MARQUETTE, Mich.—Two Northern Michigan University students were recently presented with the Bill and Wilma Verrette Oustanding Community Service Internship Award.  

Chemistry majors Laura Garlick of Richmond, Mich., and Jenny Grasch of Sandwich, Ill., each received $500 to give to the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum, where they were engaged in a year-long community service internship project through NMU’s Student Leader Fellowship Program (SLFP).

Garlick and Grasch, co-presidents of NMU’s Chemistry Club, coordinated an interactive and fun chemistry demonstration table for the “Second Thursday of the Month” events at the museum. They shared their love of science monthly with area children by planning activities and experiments. One highlight was an evening event in March. They chose the broad theme of “Science Night” and recruited six other science-based student clubs at NMU to set up interactive stations.

The SLFP requires participants to take part in a year-long community service project of their own design with local organizations. Bill and Wilma Verrette created an award to honor the most outstanding internship based on community impact, personal commitment and amount/quality of leadership. Their award is presented annually.