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Articles by Megan Neeley
Couple struck by lightning credits Good Samaritans with saving their lives
WINTER GARDEN, Fla. - A Central Florida couple is sharing their story of survival after being struck by lightning earlier this month on the West Orange Trail, and crediting a group of Good Samaritans with saving their lives. Aaron and Clare Walenga were walking hand in hand, holding an umbrella, when lightning struck on Sept. 2. Aaron fell face first onto the pavement while Clare was left unconscious and not breathing. "I wanted to get to Clare, and I just couldn't get up.
Community Development Archives – Common Ground
Latest in Community Development How a community dance movement fuels connection, wellness and economy Backyard Boots & Beats is not only bringing people together through line dancing—it’s creating consistent foot traffic, supporting local venues, and building an ecosystem where community-driven entrepreneurship can thrive. Preserving Homes, Changing Lives IFF, a Community Development Financial Institution, empowers underserved communities through flexible, nontraditional lending.
Entrepreneurship Archives - Common Ground
Latest in Entrepreneurship How a community dance movement fuels connection, wellness and economy Backyard Boots & Beats is not only bringing people together through line dancing—it’s creating consistent foot traffic, supporting local venues, and building an ecosystem where community-driven entrepreneurship can thrive.
Entrepreneurship Archives - Common Ground
Latest in Entrepreneurship From Pews to Pints: Why some rural Michigan churches are reopening as breweries The desire to keep existing churches and historical buildings intact has motivated and inspired a number of Michigan’s 400 licensed brewery owners.
Health and Wellness Archives – Common Ground
New campaign seeks to reduce Michigan businesses’ food waste by doubling food donations A new initiative led by the nonprofit Michigan Sustainable Business Forum is seeking to double the amount of food that Michigan businesses donate to food banks and rescues.
Pleasant City Coffee mixes Up Michigan-made flavor with new cocktail line
What’s Happening: Pleasant City Coffee is hosting a Cocktail Tasting Event on Friday, Aug. 29 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m to debut a new line of cocktails being served at their downtown Mt. Pleasant location. Guests will have the opportunity to sample four new craft cocktails, each featuring Michigan-made, all-natural Precision Syrups.
Serving with Purpose: Lions Club continues its legacy in Mt. Pleasant
The Lions Club has donated over 190 string backpacks for children visiting McLaren Central Michigan. For over 75 years, the Mt. Pleasant Lions Club has been actively involved in the Mt. Pleasant community, consistently supporting over 25 local organizations and initiatives.
Senior Farewells: Megan Neeley and Emma Figlewicz
To the readers of The Almanian, As my time as Editor in Chief of The Almanian comes to a close, I would like to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude. First, a huge thank you to Professor Cicci for your invaluable guidance and support. Your mentorship has shaped my time here in more ways than I can express. To Tim Rath, thank you for always being the first to lend an ear and offer wise counsel. Your mentorship and encouragement have meant so much to me.
Men’s Lacrosse making program history
KYLE SCHECK PHOTOGRAPHER MEGAN NEELEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 3/24/2025 Alma College Men’s Lacrosse is off to a historic start, boasting a 7-0 record for the first time in program history. The Scots extended their perfect season with a dominant 15-4 victory over Marian University (Wis.) on Sunday, March 9, further cementing their place in the record books.
An amusing Addams adaptation: Mt. Pleasant High School musical brings beloved story to to the stage
Mt. Pleasant High School’s theater department will bring a spooky and entertaining twist to the stage with its production of “The Addams Family – School Edition.” Running from March 13 to March 16, the musical will showcase students in iconic roles as they bring the beloved story to life.
Lettuce celebrate: Schroeder’s one thousandth salad
MEGAN NEELEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 1/20/2025 Alma College student Cohen Schroeder (’25) hit a remarkable milestone on Wednesday, Jan. 15, when he celebrated eating his one thousandth salad at the college’s dining hall, affectionately known as SAGA.
The Almanian Headlines of 2024
MEGAN NEELEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 1/20/2025 As we move further into 2025, it’s important to pause and reflect on the significant moments that defined Alma College, particularly during this Fall semester. From academic achievements to campus events, this past term was filled with milestones that shaped our community and set the stage for the year ahead. The incoming first-year students made their first-ever appearance in The Almanian headlines when the freshman class makeup article hit the paper.
