By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor
Stuart Raider of the Raider Dennis Agency, a V.I.P. Sponsor of the Carl Parsell Memorial Scholarship Golf Outing, with two of the 2017 winners, Anthony W. Pietrzak (center) and Mackenzie Barch (right).

Unions award record number of Carl Parsell Scholarships

By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor

Four college-bound students were honored with 2017-18 Carl Parsell Scholarships - the most recipients in a single year.

The scholars were presented with their $2,500 awards during the 27th Annual Carl Parsell Memorial Golf Outing on June 8, 2017 at Links of Novi.

The Carl Parsell Scholarship Fund was established in 1991 to continue the legacy of Parsell, a law enforcement union movement pioneer, by improving the lives and futures of others, through education. Scholarships are awarded each year to Michigan family members of Michigan Association of Police (MAP), Michigan Association of Public Employees (MAPE) and Michigan Association of Fire Fighters (MAFF) union members.

This year’s scholars are: Mackenzie Barch of Shelby Township, Julia DiTrapani of St. Clair Shores, Anthony W. Pietrzak of Macomb and Bryce Quick of Plymouth.

In its 27th year, $115,500 in Carl Parsell Scholarships have been awarded to help students obtain a college education. Funds for the scholarships are derived from the Annual Carl Parsell Memorial Scholarship Golf Outing.

 

Photos By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor
MAP Executive Director Fred Timpner (right) awards Mackenzie Barch a Carl Parsell Scholarship during the 27th Annual Carl Parsell Memorial Scholarship Golf Outing June 8, 2017 at Links of Novi.

Sisters honored as Carl Parsell scholars

Mackenzie Barch (center) and her parents Michele and Peter Barch attended the Carl Parsell Memorial Golf Outing where Mackenzie was presented her $2,500 scholarship.

By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor

Last year, Meaghan Barch was honored as a Carl Parsell Scholarship winner. This year, her sister Mackenzie Barch is being given the $2,500 award.

Barch, of Sterling Heights, is the daughter of Village of Beverly Hills Public Safety Lt. Peter Barch, a member of MAP. Barch was recently promoted to lieutenant and just retired from the force after 25 years of service.

“I’m going to college out of state, so every last penny counts,” she said. “This (scholarship) comes from something really important to my dad, especially because he had to say goodbye it to last week.”

The Utica Academy for International Studies (UAIS) student has a 3.9 GPA and plans to pursue a pre-medicine degree in Nuclear and Radiological Sciences at University of Florida College of Engineering, Gainesville. “As exemplified by my attendance at the UAIS, I will go to great lengths to further my knowledge as an individual,” Barch wrote in her scholarship application. “This scholarship will allow me to attend out-of-state universities in order to pursue my dream of being an HPSP (Health Professions Scholarship Program) Scholar to become a Diagnostic Radiologist for the U.S. Navy.

Barch said if she is accepted into the Navy’s HPSP, the Navy would pay for her medical school costs and she would be able to decide between different job opportunities through the Navy. In the meantime she is doing all she can to set herself apart from her peers.


“I finished my high school diploma my junior year,” Barch said. “I was going for an international diploma.” As an active participant in Creativity/Action/Service with 150 hours of service, she completed a series of requirements including a month-long project, several papers, essays and oral presentations. She will receive college credits for her efforts. “My credits are transferable throughout the world,” Barch said, adding that UAIS is one of the most rigorous schools in Michigan.

V.I.P. Sponsor Stuart Raider (left) awards Mackenzie Barch her scholarship while her parents and scholarship winner Anthony W. Pietrzak and his family look on.

“Year after year, the material gets harder and more intense, but Kenzie has risen to the challenge,” wrote Jayme Pfannes, UAIS chemistry teacher. “She even opted to take on Higher-Level International Baccalaureate (IB) Chemistry! It is widely known in the IB community to be one of the hardest, if not the hardest, exams that she will sit for.”

