Haylee Lenten

NEGAUNEE — When given the opportunity between two full tuition scholarships — Northern Michigan University or Central Michigan University — one Negaunee graduate decided to stay local.

That student, Haylee Lenten, applied to many Michigan schools’ presidential scholarships.

She was accepted and offered two of them: CMU’s full tuition Centralis scholarship as well as NMU’s full ride Harden scholarship — but ultimately, CMU was no match for Lenten’s love for the Upper Peninsula.

There were 561 participants this year, according to NMU Admissions officer Katie Hooper, all with at least a 3.5 grade-point average.

Their competition wasn’t any traditional test, though.

“The students really have to bring their whole selves to the competition…. They’re scored in a couple different areas,” Hooper said.

Students are put into small groups and given a problem to solve. The resulting discussion is monitored and each participant is scored based on how well they worked in the team setting.

After that, the student will be interviewed one-on-one with a faculty or staff member.

“They try to find out more about the student as a person so you have to have more than just good grades to do well in this competition, you have to be well rounded,” Hooper stated.

Based on that, Lenten was sure to stand out from the crowd.

“Every since I was a freshman,” she said, “I’ve joined as many extracurriculars as I could, like Business Professionals of America, Cheer (and) Solo and Ensemble.”

Academically, Lenten was just as determined.

“I took two math classes my freshman year, and I had all my graduation requirements as a junior. I always wanted to get ahead.”

Hooper, experienced in reading college applicant profiles, said, “She should be so proud that she created such wonderful options for herself. I’m really excited that she decided Northern is the place she wants to be this fall.”

Lenten’s plans for college and her future career are still foggy, but she plans to start out double majoring in music and political science or pre-law.

Ultimately, her decision was a result of her love for the place she grew up and thrived in.

“I talked a lot about what the community I grew up in meant to me. I love Marquette, and I love our small-town feel,” she said. “If I went to Northern, that meant I could still participate in the Marquette and Negaunee city bands and be raised further by this beautiful city.”