Contact:
Riley Moody
Assistant of Marketing and Communications
Joe Verkennes
Director of Marketing
(734) 384-4207
The Foundation at Monroe County Community College has awarded the Michael Grodi Memorial Scholarship to Kaitlyn Wernly. The $950 scholarship is to be used for tuition, fees, supplies and books.
Wernly, of Monroe, is a 2019 graduate of Jefferson High School. She will be studying criminal justice at MCCC. Kaitlyn is the daughter of Melvin and Fontella Wernly.
The Michael Grodi Memorial Scholarship has been awarded six times since 2017. The fund, which was endowed in 2020, was established by his wife, Sharon, following his death in 2015 at the age of 70. Grodi was raised in Erie, MI and Toledo, OH. He served his country for 37 years, first as a decorated member of the U.S. Marine Corps from 1963 - 1967, including two tours in Viet Nam, and then the Army National Guard from 1970 – 2003, including a tour in Iraq during Operation Desert Shield/Storm in 1991 and in 2001 at the Pentagon during Operation Noble Eagle. During this time he worked a number of jobs including insurance sales, K-9 training specialist at Nike Army Base in Newport, MI, Consumers Power and as a journeyman plumber during the construction of the Fermi Nuclear Power Plant in Frenchtown Twp., MI. He also owned and operated two successful businesses, Mike’s Stop & Go Portable Toilets and Grodi’s Septic Cleaning LLC. During this time he also served as a reserve officer for the Monroe County Sherriff’s Department and was a volunteer police officer with the Erie and Luna Pier Police Departments and served on a variety of veterans, union and community committees and boards, including the Erie Mason School and Erie Township (MI) Boards.
To be eligible for this scholarship, a student must have expressed an interest in or be currently involved in public service, must be seeking a degree in either criminal justice or law enforcement, must be at least a part-time student at MCCC, a resident of Monroe County, MI, a U.S. citizen, and must have a 3.0 grade point average. Preference is given to a Mason High School, Erie, MI, graduate.
For more information on available scholarships and financial aid, visit https://www.monroeccc.edu/financial-aid or contact the MCCC Financial Aid Office at (734) 384-4135. If you are interested in information about funding a scholarship, contact The Foundation at MCCC at (734) 384-4214.