2024 Award Winner: Ruth Kelly
Ruth Kelly has had many careers in her life. She credits GRCC with building a foundation for all those roles by allowing her to explore different interests and introducing her to new perspectives.
Ruth earned her associate’s degree from GRCC, then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in political and social sciences and education from Aquinas College, followed by a certificate in Montessori education and a master’s in educational technology from Grand Valley State University.
From there, her life has been a story of public service. She worked in GRPS for 20 years, first as a Montessori teacher and later as a middle school teacher. Working as a community organizer on political campaigns and initiatives inspired her to run for a seat on the City Commission, and she was elected to represent the 2nd Ward from 2010-2019. Her wisdom, calm demeanor, friendly smile and determined attitude are consistent hallmarks of her service to the entire community.
The Ruth and Carl Kelly Public Service Scholarship, established by her brother and his wife, carries on Ruth’s legacy. It encourages students with financial need, especially new Americans, to serve the public through enlightened decision-making based in solid and continuing education.
About the Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the highest honor bestowed upon a former student of Grand Rapids Community College. The award recognizes former Grand Rapids Community College or Grand Rapids Junior College students who, through their distinction in their chosen field of endeavor, service to society, and dedication and loyalty to the college, exemplify the core values of Accountability, Diversity, Excellence, Innovation, Integrity, Respect, Responsiveness, and Sustainability.
Nominations for the GRCC Distinguished Alumni Award are accepted on an on-going basis. All nominations are kept and reviewed annually, with the winner being selected in January of each year. The 2025 award-winner will be recognized for their achievements at the 2025 Commencement Ceremony. For more information, contact Jenna Mencarelli, Development Manager of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, at (616) 234-3205 or jennamencarelli@grcc.edu.
Distinguished Alumni Nomination Form
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
2020 to 2024
| Year | Recipient | Title | Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ruth Kelly | Educator and Public Servant | GRPS and City of Grand Rapids |
| 2023 | Olivia Margo Anderson | Educator | GRPS |
| 2022 | Loyd Winer | Engineer | Newhof and Winer Inc. |
| 2021 | Sekou Smith | Journalist | NBA |
| 2020 | Dr. Nkechy Ekere Ezeh | Associate Professor of Education and Director of Early Childhood Education Program | Aquinas College |
2019 to 2000
| Year | Recipient | Title | Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Teresa Weatherall Neal | Superintendent | Grand Rapids Public Schools |
| 2018 | Jane Doyle | Veteran,Women’s Air Force Service Pilot | 75 |
| 2017 | Dr. Scott Haraburda | Retired Colonel | U.S. Army |
| 2016 | Dirk Hoffius | Lawyer | Varnum LLP |
| 2015 | Terri A. Handlin | Board of Trustees (1991-2013) Administrator |
Grand Rapids Community College Forest Hills Public Schools |
| 2014 | John A. Hallacy | Chief Judge | 10th Judicial District Court, Battle Creek, MI |
| 2013 | Kevin Belk | Chief of police | Grand Rapids Police Department |
| 2013 | Tom Rademacher | Columnist | The Grand Rapids Press |
| 2012 | Dr. Kevin O'Neill | Superintendent | Coopersville Public Schools |
| 2011 | James V. Buzzitta, M.D. | Founder Chief executive officer |
Michigan Medical P.C. Hughes Management |
| 2011 | Janice L. Maggini | Board of Trustees (1991-2011) Administrator |
Grand Rapids Community College Wyoming Public Schools |
| 2010 | Dave Custer | President Chairperson |
Custer Workplace Interiors Board of Directors, GRCC |
