Courtesy photo LSSU Regional Students Attend Commencement on May 3, 2025.

ESCANABA — Eleven area residents have earned bachelor’s degrees from Lake Superior State University (LSSU). Graduates achieved their degrees through LSSU’s Escanaba/Iron Mountain Regional Center, which offers baccalaureate degree programs for students on Bay College campuses. Graduates walked at commencement on May 3.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting is Brooke Shirley of Bark River.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Entrepreneurship is Alissa Sanville of Gladstone.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Management is Gina Hosking of Ford River.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a generalist concentration are Antonia Nordeen of Gwinn and Emalee Pascoe of Escanaba.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education are Traci Corrigan of Bark River, Kelsey Dehanke of Gulliver, and Kayla Frazier of Escanaba. All three graduates also earned an associate in general studies, and Frazier also earned a certificate in social emotional learning.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Teacher Education are Kaitlin Malanowski of Gladstone, Elizabeth Rometti of Iron River, and Sarah Wachholz of DuPont, Washington. Malanowsi earned a concentration in grades 3-6, a special education minor, and an associate in general studies. Rometti earned a concentration in grades Birth-Kindergarten, and Wachholz earned a concentration in grades PreK-3.

Corrigan and Pascoe graduated with Cum Laude honors, earning a 3.50-3.69 cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale. Frazier, Malanowski, and Sanville graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors, earning a 3.90-4.00 cumulative GPA. Rometti, Shirley, and Wachholz graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors, earning a 3.70-3.89 cumulative GPA on a 4.00 scale.

“As a nontraditional student, I appreciate the online options that LSSU has to offer. If not for that, I would have been unable to complete my degree,” said Corrigan.

Students were taking classes at Bay College, which offers LSSU baccalaureate degree programs on Bay College’s campuses in Escanaba and Iron Mountain.

Founded in 1946, Lake Superior State University is a personal, small-town university that provides a superior blend of liberal and technical studies in the natural setting of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Situated amidst the stunning backdrop of three Great Lakes, LSSU offers an exceptional environment for research, innovation, and real-world experiences. LSSU athletics offers a dynamic mix of competitive spirit and school pride. LSSU utilizes a one-rate tuition system, regardless of the student’s place of origin.

LSSU’s Escanaba and Iron Mountain Regional Centers, housed on Bay College’s campus in those areas, offer a student-oriented approach to higher education. It features small class sizes, experienced faculty, and the ability to pursue your educational dreams close to home. LSSU’s regional centers and locations are committed to providing Northern Michigan-area residents educational opportunities for intellectual, personal, and professional growth. For more information, visit www.lssu.edu/regional-center/ or contact Heidi Rife at 906-217-4123 or hrife@lssu.edu.