The following individuals were honored as MCC's 2019 Distinguished Alumni on October 10, 2019 at our Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner and Ceremony.
2019 Recipients
Mark Bauman
In April 2019, Mark Bauman made history running the Boston Marathon for his 50th consecutive
year. An avid runner, he was encouraged to run his first Boston Marathon by his Coach
Paul Griffin while attending Flint Junior College. The owner/operator of Bauman’s
Running/Walking Shop and a staunch promoter of healthy living and fitness, he has
organized numerous road races in the Flint area. From his early years selling running
shoes and attire from his vehicle at races and on-site locations, he continues to
provide the community with top notch service and assistance with running equipment
as well as creating a social runners network. He has also donated portions of race
proceeds to charities and schools as well as providing helpful discounts to local
high school runners during their cross country and track and field seasons. He has
sponsored running and track clubs and provided shirts for Flint Area high school track
and field meets. Participating in local and regional events, as well as major races
like the Boston Marathon, Mark Bauman has been part of the Flint area running story
-- from the 70's jogging movement to current road race events like the Health Alliance
Plan (HAP) Crim Festival of Races (he has run all of the Crim’s 10-mile races). He
has run approximately 1,000 races over a period of 50-plus years – a streak widely
considered to be one of the greatest achievements in Flint-area history.
Melany Gavulic
Melany Gavulic, RN, MBA, has served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Hurley
Medical Center since April of 2012. Before this appointment, Ms. Gavulic served as
Interim President and Chief Executive Officer at Hurley as well as the Senior Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer at Hurley Medical Center, where she was responsible
for operations, nursing and all patient care services. Ms. Gavulic has a wealth of
health care experience, serving in leadership roles within Hurley Medical Center over
the last 21 years. As a results- oriented professional with a proven track record
of collaborative working relationships with physicians, staff, colleagues, and external
customers, she has been successful in developing and facilitating teams that have
positively impacted quality outcomes, demonstrated performance improvement, enhanced
delivery of services and created effective community partnerships. Melany Gavulic
received her BS Degree in Management Systems in 1991 from Kettering University (formerly
GMI Engineering & Management Institute), an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Mott
Community College in 1997 and an MBA from Baker College of Graduate Studies in 2005.
She received her Registered Nursing License in 1997. She serves on the following Boards:
Essential Hospitals Institute Board of Directors, Michigan Health & Hospital Association
Board of Directors,Greater Flint Health Coalition Board of Directors, MSU-Flint Area
Medical Education Board, Genesee Early College Advisory Board, Kettering Industrial
& Manufacturing Engineering Advisory Board, Greater Flint YMCA Foundation Board and
the YMCA of Greater Flint Board of Directors.
The Honorable Elizabeth A. Kelly
In the midterm elections of November 2018, Elizabeth A. Kelly was elected to one of
two open seats on the 7th Judicial Circuit Court of Genesee County, beginning a six-year
term on Jan. 1, 2019, where she now serves as 7th Judicial Circuit Court Judge in
Genesee County’s Criminal and Family Divisions. She attended Mott Community College
and received an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science – Paralegal Technology, a Bachelor’s
Degree from the University of Michigan-Flint and attended law school at Michigan State
University. As a student at MCC, she interned at the 68th District Court, (now known
as the 5th Division of the 67th District Court) and took a position as secretary at
the Genesee County Bar Association. Judge Kelly has worked in the Genesee County legal
community in every capacity – as a secretary, paralegal, law clerk, lawyer and now,
judge. Among her many career achievements and one of her most memorable accomplishments
came fresh out of law school, a case where she represented a mom in her first Baby
Court case. Judge Kelly values the pivotal role she plays in people’s lives; having
an impact on them and finding a way to help them improve the quality of their life
is important to her. Arranging her docket so that she can be sure to give every case,
and every person, the time they need, is vital. Giving defendants a chance to get
involved in drug court, addiction treatment, guiding parents when they can’t deal
with various issues, and helping to give them tools to make better decisions about
major aspects of their children’s lives, are crucial elements of the judicial role
that she takes very seriously. She believes that everyone, regardless of background,
deserves respect and compassion.
The Honorable Larry Stecco
Judge Larry Stecco, now retired, was a very talented lawyer and excellent judge. He
did an outstanding job as Judge of the 67th District Court for Mt. Morris. During
his tenure, he helped establish and redefine the Sobriety Court. He embarked on his
higher educational career at Flint Junior College (now Mott Community College), where
he served as Student Government treasurer and photographer for the audiovisual department
and school newspaper. Graduating from Detroit College of Law with his J.D. in 1967,
Judge Stecco worked in the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office from 1968-71 as senior
trial attorney and chief of the organized crime anti-racketeering division where he
helped establish and conduct Michigan’s first Citizens Grand Jury. He was President
of the Genesee County Bar Association, President of the Genesee County Trial Lawyers
Association and served on the Board of Directors of the Flint YMCA and Michigan Association
of Drug Court Professionals. The consummate fundraiser and supporter of numerous political
and judicial candidates over the years, he has also been deeply involved with many
organizations, including the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association and
the UNCF. He has also served as a member of the Genesee County Consumer Protection
Council, on the Board of Directors of Region V. Crime Commission, appointed special
Prosecutor for the Peterson one-man grand jury, the UAW People’s Law School and as
a labor organizer for the Genesee County Governmental Bar Association.