| 2009 | Gary Schenk | Board of Trustees(1997-2009) Lawyer |
Grand Rapids Community College Schenk, Boncher, Rypma P.C. |
| 2008 | George Lessens | Chief meteorologist | WZZM 13 |
| 2007 | Jim McKay | Chairperson | West Michigan Northern Trust Bank |
| 2006 | Bill Hardiman | Senator | 29th District, State of Michigan |
| 2006 | Michael Sak | State representative, Speaker pro tempore |
House of Representatives, State of Michigan |
| 2005 | Edward "Ned" Fenlon | Attorney | State representative and Circuit Court Judge |
| 2004 | Dr. Donald R. Boyer | Provost and vice president of Academic and Student Affairs | Grand Rapids Community College |
| 2003 | Sara J. Smolenski | Chief judge | 63rd District Court |
| 2002 | John Selmon | Senior vice president | Davenport University |
| 2001 | Steven Pestka | State Representative | House of Representatives, 76th District State of Michigan |
| 2000 | Donald Maine | President | Davenport University |
1999 to 1990
| Year | Recipient | Title | Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Dr. Robert J. LaPenna | Cardiologist | Borgess Cardiology Group |
| 1998 | Gary Goode | Partner | Arthur Anderson |
| 1997 | Howard Stovall | Attorney | Baker & McKenzie |
| 1996 | Armen Oumedian | Senior vice president | Pinnacle Automation Inc. |
| 1995 | Beverly Drake | Executive Director | Area Community Services Employment and Training Council |
| 1994 | Dr. William LaPenna | Cardiologist | Borgess Cardiology Group |
| 1993 | Billie Alexander | Director | Project Rehab |
| 1993 | Wallace "Pete" DeMaagd | Columnist | The Grand Rapids Press |
| 1992 | Myrna Granderson | Health services manager | Grand Rapids Job Corps Center |
| 1992 | Gary J. Horton | Executive vice president, creative services | D'Arcy Masius Benton and Bowles |
| 1991 | Richard Reid |
Foreign language instructor |
Grand Rapids Community College |
| 1991 | James Robinson | Partner President |
Honigman Mill Schwartz and Cohn State Bar of Michigan |
| 1990 | Sara E. Glover | Nurse | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 1990 | William C. Woodson | Director of Graduate Studies in English | Illinois State University |
1989 to 1980
| Year | Recipient | Title | Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Joseph Shears | Coordinator | Veterans facility |
| 1988 | Winfred Ferrell | Computer consultant | New York, NY |
| 1988 | The Rev. Russell McConnell | Founder | Grand Rapids Area Center for Ecumenism (GRACE) |
| 1987 | Dr. Richard M. Tooker | Physician | Kent County Health Department |
| 1987 | Audrey Wright | Educator | East Grand Rapids High School and Louisiana State University |
| 1986 | Dr. Kenneth Fellows, Jr. | Educator | Harvard Medical School |
| 1986 | Hugh D. Hammerslag | Partner | Seidman & Seidman |
| 1985 | Harry Bloem | Executive vice president | Bissel Inc. |
| 1985 | Dr. Robert Gill | Educator, cartoonist | Grand Rapids Public Schools |
| 1985 | William Lewis | Educator | University of Michigan |
| 1984 | David Cope | Poet, English instructor | Grand Rapids Junior College |
| 1984 | Roy Roberts | Executive and civic leader | General Motors Corp. |
| 1984 | Vern Terpstra | Professor emeritus | International Business, University of Michigan |
| 1983 | Marvin DeWinter | Architect | DeWinter Associates Inc. |
| 1983 | George Nelson | Superintendent | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 1983 | Caroll Streeter | Community leader | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 1982 | Helen Morsink | Instructor | Central Michigan University |
| 1982 | O. Steward Myers | Instructor | Grand Rapids Junior College |
| 1982 | David E. Post | Architect | Post Associates Inc. |
| 1981 | Abe Drasin | Mayor | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 1981 | Bonnie Marris | Wildlife artist | Saranac, MI |
| 1980 | Gerald A. Elliott | Writer | The Grand Rapids Press |
