Schools

Sixty-two percent of 811 applicants passed the Michigan bar exam for lawyers last summer. University of Michigan law school led the way with 33 of 36 graduates passing the July test, followed by Michigan State University at 76 percent, Wayne State University at 74 percent and University of Detroit-Mercy at 59 percent. Cooley law school had the most graduates taking …

The longtime director of St. Joseph County’s special education services will retire in June, following a 34-year career that began as a school psychologist. Jay Raycraft has worked at St. Joseph County Intermediate School District the past three decades, first as a school psychologist, then as a special education supervisor and finally as head of countywide services for mentally and …

The Youth Advisory Council of the Sturgis Area Community Foundation granted more than $20,000 to the community this month in support of programs and projects that serve youth. Grant recipients include Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County, which will receive $10,000 to support a new home built in collaboration with Sturgis High School building trade students; Sturgis Youth for …

Glen Oaks Community College practical nursing graduates are passing the National Council for Licensing Exam at a rate highest in the nation, according to The Mountain Measurement firm, an assessment firm that serves the K-12, licensure and certification sectors of the testing industry. Out of all the first-year Practical Nursing programs in the firm’s jurisdiction, Glen Oaks graduates had a …

The Leo Club, a high school service group hosted by the Sturgis Lions Club, was recently chartered into the national organization. The group needed at least 35 high school members in the Leo Club to be considered for the charter, said Frank Iannarelli, president of Sturgis Lions Club. That goal has been reached and there is one honorary member, Abdiel …

The attorney representing the leader of the grass-roots group TR Cares issued a cease-and-desist order to Three Rivers Community Schools Superintendent Jean Logan. Kelly Ward – whose client, Sherrie Nowicki, sought the directive – issued the two-page notice to Logan Monday. Nowicki read the order to board members during a special meeting Tuesday morning to deal with two student-expulsion matters. …

A food-drive challenge that returned to Sturgis High School in 2014 was back again this year. Students gathered a total of 1,180 non-perishable food items from Nov. 2 through Dec. 2. Items were donated to the local Salvation Army food pantry earlier this month. Students from Amanda Langworthy’s seminar class collected the most food items, with 274. They received a …

Midwest Energy Cooperative has provided Centreville High School guidance counselor Sarah Dickman a grant of $1,800. The Strengthening School Grant will be used to introduce formal Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics curriculum for the junior high students to use in their science exploratory. The curriculum is through Project Lead the Way, which is the nation’s leading STEM program in activity, …

Glen Oaks Community College’s 50th anniversary celebration came to a close earlier this month with a final event. Faculty and staff gathered at the site of the new flag plaza for a dedication ceremony that included placement of a 50-year anniversary time capsule in the brick plaza. The capsule contains an array of items from throughout the year, including the …

Carol Brooks has been named the 2015 recipient of the John E. Oster Award. Brooks, who was honored this week at a meeting of Sturgis Rotary Club at Sturges-Young Auditorium, has taught at Sturgis Public Schools since 1988, the past seven years as K-2 physical education teacher. The John Oster Memorial Fund was established in 1981 by JoEllen Oster, John’s …