Alma’s Abernathy supports prison education program
President Emeritus Jeff Abernathy is championing the Alma College Prison Initiative, a four to five year program in which inmates at the Carson City Correctional Facility will have the opportunity to earn their baccalaureate degree. The Carson City students will be offered the American studies major, “a particular strength of Alma’s,” said Abernathy.
Town Hall discusses the future of Alma
MEGAN NEELEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KYLE SCHECK PHOTOGRAPHER 10/14/2024 On Wednesday, October. 9, the campus community held a scheduled Town Hall meeting at Presbyterian Hall to discuss the future of Alma College amidst the many issues private liberal arts colleges are working to overcome in today’s world of higher education. The Board of Trustees, who have fiduciary responsibility over Alma College, have endorsed numerous action items.
NCAA vs. Alma College: banned substances
MEGAN NEELEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 9/30/2024 With the NCAA removing cannabinoids from the 2024 list of banned substances – and despite the thoughts of a majority of the disgruntled student stoners – I must put forward that the following information suggests all students should be tested for cannabinoids at Alma College, not just student-athletes.
2024 Olympics: Highlights, Key Moments
MEGAN NEELEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF VIRGINIA CHAPATES STAFF WRITER 9/16/2024 The 2024 Summer Oylmpics were held in Paris, France from Friday, July 26 to Sunday, Aug. 11. There were many outstanding and inspiring performances throughout this time that were especially impressive to Alma athletes. In the track and field events, there was an astonishing new star that some are citing to be Usain Bolts’s successor: Noah Lyles.
Counting to two for college students
KYLE SCHECK PHOTOGRAPHER MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 4/1/2024 “One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish,” said the accredited Dr. Seuss, but is counting to two such an easy task for a college student?
Alma College’s own rockstar
LIATHANO RAMIREZ GRAPHIC DESIGNER MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 3/18/2024 Alma College’s own graphic designer for the Communication and Marketing Office, Cody Marecek, is the drummer of Liquid Mike: “the best Midwestern indie-rock band fronted by a mailman you’ll hear all year,” according to Rolling Stone. That’s right, Rolling Stone.
Four football players achieve All-American status
MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 2/12/2024 After yet another record-breaking season, the Alma College Football team saw four players named to the D3football.com All-American Team. Accolades have gone to Odin Soffredine (‘24), Devon Frenchko (‘24), Abram Evans (‘27) and Carter St. John (‘26).
GrubHub arrives at Alma College campus
KYLE SCHECK PHOTOGRAPHER MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 1/29/2024 Alma College Dining Services is excited to announce students are now granted the opportunity to utilize Grub Hub right here on campus as of Wednesday, Jan. 24. Grub Hub is a food delivery and pickup company that partners with restaurants in surrounding areas.
New additions to Alma College Sherman facility
MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 11/20/2023 The Sherman Strength and Conditioning Facility – the hub of Alma College’s student-athletes – has evolved in recent years and received some fresh updates from which all athletes will have the opportunity to further their athletic performance.
Clack Art Center hosts annual Halloween party
LIATHANO RAMIREZ PHOTOGRAPHER MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR SARAH SAGI STAFF WRITER 11/6/2023 Alma College students involved in the arts gathered for the Clack Art Center Halloween party that is thrown on an annual basis. This year’s party was hosted on Oct. 30 from 4 to 5 p.m. in a Halloween Eve-esque celebration. This year’s Halloween party was a little bit different as this year, the party was exclusively thrown as a small get together in a leisurely fashion for art majors and minors on campus.
Alma College enters pre-pharmacy agreement
MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 11/6/2023 Alma College has entered into a five-year agreement with Ferris State University (FSU) in which five Alma College students will be granted acceptance into the Ferris State College of Pharmacy.
Alma College selected for WBL consortium
COLE PEARSON PHOTOGRAPHER MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 10/23/2023 Alma College is one of 25 colleges that has been selected to participate in the first cohort of the Work-Based Learning (WBL) Consortium, a program run by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). “The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of over 650 small and medium-sized private, not-for-profit colleges and universities committed to the liberal arts, and Alma College is a member,” said Provost Sean Burke.
