Alumni

2023

Thomas Evanson ΄67 and Nancy Evanson ΄68

Tom and Nancy Evanson have served Jackson County with distinction both professionally and personally for decades. Both started their higher education journeys at Jackson College after graduating from Michigan Center High School, and they are grateful for the foundation it provided.

“We are honored to receive this award and appreciate the fact that we were given the award as a couple. Neither of us could have done what we’ve done in community or in life without the other’s help or assistance.”

---

2022

Christopher Simpson

Class of 1998

Christopher Simpson brings a distinguished record with decades of service to our country and community. He served in the U.S. Army and the Michigan Army National Guard and served Jackson as a decorated police officer for 26 years. Most recently, he was appointed undersheriff of Jackson County in December 2020. Simpson has served his community in leadership roles for the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, Jackson Human Services Coordinating Alliance, Jackson YMCA, Jackson Community Foundation, Highfields, Jackson Chamber of Commerce, Jackson County NAACP, and the Jackson College Foundation. Simpson is routinely honored for his dedication to service, with numerous military medals and citations, police honors, and community recognitions.  

---

2021

Charles Birney

Class of 1954

Charles Birney grew up in Jackson and graduated from Jackson High School. He went on to attend and graduate from Jackson Junior College in 1954, where he ran track and enjoyed playing ping-pong at the John George Hall. He continued his educational journey at the University of Colorado (Boulder). Charles served in the Army, where he had the opportunity to attend a very intense military school and study state-of-the-art radar technology. 

Following his graduation from the University of Colorado, Charles returned to Jackson where he worked for the Republican Party until accepting a position with the City of Flint. Charles met his late wife, Helen Francis Murphy, during his career with the City of Flint and they were happily married until she passed away in 1995. He retired from the City of Flint after a successful career as the information technology department leader.  

Mr. Birney has a deep appreciation for the arts, especially opera, and is an avid golfer. He credits his start at Jackson Junior College for his lifetime achievements.  

---

2020

Woodrow Wilson, Jr.

Class of 1967

Professor Emeritus of History at Jackson College, Woodrow Wilson, Jr. continues to volunteer at the College and in the community. He’s a scholarship donor who created the Woodrow Wilson, Jr. Scholarship, and the College’s Multicultural Center in Bert Walker Hall is named in his honor.  

---

2019

Dr. Frederic Slete

Class of 1978

Slete has been making people smile in Jackson for more than 30 years! Whether it is his career or his community, this dentist gives his best each day. 

Serving patients in private practice since 1983, Slete has established himself at the local, state and national levels of his profession. With a personal belief that all professionals share a responsibility to be part of the success, vitality and growth of the community where they work, he is active in the local area. Slete has served the Jackson Hosts Lions Club, the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, Jackson Citizens for Economic Growth, Blackman Township Land Development Finance Authority (LDFA) Board, Jackson Community College Alumni Association, and the Jackson College Foundation Board of Directors. 

“I am honored, humbled and thankful to have been chosen for this award,” he said. “To be selected is quite an honor.” 

---

2018

Dr. Lewis “Keith” Yohn

Class of 1953

Yohn appreciates the support of the Jackson community in helping him become the professional he is today. He entered the Jackson Public School system in 1942 and graduated summa cum laude from Jackson High in 1951. Lady luck was looking out for him when the Jackson Women’s City Club awarded him a two-year academic scholarship to attend Jackson Junior College. 

After earning his Associate in Science in 1953, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, serving from 1953-55. After release from the Navy, Yohn continued his education, earning a Bachelor of Arts from Bowling Green State University in 1957, and a Doctor of Dental Surgery and Master of Science in Complete Dental Prostheses in 1963 and 1968, respectively, from the University of Michigan. He spent his career at the University of Michigan, beginning as a clinical instructor in 1963, promoted to assistant professor in 1968 and associate professor with tenure with 1975. He also operated a part-time private practice in Ann Arbor. 

“Dr. Yohn distinguished himself in his career at the School of Dentistry at the University of Michigan. Jackson Junior College helped give him his start. He will be remembered by both the generations of students he taught, and the patients the dental school helped,” said Jason Valente. 

---

2017

Dr. Jon Lake

Class of 1972

An alumnus of Jackson Community College, Albion College and Mercy College, he served as a physician’s assistant for 15 years before returning to medical school at age 39 to become a doctor. He completed his medical degree at Wayne State University School of Medicine and then completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Michigan. He has worked in family practice, served as chief of medical staff at W.A. Foote Memorial Hospital, and also works part-time at the Henry Ford Allegiance Health Hyperbaric Center. He is active both in his profession and in the community, serving on multiple boards and organizations. He has helped to promote the welfare of others both through his career and through service and philanthropy. A mentor early in his career urged him to serve his community. “I think we need to give. Especially as a physician, I feel it’s important to give back to the community for what they’ve given you,” Lake said. 

---

2016

Laura M. Stanton

Class of 1974

Laura M. Stanton has spent her lifetime helping children and youth, first as a teacher, and later, with her husband, David, as the head of the Stanton Foundation.