Barch was Vice President of National Junior Honor Society, a National Honor Society member and a Student Senator. She won bronze and silver medals as a National French Language Medalist and performed as a soprano and soloist in the Mixed Chorus. Barch was a Utica High School Varsity Cheerleader, serving four years on the All-Academic team, and an American Youth Soccer Organization player for 11 years and National Team Recruitee.

She is a St. Lawrence Catholic Church Choir member, a Vacation Bible School Preschool Leader for Peace Lutheran for the past seven years, and a St. Vincent de Paul Ladies of Charity Foundation member. “She is often one of the first students to pop in during her lunch period and tutor sophomore chemistry students,” Pfannes wrote. “This is not for community service hours or anything. She does it out of the goodness of her heart. That says a lot for Kenzie and her unselfish demeanor.”

 

Photos By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor
Scholarship winner Anthony W. Pietrzak and his parents MAP member Anthony A. Pietrzak (right) and Susan Pietrzak attended the Carl Parsell Memorial Scholarship Golf Outing where Pietrzak received his award.

Son of MAP member wants to ‘protect and serve’ like his dad

By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor

Carl Parsell Scholarship recipient Anthony W. Pietrzak is not following directly in his dad’s footsteps, but he has the same motivation to protect and serve.

The son of City of St. Clair Shores Police Lt. Anthony A. Pietrzak, who is a member of MAP, plans to use his $2,500 Carl Parsell Scholarship in pursuit of a Cybersecurity degree.

"I have always respected my dad’s profession as a police officer,” Pietrzak wrote in his scholarship application. “This greatly influenced me to protect and serve people in a different way. I want to pursue a degree and career in Information Assurance (Cybersecurity). I plan on attending Macomb Community College for basics and then transferring to Eastern Michigan University, a top-rated school for this field.”

“(The scholarship) is going to be helping me a ton,” Pietrzak said. “It’s mostly going to get me through my first year at Macomb, which is great and allows me to build up more money for Eastern,” he said, adding that classes will get more intense and costly at the university level.

Pietrzak graduated Dakota High School with a 3.65 GPA. A Macomb Township resident, he completed a co-op at Spectrum Wireless in Warren where he placed, prepped and maintained radio communications systems for security for schools, hospitals and police departments. He works at Macomb Township Recreation Center as an attendant helping with the gym, events and checking in members.

In high school, he was a member of National Honor Society, took Advanced Placement (AP) World History and United States History, passing the national tests to earn college credit and took AP Calculus and English Literature in his senior year. A Drama Club member, he performed in four plays. He played alto saxophone in the Marching Band and Wind Ensemble and guitar in Jazz Band. “Wanting to develop my guitar skills further, I attended Rock and Roll Prep School for two years,” he wrote. “The band at this school would perform at various community events including: The Stars and Stripes Festival at Freedom Hill, The Whitney in Detroit, and as the opening act for the Biters in Hamtramck.”

Pietrzak volunteers at community seasonal events hosted by the recreation center, such as Halloween Hoopla and the Tree Lighting Ceremony, and at St. Isidore Catholic Church the past three years during Strawberry Festival, Fish Fry Dinners and the annual Chili Contest. “I feel it is important to help others if they are struggling in any way, especially in school,” Pietrzak wrote. “I have tutored elementary school children in subjects such as history and science. I enjoyed this because it allowed me to see the other side of learning as a teacher, not the student.”

2017 Carl Parsell Memorial Scholarship Golf Outing V.I.P. Sponsor Stuart Raider (left) works with MAP Executive Director Fred Timpner to support local college-bound students in achieving their dreams.
MAP Executive Director Fred Timpner (right) awards Anthony W. Pietrzak his Carl Parsell Scholarship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2017 Carl Parsell Scholarship recipient Bryce Quick (center) celebrates her high school graduation with her parents Geralyn Quick and MAPE member Christopher Quick.

Daughter of MAPE member plans career of helping others

By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor

Northville High School student Bryce Quick graduated Summa Cum Laude due to her excellent grades and her focus on helping others is a top priority in her career. Both of these attributes contributed to her becoming a $2,500 Carl Parsell Scholarship recipient.