Midterm resources
COLE PEARSON PHOTOGRAPHER MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 10/9/2023 With students entering week seven of the semester, midterms are fast approaching; however, there are many on-campus resources at Alma College intended to aid in stress reduction and increase exam preparedness. In preparation for midterms, students are encouraged to employ the multitude of academic resources available to them; it is recommended they should first and foremost utilize the most class-direct resource: their professors.
Alma College homecoming festivities
JACKSON POLLARD PHOTOGRAPHER MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR KYLE SCHOKAS STAFF WRITER 10/9/2023 The Alma College Homecoming weekend kicked off at 8 p.m. on Sept. 29 with a wide variety of festivities throughout the following weekend that were to accompany the big football game against Trine University.
New coaches join the Scots
KYLEE LARY PHOTOGRAPHER MEGAN NEELEY LAYOUT EDITOR 9/25/2023 With the introduction of many new coaches to the Scots’ athletic staff, the Alma College community would like to welcome the following coaches and wish them luck in their upcoming seasons. Alister Newby, joining Alma from Wabash College, is the new head coach of the Men’s Soccer Team.
Get bigger and bigger: football’s wide reach
JACKSON POLLARD PHOTOGRAPHER MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 9/11/2023 After a record-breaking season, the football team is unmissable on campus with its 184-man roster, up from 127 in 2018, sparking interest in the advantages sheer numbers may bring to a sports team in comparison to those with only around 30 players at a time– the norm for most sports teams at Alma. Because of the rather large roster, new lockers were installed at $1400 a piece, a considerable expense associated with the growing team.
Student concerns vs. statistics: admissions and prestige
KYLEE LARY PHOTOGRAPHER MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 4/10/2023 Alma College admissions rates have been on the rise with the campus seeing a 20% increase in applications and a 22.7% increase in admittance from Fall 2022 according to Rachel Plasche, the Assistant Director of Admissions and Coordinator of Diversity Recruitment.
On campus environmental sustainability
KYLE SCHECK PHOTOGRAPHER MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 3/27/2023 With many college students being deeply interested in sustainability, it is important to note the sustainability efforts being made by Alma College’s recent planning, services and rural initiatives. Previously written on was the topic of the new recycling program partnership with Granger Waste Services coming to Alma College’s campus. Granger was successfully implemented to reach a goal in the College’s Evergreen Strategic Plan.
Shonda Buchanan visits Alma College
LIATHANO RAMERIEZ PHOTOGRAPHER MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 3/13/2023 Professors have expressed students’ hunger for Shonda Buchanan’s literary works. Buchanan, an award-winning poet and educator, is now working for the Master Fine Arts program in Creative Writing here at Alma College.
The Alma College Division III Experience
MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 3/1/2023 The Three D’s: Discover, Develop and Dedicate, according to the official website of NCAA Division III sports, specifies student athletes should be “encouraged to pursue their interests and passions beyond the classroom and field of play… to discover themselves.” The NCAA Division III website also relays that the “emphasis on participating [in] activities outside of the classroom” is a “hallmark of the Division III experience.” Alma College athletics, on the...
Spring sports start at Alma College
LIATHANO RAMIREZ PHOTOGRAPHER MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 2/21/2023 With practices for spring sports beginning in late January, student-athletes participating in men’s and women’s lacrosse, baseball, softball and men’s and women’s track and fi eld are getting busier and busier. On Jan. 23, the men’s lacrosse team’s full practice schedule commenced for the 2023 spring season with a week full of winter weather advisories.
Alma College basketball update
KYLE SCHECK PHOTOGRAPHER MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 1/23/2023 Out with the old and in with the new. Scots, it’s time for some basketball. Now that football – with its season full of victories – is over, the time has come to focus on the triumphs of Alma College basketball. The Alma College Men’s Basketball team has had many personal victories, as well as team victories. So far this season, they have faced tough competition while winning four games and losing ten games.
8 Year Old Relay Record Falls on Final Day of MIAA Championships
Grand Rapids, MI – Alma College Swimming took part in the final day of action at the MIAA Championships. After the waves settled, the Scots finished in 5th place on the women's side, and 6th on the men's side. Alma recorded 15 season bests, and 9 lifetime bests in the morning session, with 3 more swims finding marks inside the top 10. The Scots also scored 19 finals appearances, and knocked off an 8 year old school record as well. Megan Neeley got the day started, placing 5th in the mile.