Stanton is an alumna of what was Jackson Community College, attending in the 1970s. She continued her studies at Eastern Michigan University to become a teacher, and taught for 20 years with Jackson Public Schools. She completed her master’s degree in reading, and served as a reading and instructional specialist. She is author of the bilingual children’s book “Animals/ Animales.” She retired from teaching in 1997, and in 1999 she and David finalized creation of the Stanton Foundation, dedicated to two very personal causes – education and adoption. 

During those years, Stanton became friends with Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s, who had been adopted and himself formed the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Laura helped coordinate an “Only in America” presentation in 1999 at Hillsdale College, modeled after one Thomas had presented in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. It invited 400 Jackson County high school students to listen to people who had overcome challenges to become successful, and Thomas himself flew in as keynote speaker. 

The Stanton Foundation started a scholarship at Jackson College benefitting non-adopted foster care children continuing their education. This year the recipient is student Justin Ealy, who hopes to someday work in social work. The foundation also sponsors a Teacher of the Year Award in Hillsdale County. 

---

2015

John Crist

Class of 1966

Mr. Crist has served as president and chief executive officer of CP Federal Credit Union for 17 years, and before that worked for 29 years for Consumers Energy in various accounting and benefits roles. He is an alumnus of Jackson Community College, graduating in 1966, and he earned his bachelor’s degree from Ferris State University in business and accounting.

He is an active community advocate, serving numerous service organizations. He has served on the Jackson College Board of Trustees since 2006, and is the current vice chairperson. He serves on the Jackson College Foundation Board of Directors, the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors, the Enterprise Group board, and the Allegiance Hospice board. He is a past campaign chair and president of the board of United Way, and served on the board for the March of Dimes District Office in Lansing. He served on the board of Western Schools for 11 years.

---

2014

Dr. George E. Potter

Class of 1956

Retired local attorney George Potter served on the College’s Board of Trustees for 44 years. He stepped down from the board in 2006, having served longer than any community college trustee in the nation.  

Potter was just 25 years old when he was elected to the first-ever Board of Trustees of the new Jackson Community College in 1962. He served not only Jackson but community colleges across the state and nation during his service. 

Dr. Potter has written several articles and spoken in more than two dozen states on subjects of interests to community college trustees and presidents. He authored the “Handbook for Community College and Technical Institute Trustees” which has become a standard manual for governing at two-year institutions. 

---

2013

Dr. M. Richard Shaink

Class of 1962

Shaink attended Jackson Junior College in the early 1960s, earning his Associate of Arts degree in 1962. He then went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Michigan State University. He possesses a unique blend of business, community, economic development and education experience, having served as a college campus president, multi-campus vice president, instructional dean, college business/industry director, shopping center general manager, industrial sales representative, production line supervisor, full-time high school vocational teacher, and an adjunct instructor at Michigan State University, Ferris State University and Lansing Community College. He has served as president of Mott Community College, a multi-campus institution serving Flint and Genesee County, Michigan, since 2000. He has received several honors, including being recognized by the Association of Community College Trustees as the top Community College Chief Executive in the country.

---

2012

Leland Bassett

Class of 1964

After graduating from Jackson High, Bassett attended Jackson Community College from 1963-’64, then continued at Michigan State University. 

“My sister had had a life-threatening brain injury back at a time when there was no health insurance. Our family pulled together, we all did what we had to do, and for me it was to work my way through school,”  Bassett recalls. “Going to Jackson College allowed me to be able to work night and day, all the time, and go to college. I had four jobs that summer out of Jackson High. I went to College and they all worked with me, nurtured me and encouraged me.” 

Bassett has been a pioneer in the application of communication psychology and strategic planning to public relations, corporate communication and integrated strategic communication management. In the 1970s, Bassett introduced the nation’s first corporate Strategic Communication Management Department. In the 1980s, he designed and taught the nation’s first graduate strategic communication management curriculum at the MSU College of Communication Arts & Sciences. He co-founded the nation’s first commercial communication arts and sciences-based professional services firm in 1986, the Detroit-based Bassett Business Group, Communications Managers and Counselors, where he serves as chairman and chief executive officer. 

Believing in generational responsibility, he is active in programs that nurture future generations. Leland and Tina Bassett established the Vera Bassett Nursing Scholarship in honor of his mother, who was instrumental in the establishment of the college nursing program. The Bassetts enjoy the opportunity to give back and keep Vera’s memory alive through future generations. He was a founding member of the MSU CCAS Alumni Association, a past president, and recipient of its Outstanding Alumni Award. 

---

2011

William J. Maher

Class of 1941

William “Bill” Maher spent a lifetime committed to aviation, with more than 70 years as a pilot. He flew as a civilian pilot in World War II, was an alumnus of Jackson Junior College, and served as chair of the College Flight Center Advisory Board for more than 20 years. He also served two terms on the Jackson College Foundation Board of Directors and founded the William and Mary Lee Maher Aviation Scholarship.

---

2010

Lawrence L. Bullen

Class of 1949

Larry Bullen has served on countless boards and agencies, receiving numerous recognitions – including the 2017 Jackson Citizen Patriot Citizen of the Year – a record that speaks for itself of his commitment for Jackson County. A Jackson-area attorney since 1956, he served as trustee of the Weatherwax Foundation. Bullen taught at Jackson Junior College and was active in the committees that resulted in the formation of Jackson Community College.

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---