The daughter of City of Novi Lead Mechanic Christopher Quick, a member of MAPE, graduated with a 3.84 GPA and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University. “Biomedical Engineering would allow me to combine problem-solving research and engineering for the enhancement of health and healthy lifestyles. Post graduation, I plan to serve in the Peace Corps and help the less fortunate,” Quick wrote in her scholarship application.

A Plymouth resident, she worked two jobs to save for college and served as an unpaid intern at Beaumont Hospital to gain health care experience, providing guidance to visitors and comfort to patients. “The scholarship will help me pay for tuition and books,” Quick said.

In high school, she was a member of National Honor Society, Spanish Honors Society, Smiles for Students club to assist students with special needs, and Founder and President of Sports for All, donating sports equipment to inner-city children. A lifelong member of Catholic Faith at Our Lady of Victory, she prepared food and delivered it to needy individuals. She also worked with children at the faith-based Spring Hill Summer Camp as a Teen Service Team (TST) member. “Participating in TST is a credit to her desire to learn, grow and work as a member of a team and a community,” wrote TST Director Heather Cardneau, in a letter of recommendation.

Quick was very involved in high school athletics. She was awarded Most Improved as a JV Soccer team player, was on the Varsity Basketball team, JV and Varsity Track and Volleyball teams, serving as Captain of the Varsity Volleyball team and receiving All-Region awards. “I received the Scholar Athlete Award my sophomore, junior and senior year,” she wrote. “In my senior year, I was awarded Academic All-State.”

As a Force Volleyball Academy Leadership Council member, Quick taught volleyball skills to girls and coordinated fundraising activities for the needy. “As a vocal team leader, she kept things light with teammates with an easy smile and the ability to defuse stressful situations,” wrote Sander Cohen, Director of Force Volleyball Academy. “This ability to be both strong and demanding, as well as quick to forgive makes Bryce one of our strongest leaders.”

 

Carl Parsell Scholar Julia DiTrapani (center) with her parents MAPE member Vincenza DiTrapani (left) and Paul DiTrapani at her high school graduation.

Scholarship winner plans to become physician’s assistance

By Jennifer Gomori, MAP Editor

Julia DiTrapani knows it’s going to be financially difficult for her parents to help three children going to college at the same time, so she appreciates the assistance she is receiving through the Carl Parsell Scholarship.

“My parents have sacrificed to put my two older siblings and I through Catholic school for the past 16 years,” DiTrapani wrote in her application. “Now that they are both in college and I will be attending in the fall, the Carl Parsell Scholarship will help ease the financial burden on my parents.”

DiTrapani received the $2,500 based on her achievements in school, athletics and volunteering to help those in need. The daughter of MAPE member and 40th District Court of St. Clair Shores Civil Clerk Vincenza DiTrapani graduated with a 3.79 GPA from Regina High School. The St. Clair Shores resident plans to pursue a Pre-Nursing bachelor’s degree at Michigan State University. “I eventually want to become a physician’s assistant,” she said.

In high school, DiTrapani was in Foreign Language Club, exploring different cultures, Teen Inc. and National Honors Society, performing school and community service and fundraising. She played Varsity Field Hockey, Basketball and Lacrosse, serving as Team Captain for Varsity Field Hockey and JV Basketball.

“I have been a student athlete every year I have attended Regina High School, most of them being played at the Varsity level,” she wrote. “For the past two years, I have also been the Varsity Basketball Manager, in which I have attended every game and been to practices."

DiTrapani works at Wally’s Frozen Custard to support herself and raise funds for college. “I have been able to juggle school, along with sports and a job but still maintain a GPA that has allowed me to be on the Honor Roll all four years,” she wrote.

She also finds time to volunteer, cleaning up school grounds and surrounding areas. “I have volunteered at several soup kitchens throughout my four years at Regina, including the Capuchin and St. Leo’s Soup Kitchen,” DiTrapani wrote.