AMY CLICKNER

Normally, this time of year we would be busy with the hustle and bustle of the Lake Superior Community Partnership (LSCP) graduation season. This would be for the Lake Superior Leadership Academy (LSLA) and the Electrical Line Technician program. However, in the world we live in today, there were no graduation ceremonies. No opportunity to celebrate with the graduates. No speeches. No cake!

Lake Superior Leadership Academy (LSLA) has the mission of helping the leaders of today build skilled leaders for tomorrow. It is a project of the LSCP that is designed to educate and motivate emerging and potential leaders from within Marquette County, while helping them build important business networks and leadership skills.

With 454 graduates over the past 21 years, LSLA continues to make an impact on the development of our local communities. We are grateful to this year’s class, committee, day chairs and hosts as we near completion of the program.

This year’s LSLA class includes: Alex Eisner, ProEx Realty, Alison Neumann, VAST, Catherine Lightfoot, WLUC/TV6, Cole Zyburt, Range Bank, Emily Tardiff, LSCP, Eric Stocking, Upper Peninsula Power Company, Erin Lakenen, IBEW Local 906, Evan Bonsall, Marquette County, Jaime Houghton, Upper Peninsula Health Plan, Jeanne Avendt, Upper Peninsula Power Company, Jeff Korpi, Northern Michigan University, Jenifer Kilpela, Peter White Public Library, Jennifer Santer, Teaching Family Homes, Jessica Serman, Upper Peninsula Power Company, Katie Mechling, Thryv, Lindsay Haukkala, Northern Michigan University, Lisa M Petersen, Upper Peninsula Power Company, Mark Link, Marquette Board of Light and Power, Meghan Liles, State of Michigan- Michigan Rehabilitation Services, Melanie Allen, Marquette-Alger RESA, Michael Bradford, Travel Marquette, Michele Khouli, UP Health System – Marquette, Rachel Thomas, Northern Initiatives, Sarah Peurakoski, Superior Alliance for Independent Living (SAIL), Terri Williams, Northern Michigan University, and Theresa King, Marquette-Alger RESA.

The Class of 2021 application is now open at Marquette.org/lsla/. Please contact ashley@marquette.org with any questions. The deadline to apply is August 3, 2020.

Although the Electrical Line Technician students weren’t able to participate in a graduation ceremony in April, they have graduated from the program as the 17th class. The ELT Program is a joint effort between Northern Michigan University (NMU), the Lake Superior Community Partnership Foundation (LSCPF), and the Midwest Skills Development Center (MSDC). This one-year program trains students and provides them with the skills needed to install, maintain, and operate electrical systems for multiple industries.

Congratulations to those 37 students on their certification and all of their hard work.

This year’s ELT program graduates include: Andrew Allen, Peyton Anderson, Chris Autio, Dylan Berlinski, Noah Boehm, Jarrett Boldt, Colton Brunette, Ross Carr, James Eiseman, Noah Halley, Dillon Hankins, Colin Hass, Connor Hetrick, Ethan Hill, Zackary Jandreau, Austin Johnson, Grayson Johnson, Zach Kapusta, Luke Keelan, Anthony Klabunde, Andrew Kleikamp, Sam Leow, Jaden Lessard, Wyatt Loukus, Jake MacGregor, Trevor Nankervis, Ryan Outinen, Matthew Pillifant, Derrian Raffaelli, Dawson Rajala, Jack Rantanen, Landis Reynolds, Brandon Scroggs, Luke Stenfors, Austyn Tabbert, Jordan Truxton and Darren Wood.

Recruiting for both of these programs has already started for next year! For more information on the ELT Program or LSLA please contact the Lake Superior Community Partnership office or visit lscpfoundation.org.

On the topic of graduation, a special congratulations from the staff and board of directors of the Lake Superior Community Partnership to all college and high school seniors whose anticipated events and celebrations are differed or canceled. We wish you all the best in the next chapter of your lives and share in your sadness over the “lasts” you have missed.

Editor’s NOTE: Amy Clickner is CEO of the Lake Superior Community Partnership. Her twice-monthly column will address topics of interest to the local business community.