The Marquette Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) presented its 2016 Martha Griffiths Award to Grace Orstad, a spring Northern Michigan University graduate who earned a degree in biochemistry. She received $250 and a certificate.

Orstad served as the organizational chair of the Students for the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center and executive chair for the Wordy Wizards. She contributed 100 hours of community service as a member of the NMU Student Leader Fellowship Program, earned the Heart and Soul Award for community service from Michigan Campus Compact and completed all four edges of the Superior Edge program. The Burnsville, Minn. native also presented research at two science conferences, receiving poster prizes at both, and maintained a 3.96 GPA.

Beyond campus, Orstad completed a service trip to Thailand and served as a bereavement counselor for children at Camp STAR. She plans to start graduate school in biomedical science this fall.

The Martha Griffiths Award is presented annually to a graduating senior at NMU. It is named in honor of the Michigan legislator who was known for her efforts in the Civil Rights Act and for getting the Equal Rights Amendment to the House floor for a vote in 1970.