On Wednesday, April 15, members of the Michigan Education Association’s 13-B Coordinating Council (13-B CC) gathered to celebrate excellence in education at the inaugural 2026 Outstanding Persons in Education (OPIE) Awards Banquet. The event marked the 30th year of honoring area students and the second year of recognizing local association and community members for their scholarship, leadership, character and service.
The event recognized nine students as Academic All-Stars, four individuals as OPIE recipients, and one Friend of Education (FOE).
Academic All-Star Award Recipients:
• Grayden Etchison, Mason County Central High School
• Ian Lundberg, Ludington High School
• Hailey Hart, Onekama High School
• Miley Kessel, Mason County Eastern High School
• Caleb Forward, Bear Lake High School
• Shelbie Choponis, Hart High School
• Mackenna Wardie, Brethren High School
• Lauren Davis, Pentwater High School
• Brylee Friedman, Shelby High School
Davis and Friedman were unable to attend the awards ceremony as Davis was participating in a Spanish and Art Club educational trip to Costa Rica and Friedman was away for a track meet.
Outstanding Persons in Education (OPIE) Award Recipients:
• Stacey Kraft, Ludington Education Association
• Mary Marshall, Ludington Education Association and Educational Support Professionals Association
• Collene McCormick, Mason County Central Education Association
• Heidi Fleming, Pentwater Education Association
Friend of Education (FOE) Award Recipient:
• Nick McKenney, Mason County Central Librarian, Online Support Specialist, and Volunteer
The event was hosted by Mason County Central Education Association President and 13-B CC Chairperson Becky Gerhart. Teachers from the nominating associations proudly introduced their district’s All-Star:
• Lori Mullet, Bear Lake Education Association
• Kirsten Amstutz, Brethren High School’s Kaleva Norman Dickson Education Association
• Kirstie DeVries, Hart Education Association
• Amy Stone, Ludington Education Association
• Becky Gerhart, Mason County Central Education Association
• Micah Schmidt, Mason County Eastern Education Association
• Megan Delke, Onekama Education Association
Since Pentwater’s All-Star was unable to attend, her certificate, bouquet and gift basket was delivered by Sarah Merten of the Pentwater Education Association, who introduced Fleming.
The banquet was held at West Shore Community College in Scottville, where honorees were presented with certificates of achievement and gifts of appreciation.
This year, the 13-B CC also presented a special $500 award to Academic All-Star Caleb Forward of Bear Lake High School, in recognition of his outstanding achievements.
Thanks to generous sponsorships from the Michigan Education Special Services Association (MESSA) and MEA Financial Services (MEA-FS), an additional $150 award was given to Miley Kessel of Mason County Eastern High School.
Bouquets of tulips, generously donated by A Garden in the Woods Farm, were presented to each honoree. Table decorations were provided courtesy of MESSA and MEA-FS sponsorships.
The event was sponsored by the Michigan Education Association under the leadership of MEA UniServ Director Judy Bussey and Field Assistant Nicole Birkett.
