ESCANABA — Full-time faculty members of the Michigan Education Association (MEA) at Bay College announce their annual Faculty Association Scholarship award recipients. The Faculty Association Scholarship was established with the Bay College Foundation to recognize both the academic achievement and the unmet financial need of current Bay College students. The fund provides two scholarships at $500 each. Karissa Sliva and Lauren Denney were selected by the Faculty Association as the two award recipients this past fall.

A member of the Army National Guard, Karissa Sliva is pursuing an Associate in Applied Science degree in Nursing, with an ultimate goal of becoming an OB nurse in a hospital setting. Karissa stated, “Bay has been incredible. I have enjoyed becoming close with my fellow nursing students and have made many new friends. Bay College is supportive and flexible, which is very important to me as a new mom.”

A graduate of Munising High School, Lauren Denney is pursuing an Associate in Arts degree in Social Work. She is on track to graduate in May 2024, and plans to transfer to Northern Michigan University. Lauren stated, “Bay College has been extremely supportive in my educational journey. As a first-generation college student, I was unsure on how to navigate the world of education. Being involved in TRIO has been a great experience, and with the help from my co-advisor, I have been able to obtain all the support that I need.”

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 Association Scholarship is unique in that the selection occurs after the regular scholarship award process has been completed. Faculty select their recipients from a pool of students who still have some unmet financial need not yet covered by other scholarships and/or financial aid.

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 current students who are still working hard to complete their degrees at Bay College. We are proud of these students and all they have accomplished while at Bay, and we want to ensure they have the opportunity to finish their educational journey at Bay College.”

Bay College students can apply for scholarships online at www.baycollege.edu/scholarships. Founded in 1972, the Bay College Foundation connects businesses, organizations, and individuals to the rewards of changing lives and advancing communities with investments in higher education. For more information on the Bay College Foundation, visit www.baycollege.edu/foundation, email foundation@baycollege.edu or call (906)-217-1700.