NEWS RELEASE – May 17, 2007
ELIZABETH LOCHINSKI OF GAYLORD WINS SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION
North Central Michigan College student Elizabeth Lochinski of Gaylord will enjoy a semester of study at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in Galway, Ireland, this fall. Mrs. Lochinski was the winner of a competition funded by the Robert Emmet Society that seeks outstanding ambassadors to represent the college and the society in Ireland. As the 2007 winner, Mrs. Lochinski earned a round-trip flight to Ireland, free tuition for the fall semester, lodging and books at GMIT.
North Central, GMIT and the Robert Emmet Society have been co-sponsors of the competition since 1999. It is the only scholarship awarded by the college that sends a student abroad for study. Mrs. Lochinski is the eighth local student to study in Ireland through this program. The competition is based on an essay contest, academic achievement, student activities and an interview with college and society representatives.
The competition is open to all North Central students enrolled in an academic program at the college. Mrs. Lochinski is pursuing an associate’s degree in general studies and hopes to complete a bachelor’s degree after graduation from North Central. She is the mother of three children and is a partner with her husband in a tax accounting business in Gaylord.
To be eligible for consideration, students first must submit an essay on the topic, “How do the political values of Robert Emmet, Irish patriot and namesake of Emmet County, relate to our world and our lives today?” The top finalists then are interviewed by three college and society representatives before a final decision is made.
The Robert Emmet Society was established in 1990 to promote awareness and pride among Emmet County residents and visitors in the county’s namesake, a hero and martyr of the failed revolutions against the British rulers of Ireland in 1798 and 1803.
The society works closely with North Central in awarding the scholarship that is named after Joseph W. McCarthy, a local businessman and founding member of the society, who died in 1994.
North Central Michigan College is an open-door community college based in Petoskey. Through its University Center partnerships, students can take courses leading to bachelor’s and master’s degrees from participating universities. North Central’s Institute for Business & Industry Training offers non-credit job skills training tailored to meet individual needs. In addition to its main campus in Petoskey, North Central offers classes, academic advising, testing and other services in Cheboygan, Gaylord and East Jordan.
For more information:
Charles MacInnis
231-348-6839
