Courtesy photo Kyle Kelly receives award certificate from Bay College Faculty Association President and Scholarship Committee Chair Molly Campbell. Not pictured is second scholarship award winner Kathryn Peterson.

ESCANABA — Full-time faculty members of the Michigan Education Association (MEA) at Bay College are announce their annual Faculty Association Scholarship award winners for fall semester 2021. The Faculty Scholarship was established with the Bay College Foundation to recognize both the academic achievement and the unmet financial need of current Bay College students. In doing so, it also serves to increase student retention at Bay College. The fund provides two scholarships of $500 each that are awarded to current students who return to Bay College in the Fall semester.

Kyle Kelly and Kathryn (Kate) Peterson were selected by the faculty association as the two award recipients this year.

Kyle Kelly will be graduating this December from Bay College with an associate in arts degree in liberal arts and an associate in arts degree in criminal justice. He plans to continue his education at Lake Superior State University. Kelly is a member of the MEA-Affiliated Aspiring Educators Club and is active in many groups on campus. He currently holds a 3.98 GPA. Kelly stated, “I’m so honored to be selected for this scholarship award. The faculty and staff at Bay College are all amazing, and I have truly enjoyed my time at Bay.”

Kate Peterson is pursuing an associate in arts degree and maintains a 3.89 GPA. After completing her degree, she plans to move to Alaska to work for her uncle’s business. She expressed her appreciation for the scholarship stating, “This scholarship is such an honor to receive. Bay College wants their students to succeed, and it shows in everything they do to help students.”

To be eligible for the award, students must have completed 24 or more Bay College credits with a 3.0 GPA or higher, and have applied for Bay College scholarships. The Faculty Scholarship is unique in that the selection occurs after the regular scholarship award process has been completed.

Faculty Association Scholarship Committee Chair Molly Campbell explained the purpose of this process. “The Faculty Association wanted to design a distinctive scholarship that would reward our wonderful current students who are still working hard to complete their degrees at Bay College. We are so proud of these students and all they have accomplished while at Bay, and we really want to ensure that they have the opportunity to stay and finish their Bay College degrees.”