MCCA Recognition and Awards
The Michigan Community College Association honors recipients at the annual Summer Conference Awards Dinner.
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.
2025 Outstanding Alumnus Recipient: Rose Mary Wood Kalamazoo Community College
Past Outstanding Alumnus Recipients
| Year | Name | College |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Rose Mary Wood | Kalamazoo Valley Community College |
| 2024 | Randel Richner | North Central Michigan College |
| 2023 | Susanne Janis | Northwestern MI College |
| 2022 | Katherine Lorenzo | Macomb Community College |
| 2021 | Aisha Bowe | Washtenaw 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 |
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.
2025 Outstanding Faculty Recipient: Kristy McDonald, Northwestern Michigan College
Past Outstanding Faculty Recipients
| Year | Name | College |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Kristy McDonald | Northwestern Michigan College |
| 2024 | Jennifer Ott | Kalamazoo Valley Community 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 |
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.
2025 Outstanding Staff Recipient: Renee DeYoung, North Central Michigan College
| Year | Name | College |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Renee DeYoung | North Central Michigan College |
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.
2025 Special Recognition Recipient: Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Governor
Past Special Recognition Recipients
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan Governor |
| 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 |
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.
2025 Distinguished Service Recipient: Chancellor Peter Provenzano, Oakland Community College
Past Distiguished Service Awards
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Chancellor Peter Provenzano, Oakland Community College |
| 2024 | Trustee Robert Proctor, Lansing Community College |
A full listing of former MCCA Chairpersons can be found on our Executive Committee webpage.