| 1980 | Calvin Jeter | Administrator, businessman | Grand Rapids, MI |
1979 to 1964
| Year | Recipient | Title | Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Dorothy L. Judd | Educator and civic leader | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 1979 | John P. Steketee | Presiding judge | Kent County Juvenile Court |
| 1978 | Carl Morgenstern | President | Old Kent Bank |
| 1978 | Marjorie Shepard | Principal | South High School |
| 1978 | Adrian Swets | Composer, playwright and designer | Grand Rapids Junior College |
| 1977 | Elias Lumpkins | Dean of Students | Grand Rapids Junior College |
| 1977 | Jo Ellen Stuit | President of Alumni Association | Grand Rapids Junior College |
| 1977 | Werner Veit | Editor and publisher | The Grand Rapids Press |
| 1976 | John D. B. Luyendyk | Lawyer | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 1976 | Lumen Martin Winter | Artist, sculptor and muralist | New York, NY |
| 1975 | Dr. Clarence A. Boonstra | Foreign service officer Ambassador |
U.S. Government Costa Rica |
| 1975 | The Rev. Robert Hesse | Catholic missionary | Holy Cross Fathers, Ankole, Uganda |
| 1975 | Dr. Jerome F. Mancewicz | Physician | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 1975 | Dr. Theresa R. Palaszek | Obstetrician and gynecologist | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 1974 | Richard L. Cooper | Journalist, Pulitzer Prize | Rochester, NY |
| 1974 | Dr. Isla G. Depree | Physician | For Myers, FL |
| 1973 | Dr. James A. Ferguson | Physician | Ferguson Hospital |
| 1973 | Elizabeth Wilson | Actress | Broadway stage, screen, and television |
| 1972 | Edward Goebel | Industrialist | Holland, MI |
| 1972 | Ray E. Stevens, Jr. | Dentist and photographer | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 1971 | Dr. Harvey M. Andre | Surgeon | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 1971 | Dr. Henry A. Bruinsma | Educator | Calvin College |
| 1970 | Dr. Ray B. Loeschner | President | Olivet College |
| 1970 | Arthur S. Nicholas | Founder | Leon Chemicals Inc. |
| 1969 | Dr. Russell N. DeJong | Neurologist | University of Michigan |
| 1969 | Vernor H. Eman | Dentist | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 1968 | Dr. Bernadine DeValdis | Physician | Holland, MI |
| 1968 | Christian Sonneveldt | Mayor | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 1967 | The Rev. John M. Burgess | Bishop | Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts in Boston |
| 1967 | Dr. Howard J. Schaubel | Orthopedic surgeon | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 1966 | Dr. Gould A. Andrews | Surgeon and administrator | Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies |
| 1966 | The Rev. Robert j. Lignell | Minister | Faith Lutheran Church |
| 1965 | Harry E. Cheesebrough | Product Planning and Development | Chrysler Corp. |
| 1965 | George Huebner | Director of research | Chrysler Corp. |
| 1965 | Dr. Jay L. Pylman | Superintendent | Grand Rapids Public Schools |
| 1965 | Dr. Clarence Straatsma | Professor | Plastic and reconstructive surgery, New York Medical College |
| 1964 | John T. Bargert | Engineer | Bell Telephone Laboratories |
| 1964 | E. Ray Baxter | Dean | Grand Rapids Junior College |
| 1964 | Russell Christopher | Musician | Metropolitan Opera |
| 1964 | Edward N. Cole | Industrialist and executive | General Motors Corp. |
| 1964 | R. Hiley Davis | Industrialist | American Seating Co. |
| 1964 | Lawrence J. Fuller | Brigadier general | U.S. Army |
| 1964 | Richard M. Gillett | Chairman | Old Kent Bank |
| 1964 | Arnold Gingrich | Publisher | Esquire |
| 1964 | Dr. John Hannah | President | Michigan State University |
| 1964 | Dr. Andrew Kosten | Minister | Ridgefield Park, NJ |
| 1964 | Robert Lindquist | Banker | Harris Trust and Savings |
| 1964 | K. William Stinson | Congressman | U.S. House of Representatives |