Southwestern Michigan College recognized 109 students who will graduate with honors at the college’s 44th commencement ceremony on May 7.
The annual Southwestern Michigan College Honors Reception, held Thursday in the Fred L. Mathews Conference Center East, showcased students who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
“Every year Southwestern Michigan College takes pride in the quality of education it is able to give its students,” said college President David Mathews, who welcomed the students and their families and friends to the event. “This quality speaks for itself by the number of students graduating with honors each year. It is SMC’s goal to ensure its students have a solid educational foundation when they transfer to another university or enter the workforce.”
Honor student Jacob Prahlow, of Galien, was named to the All-Michigan Academic Team and was recognized for his scholarly achievement. Prahlow, 19, is the son of Dr. Joseph Prahlow Sr. and Tamara Prahlow.
Carl Ross, SMC faculty, was guest speaker for the event. Musical entertainment was provided by the college’s Select Voices, directed by David Carew, SMC’s director of Choral Music.
Local honors grads include:

Cassopolis
Stephanie Conley
Karen Davidson
Sandra Duffield
Toby Hebron
Sierra Knepple
Michael McNeil
Heather Meadows
Megan Mitchell
Julie Schoff

Dowagiac
Jodi Badder
James Bolyard
Michael Conklin
Alyssa Cox
Andrew Hess
Patricia Humphreys
Frank Lemanski
Christina Mosher
Jaron Mosier
Joseph Ohlenbusch
Brenda Schuur
Ashley Smith
Elizabeth Spaulding
Chelsea Whiteoak
Shelby Willis

Edwardsburg
Bonnie Bolin
Brenda Clark
Jacob Gunn
Paul Harris
Jenelle Huskey
Michelle Maret
Kimberly Mechling
Charline Pethick
Rachel Sheeley
Ronald Spring
JoAnn Sunday
Tia Wilson

Niles
Rita Bolle
Stephanie Bowker
Crystal Burger
Jamie Conroy
Joshua Curtis
Bronson Davis
Julia Detrick
Adrienne Farmer
Matthew Ftacek
Sharon Geyer
Nathan Heiermann
Paula Hemminger
Leslie Hopper
Heather Jackson
Remitha Komaranchath
Jeremy Loucks
William McDonald
Kyle Muntz
Daphne Pontius
Helen Leona Rosenthal
Katrina Rosenthal
Judi Ross
William Scott
Regina VanGilder
Melinda Yakim