2026 Jennifer Vanderstelt Memorial Scholarship Winners

​Kaitlin Bruno
1. What High School did you/do you attend?  Novi High School

2. How long have you had an active lifestyle?  Since freshman year of high school when I started running track and field.

3. Did you or do you currently play sports through school or community?  Esports currently for MCC, I play Fortnite. 

4. What groups/organizations/events do you/have you volunteered with and why?  I have participated in the Muskegon polar plunge 2025-2026.
DKMS mouth swabbing event at MCC.
Helped Operation Solo with a dog food pantry in Muskegon.
I participated in the United way day of caring. We planted trees in the Micro forest in North Muskegon. Plus I have done many other service projects with MCC Rotaract Club.

5. What does Jen’s motto of “just one more mile” mean to you?  Being a 35-year-old MCC college student this quote means a lot to me. When I graduate, it will be 6 years of consistently going part-time and full time. I have been through a lot these past 5 years going on 6. My dad, MCC teachers and current bosses have always encouraged me to not give up. Often saying just a little bit more. Keep going, any progress is good progress.
When I was in Track and Field in high school I ran the mile race. It never failed. I was always the last person left on the track still going. They would over the loudspeaker say it is traditional to cheer on the last runner. In my mind, It was always one more lap you can do it Kaitlin! I always finished a race; whether it ended with me in tears or not I was brought up knowing to never give up. I can't wait to graduate at MCC. 6 long years but I am going to make it!

6. What is your motivation for healthy living?  My dad, He has had quite a few heart attacks and strokes, plus he is type 2 diabetic. He has always been my health journey inspiration. I strive to be different with my health. I do have Fibromyalgia but I manage it daily by staying positive. 

7. What's your greatest athletic or professional accomplishment?  My greatest athletic accomplishment would be when I ran the mile race at the large invitational meet. It was near Detroit. I remember thinking how will I keep up, I definitely did not keep up with the other ladies but I did finish that race. I remember collapsing on the ground after that race. Shaking like a leaf. My coach came to my aid and said "you did it Bruno! you finished!" I recall my dad yelling for me from the bleachers then he helping me stand up. On my way to the car he noticed I broke off part of my shoe. Ill never forget him saying wow! you never gave up, Even after missing some shoe. I knew I had impressed him, my coach and teammates. Often after this meet I would hear at practices or other races "be like Bruno!" "finish" or I would hear often from other teammates how I had inspired them to not give up that day, being the heavy-set girl on the team I always hard to work harder to keep up. After that race where I collapsed, I had this newfound respect from everyone. Yes, I was the heavier kid, but I never let that stop me from being a part of the team or finishing a race. I am proud I could inspire the team, coaches, and parents. 

8. How do you manage your time between your studies and family life or time with friends?  It’s not an easy task, Somedays I am better at it than others. My family and friends want me to graduate so badly because this is a long goal I have been after. I often choose school over fun often. It will pay off in the long run as I plan to "finish this race" as I won’t give up. 

---

---

​Aleigha Reyes

1. What high school did you attend?  I graduated from Grand Haven High School.

2. How long have you had an active lifestyle? I’ve had an active lifestyle my whole life. My family was very involved in my siblings’ and my sports.

3. Did you or do you currently play sports through school or the community? I don’t currently play sports through school; however, maintaining an active lifestyle is still an important part of my life.

4. What groups, organizations, or events have you volunteered with, and why? I was part of the Student Nurse Club at Muskegon Community College. This allowed me to be a more active member of my community. I participated in events such as the Teddy Bear Trail and turkey assembly with Reeths-Puffer, and I helped organize a job fair by contacting community colleges and universities to speak with MCC students about bachelor’s degree programs in nursing and job opportunities in our community. These included hospice positions, externships at Trinity Health, and hemophilia camps.

5. What does Jen’s motto of “just one more mile” mean to you? I often find myself saying something similar, like “just a couple more weeks.” Life can become overwhelming quickly, but it’s important to keep pushing forward, take things day by day or mile by mile and trust that we will reach the finish line.

6. What is your motivation for healthy living? My family and my future patients motivate me. My mom has always worked hard to give my brother and me the best life possible, and she succeeded. Because of that, I’ve been able to prioritize my health. My brother now has twin boys, and I want to stay healthy for them as well as be at my best for my future patients.

7. What is your greatest athletic or professional accomplishment? My greatest professional accomplishment is progressing through nursing school while actively engaging with complex material.
​
8. How do you manage your time between your studies and family or social life? I manage my time by planning out my week and setting clear priorities so I can stay on top of my schoolwork. At the same time, I make sure to set aside time for family and friends so I can recharge and maintain a healthy balance.

---

---

​Nicole Terpstra
​​
Nicole is a resident of Ravenna currently studying Nursing at Muskegon Community College.  Nicole is retired from military service and coaches Youth Cheer and 7th grade Volleyball.

---

​Valeria Morales-Zuniga​

​Valeria is a Muskegon resident and attends Muskegon Community College. She works as a Pharmacy Technician, while pursuing her associate’s degree in nursing.