March 15, 2023 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Three nontraditional students are representing Grand Rapids Community College on this year’s All Michigan Academic Team.
Each college campus may nominate up to four students – two from workforce and two from transfer programs – for Phi Theta Kappa’s All Michigan Academic Team. Students on the state teams have the opportunity to be named to the All-USA Academic Team and are eligible for awards and scholarships.
All Michigan Academic Team members were recognized this week during a ceremony in East Lansing sponsored by the Michigan Community College Association and PTK, the international honor society for community colleges.
The GRCC students on the team are:
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Kim Budde, who excels at her Business studies while working full time as a senior manager; serving as an Honors ambassador and vice president of Alpha Upsilon Kappa, GRCC’s PTK chapter; volunteering with various organizations; and living up to her grandsons’ nickname of “Grandma Fun.” She received the 2022 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship and has been on GRCC’s President’s and Dean’s lists multiple times.
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Melissa Sue Gheorghiu, who has completed GRCC’s Honors Program and is involved with the Psi Beta Honors Society for psychology students and TRIO Student Support Services, a program for first generation college students. A single mother of three, she has been on the Dean’s List every semester since she enrolled. She is a chapter officer for Alpha Upsilon Kappa and serves on the PTK bylaws committee for the Michigan region. She is a semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship and received a GRCC Salute to Women award this year. She will start a combined bachelor’s and master’s program in finance at the University of Michigan next fall.
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Jodi Holland, who is turning her love of baking into a career through the Michigan Reconnect program. She started pursuing her Associate in Culinary Arts, with a Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate, in summer 2021 and will graduate this fall. Despite working full time, she has made the President’s List. She was mentioned by name in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2022 State of the State address and has met with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II about the Reconnect program.
“Jodi, Kim and Melissa are amazing students, and we’re proud to have them represent Grand Rapids Community College and Alpha Upsilon Kappa on the All Academic Michigan Team,” said Lynnae Selberg, associate professor and advisor to GRCC’s PTK chapter.