The Foundation at Monroe County Community College has awarded the LaVerne B. Norton Scholarship to Sara Ackerman, Mark Anderson, Matti Barnier, Jennifer Bartley, Lisa Cain, Tyler Dean, Savannah Dorey, Leslie Estep, Tristen Hall, Jennifer Johns, Jane Miller, JoAnn Mills and Danielle Raasch. Each $2,200 scholarship is to be used for tuition, books, and fees.
Ackerman, of Monroe, earned her GED from the Learning Bank in 2017. She is studying nursing at MCCC with plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Eastern Michigan University. She is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and MCCC Gay Straight Alliance. She volunteers for soup kitchens, disaster relief efforts and other fundraisers in the community, as well as being a LGBTQ+ and human rights advocate. She is the wife of Reese Ackerman and mother of Jovanni Ackerman.
Anderson, of Newport, is a 2018 graduate of Oscar A. Carlson High School. He is currently studying construction management technology at MCCC. He is the son of Dawn Anderson and Mark Anderson.
Barnier, of Maybee, is a 2020 graduate of Dundee High School. She is studying nursing at MCCC. She serves as her class representative to the nursing program and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa honors society. In addition, she is a participant in the Miss Monroe Scholarship Program where her service initiative is A Purple Mindset, a suicide prevention and mental health awareness non-profit organization she established. Matti is the daughter of Sarah Barnier and Todd Barnier.
Bartley, of Temperance, is a 1999 graduate of Mason High School. She is studying nursing at MCCC. She currently works as a certified nurse assistant while pursuing her associate of science degree and plans to transfer to Eastern Michigan University to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. She was actively involved with 4H for 11 years showing animals and continues to volunteer as a leader. She is the mother of Perry Bartley.
Cain, of Monroe, is a 2021 graduate of Success Virtual Learning Center. She is studying nursing at MCCC. Lisa is the daughter of the late Wendy Cain and mother of Xavier Cain and Tavion Anderson.
Dean, of Newport, is a 2021 graduate of Southgate Asher High School. She is currently enrolled in general studies courses at MCCC in preparation to transfer and earn a degree leading to a career in medical research and medical laboratory technology. Tyler has had his art published in the college literary magazine, Images. Tyler is the son of Paul Dean and Tiffany Burkhart..
Dorey, of Newport, is a 2018 graduate of Airport High School. She hopes to earn two different associate degrees from MCCC in criminal justice and pre-health science and plans to combine the knowledge from these studies to attend a four-year university and embark on a career in criminal psychology. She is an honor roll student, donates regularly to the American Red Cross, has been a bell-ringer for the Salvation Army, and assists families in securing services from food pantries, applying for aid and finding childcare. Savannah’s daughter is Zahra Alkaaby.
Estep, of Newport, is a 1999 graduate of Fraser High School. She is currently studying nursing at MCCC and was employed as a preceptor at in the inpatient behavioral health unit at St. Joseph/Trinity Health in Ann Arbor. Her parents are Mary Collins and the late Patrick Collins and is the wife of Michael Lynch and mother to Michael, Marissa and Ethan.
Hall, of Monroe, is a 2024 graduate of Monroe High School. She is studying computer and information assurance at MCCC with plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree at a four-year university. During high school she was involved in the CyberPatriot Program and The National Youth Cyber Defense Competition. She is the daughter of Diana Gardner-Wells and the late Terrence Hall.
Johns, of Ottawa Lake, is a 1998 graduate of Whiteford High School. She is taking general studies courses in preparation to transfer to a four-year university to explore her interest in human services and organizational leadership. She has been involved in the community working with Children’s Advocacy Network and AmeriCorps Retired Senior Volunteer Program, both programs she became aware of in her role as a liaison in the Monroe Public Schools Student Services Department. Jennifer is the daughter of Jill and Michael Farrell III and mother to Sage and Penelope Johns.
Miller, of Monroe, is a 2020 graduate of Trenton High School. She is studying in the Automotive Service Technology program at MCCC. She has participated in many clean-up projects and service projects helping the homeless in the community. She is the daughter of Mary Miller and mother of Marcus Roberts.
Mills, of Monroe, is a 1988 graduate of Wauseon (OH) High School. She is currently studying fine art at MCCC and is a member of the MCCC Art Club. JoAnn has had her art displayed through the state of Ohio and the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery. She is the daughter of Don and the late Jean Graber.
Raasch, of Ida, is a 2004 graduate of Monroe High School. She is in the Registered Nurse program at MCCC. She is active in the Student Nurse Association and participates in numerous community service projects through SNA including those for the Humane Society of Monroe and collecting supplies for patients in the psychiatric unit at Flower Hospital in Toledo. In addition, she is actively involved in activities at her daughter’s, school. Danielle is the mother to Evalee Roach.
To be eligible for this scholarship, a student must maintain part-time enrollment status of six credit hours or more, demonstrate financial need and/or be a student with academic promise. Preference will be given to students who are residents of Monroe County and are single parents or students raised in a single-parent household.
For more information on available scholarships and financial aid, visit https://www.monroeccc.edu/financial-aid or contact the MCCC Financial Aid Office at (734) 384-4135. If you are interested in information about funding a scholarship, contact The Foundation at MCCC at (734) 384-4214.