winner Thomas Butch

 

Past Special Recognition Recipients

Year Recipient
2024 Thomas Butch, Trustee Bay College
2023 Conway Jeffress, President Emeritus Schoolcraft College
2022 Mike Hansen, President Emeritus Michigan Community College Association
2019 Michigan Colleges Online
2018 Walter Bumphus, President American Association of Community Colleges
2017 Kresge Foundation
2016 James Jacobs, President Macomb Community College
2015 Darwin Booher, State Senator
2014 Kay McClenney, Student Success
2013 Lenore Croudy, Trustee Mott Community College
2012 Mike Nofs, State Senator
2011 Fred Matthews, Trustee Southwestern Michigan College
2010 John Walsh, State Representative
2009 Richard Hammel, State Representative
Mark Jansen, State Senator
2008 Michael Wahl Michigan Colleges Online
Distinguished Service

The Distinguished Service Award is given in recognition and appreciation of outstanding service and leadership as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Michigan Community College Association.

2024 Distinguished Service Recipient: Trustee Robert Proctor, Lansing Community College

Photo of Outstanding Faculty 2024 Award winner Robert Proctor

 

A full listing of former MCCA Chairpersons can be found on our Executive Committee webpage.