18 Finals Performances For Swimming Headline Day 3 of MIAA Championships
Grand Rapids, MI – Alma College Swimming took part in day 3 action at the MIAA Championships. After the third day, Alma sits in 6th place on the men's side, with the women moving up into 5th place. Alma posted 14 season bests, and 13 lifetime bests in the morning session alone, with 3 more swims finding marks inside the top 10. After bringing back just 4 individual finals swims yesterday, Alma found themselves qualifying for 18 finals appearances in the evening session.
Swimming Sends 4 to Finals on Day 2 of MIAA Championships
Grand Rapids, MI – Alma College Swimming took part in day 2 action at the MIAA Championships. After the second day, Alma sits in 6th place on both the men's and women's sides. The teams took part in the 800 freestyle relay last night. The women's relays scored the Scots to a 4th place finish after day 1, while the men were 6th. A short but solid prelim session in the morning saw the Scots posting time drops left and right.
David Zerbe inducted into Golden Thistle Society
MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 12/5/2022 David Zerbe, director of bands and percussion studies at Alma College, is the first ever non-Alma College alum to be inducted into the Order of the Golden Thistle. The Golden Thistle Society is an acknowledgement of alumni loyalty and is typically an honor given to those that attend their 50-year class reunion at Alma College. For context, the thistle is a historic symbol and the national flower of Scotland.
Alma College partners with Granger Waste Services
MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 11/19/2022 An exciting new partnership has made its way to the Alma College campus and community. Alma College has partnered with Granger Waste Services in order to enact a formal recycling program on campus. An email sent out to the campus community from Raymond Barclay, Alma College’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, on Nov. 8 included this new recycling program is expected to begin in Feb. of 2023.
Swimming Celebrates Senior Day Against Kalamazoo
Alma, MI – Alma College Swimming celebrated senior day against Kalamazoo College on Saturday. The women were defeated 206-85, and the men were dropped by a final of 201-60. Despite the scores not going Alma's way, the Scots saw a number of personal bests in the contest. On the women's side, Alma picked up a win early on in the meet courtesy of Megan Neeley. She won the 1000 freestyle. Sofia Floros would also pick up a win in the 200 backstroke. Lily Smith clocked a personal best in the 200 freestyle.
Swimming Shows Progress in Double Dual Action
Grand Rapids, MI – Alma College Women's Swimming was in the pool at Calvin on Saturday to take on the Knights, and Albion College in double dual action. The men were defeated 217-20 by Calvin, and 166-56 by Albion. The women were defeated 189-42 by the Knights, and lost 149-85 to Albion. On the women's side, Megan Neeley picked up a pair of wins in the mile when she finished first with a time of 19:15.61.
Whitmer or Dixon to become Michigan’s next Governor
CLAIRE HIPPS AND MEGAN NEELEY STAFF WRITER 11/7/2022 Gretchen Whitmer (D) and Tudor Dixon (R) are facing off in Michigan’s (MI) 2022 gubernatorial election, or the election for governor. Whitmer, the incumbent, highlights infrastructure development, investments in business and access to abortion as key aspects of her campaign.
Water polo club coming to Alma College
EMMA FIGLEWICZ PHOTOGRAPHER MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 10/24/2022 Alma College has numerous athletic teams, clubs and other extracurricular activities available to students. In the coming weeks, Alma College will introduce a water polo club. “Interested in water polo? You should be,” the recruitment flier said. “We welcome any level of water polo experience.” Madison Humphrey (‘24) is President and Calvin Huggler (‘24) is Vice President.
Alma College Scots athletics update
KYLE SCHECK PHOTOGRAPHER MEGAN NEELEY COPY EDITOR 10/3/2022 Football has had many successful wins in recent weeks, notably beating Martin Luther College during the Homecoming game. However, football players are not the only successful Scots on campus. Men’s Soccer has played a total of seven games after beating Anderson University on Sept. 10. The team has two wins and five losses so far. “The team is really on its way to finding its identity.
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