Kellogg Community College is pleased to announce 16 recipients of the KCC Foundation’s Gold Key Scholarship – the College’s most prestigious scholarship – totaling up to $72,000 in total student funding for the 2025-26 academic year.
Gold Key Scholarships are awarded to full-time freshmen to recognize and encourage outstanding academic and personal achievement, leadership and community service. Recipients are awarded $4,500 each year for up to two academic years to use toward tuition, fees and books.
Applicants for the Gold Key Scholarships must be current high school graduates entering KCC as full-time students and have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 or higher. They must also demonstrate leadership experience, community and service activity and involvement in school activities.
“The Gold Key Scholarship is the most prestigious award offered by the KCC Foundation, and it plays a vital role in attracting and retaining talented students in our community,” Michelle Williamson, executive director of the KCC Foundation, said. “In addition to significant financial support, scholars gain valuable leadership training and become part of a close-knit cohort that learns and grows together. Through community service and campus involvement, these students give back in meaningful ways while developing the skills and connections that set them up for long-term success.”
The KCC Foundation’s 2025-26 Gold Key Scholars, entering KCC this fall as freshmen, include:
- Salli Abdo, of Coldwater, a Coldwater High School graduate. Abdo, who also attended the Branch Area Careers Center, plans to study health care and received the Edward P. and Katherine M. Bellas Gold Key Scholarship.
- Sofia Bailey, of Battle Creek, a Calhoun Christian School graduate. Bailey, who dual-enrolled at KCC, plans to study early childhood education and received the Virginia M. Hensley Gold Key Scholarship.
- Logan Bayer, of Hillsdale, a Hillsdale High School graduate. Bayer, who dual-enrolled at Jackson College, plans to study physical therapy and received the Virginia M. Hensley Gold Key Scholarship.
- Cassie Coleman, of Marshall, an Olivet High School graduate. Coleman, who dual-enrolled at KCC and also attended the Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center, plans to study business management and received the Lela M. Karcher Gold Key Scholarship.
- Ivan Egnatuck, of Marshall, a Marshall High School graduate. Egnatuck, plans to study nursing and received the Hugh McPherson Gold Key Scholarship.
- Madalynn Hubbell, of Hastings, a Lakewood High School graduate. Hubbell, who dual-enrolled at KCC, plans to study nursing and received the Mildred E. Hoover Gold Key Scholarship.
- Laney Johnson, of Houghton,a Houghton High School graduate. Johnson is a women’s volleyball player and plans to complete an associate degree at KCC; she received the Bertha and Marjorie Smith Gold Key Scholarship.
- Ava Lueck, of Battle Creek, a Calhoun Christian School graduate. Lueck plans to complete an associate degree at KCC and received the Bertha and Marjorie Smith Gold Key Scholarship.
- Clare Lussier, of Battle Creek, a St. Philip Catholic Central High School graduate. Lussier, who dual-enrolled at KCC and also attended the Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center, plans to study exercise science and received the Melvin H., Doris A. and Fovette E. Dush Gold Key Scholarship.
- Milena McDonald, of Marshall, a Marshall High School graduate. McDonald plans to study elementary education and received the Dean O. Barnum Gold Key Scholarship.
- Ryan Neff, of Battle Creek, a Pennfield High School graduate. Neff, who dual-enrolled at KCC, plans to study engineering and received the Lindsay B. Draime Gold Key Scholarship.
- Grace Otto, of Olivet, an Olivet High School graduate. Otto, who dual-enrolled at KCC, plans to study psychology and received the Dean O. Barnum Gold Key Scholarship.
- Alaina Pitale, of Battle Creek, a Lakeview High School graduate. Pitale, who dual-enrolled at KCC and also attended the Calhoun Area Career Center, plans to study nursing and received the Robert L. and Lois H. Brenner Gold Key Scholarship.
- Patrick Priesman, of Bellevue, an Olivet High School graduate. Priesman, who dual-enrolled at KCC and also attended the Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center and participated in 4-H, plans to study agricultural science and received the Lela M. Karcher Gold Key Scholarship.
- Jahia Wade, of Battle Creek, a Lakeview High School graduate. Wade, who also attended the Calhoun Area Career Center, plans to study nursing and received the Hugh McPherson Gold Key Scholarship.
- Arinn Wing, of Bellevue, a Bellevue High School graduate. Wing, who dual-enrolled at KCC and participated in 4-H and Future Farmers of America, plans to study agricultural science and received the Ethel Denton Groos Gold Key Scholarship.
For headshot photos of each scholarship recipient, email KCC Marketing Director Simon Thalmann at thalmanns@kellogg.edu. For more information about the KCC Foundation or Gold Key Scholarships or to contribute to scholarships, please contact KCC Foundation Executive Director Michelle Williamson at 269-965-4161 or visit kellogg.edu/foundation.
Pictured above is a mix of 2025-26 Gold Key and Board of Trustees scholarship recipients, pictured this summer on campus.
For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest press releases online at https://daily.kellogg.edu/category/news-releases.
