As the academic year comes to a close, Bay College’s TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program is celebrating a year of outstanding student achievement.
Throughout the year, TRIO students earned recognition in academic competitions, leadership events, campus presentations, and student awards.
Two TRIO students earned one of Bay College’s highest honors given to graduating students. Laura-Jean Bowers and Adrian Rhode were selected as Outstanding Graduates, an award given to one graduating student from each academic division. Outstanding Graduates are recognized at a college-wide awards dinner.
TRIO student Olivia Versailles was named Bay College’s Outstanding Student Employee of the Year. The award is presented annually to one student employee across the College.
TRIO student Abi Rich won Bay College’s Commencement Speaker Competition and was selected to speak during the College’s commencement ceremony on May 9, 2026.
Several TRIO students were also recognized during Bay College’s Poster Symposium. Adrian Rhode, Julie Rexford, James Maxwell, and Travis Mills received awards for their presentations and research efforts.
TRIO student Landon “Marcy” Dugree also earned statewide and national recognition through Business Professionals of America (BPA). At the BPA Collegiate State Leadership Conference, Dugree placed first in Digital Communication & Design Concepts and was part of the first-place Video Production team event. Dugree and the Video Production team later earned first place nationally at the BPA National Leadership Conference held in Nashville, Tennessee.
Five TRIO students — Destiny Lopez, Chad Drummonds, Travis Mills, Lara Ryan, and Gabrielle LeBeau — were selected as competitive statewide scholarship recipients through the Michigan College Access Program & Personnel (MICAPP). As part of the MICAPP Student Leadership Summit held in Lansing, the students also delivered speeches during the scholarship recognition ceremony.
“These recognitions reflect the amount of growth and work our students are putting in,” said Matt Stewart, Director of TRIO Student Support Services at Bay College. “A lot of students come to college unsure of themselves or uncertain about what they’re capable of. We get to watch them build confidence, develop their skills, and accomplish things they may not have imagined for themselves when they first started.”
“It’s exciting to watch students grow over time,” Stewart added. “Some of these students came into college hesitant to speak up in class, and now they’re presenting research, speaking in front of large groups, earning scholarships, and being recognized across campus. We’re really proud of the work they’ve put in and everything they’ve accomplished.”
Graduating TRIO students were recognized during Bay College’s commencement ceremony with red and white honor cords representing their participation in the program.
For more information about the TRIO Student Support Services program, go to baycollege.edu/trio, email program Director Matt Stewart at matt.stewart@baycollege.edu, or call (906) 217-4209.
About TRIO
The TRIO Student Support Services program at Bay College provides academic advising, transfer planning, mentoring, workshops, and other support services designed to help students succeed in college, graduate, and continue their education at four-year institutions.
About Bay College
Bay College is the community’s college with a mission of: Student Success, Community Success, and Culture of Success. Bay is devoted to each individual’s achievement in the classroom, on-campus, online, in the community and into the workforce by providing career certificates, associate degrees, transferable university credits, industry certifications, trainings, and professional development programs which develop skillsets, enrich individuals, and advance careers. #BayIsTheWay