2013 'Great Students'

Four leading female college students will join eight outstanding female leaders in being honored as "Great Women of the Great Lakes Bay Region." Racquel Fakhouri of Northwood University, Marissa Geyer of Saginaw Valley State University, Stephanie Pocsi of Central Michigan University, andHelen Szabo of Delta College were each nominated by their respective institutions to receive the award.

The Graff Chevrolet dealership in Bay City and SVSU Athletics created the honor in 2011 to draw attention to local women for their extraordinary commitment of time, talent and experience in a meaningful way to improve the quality of life in the Great Lakes Bay Region.

	Geyer has earned an assortment of accolades over the years at SVSU, including being named to both the president's and dean's list for her outstanding academic work. She is a member of the school's Roberts Fellowship leadership program, which engages a dozen students in a year-long endeavor that includes seminars, a service project and an overseas trip. She is an honors student who has been awarded SVSU's President's Scholarship.
	Pocsi has been one of CMU's most recognizable student leaders for the past four years. She is a recipient of the Leader Advancement Scholarship, which she earned from a pool of over 2,000 applicants. She has earned a 3.50 GPA while pursing a degree in the highly competitive Human Environmental Studies program. She has dedicated hundreds of hours of service to help various organizations including Michigan's Special Olympics.
	Fakhouri has occupied a number of student leadership posts at Northwood University. Those positions included spots on the Student Government Association, Greek Life, and other registered student organizations. Today, she serves as vice president of the Student Government Association and was chairperson of the campus Entertainment, Sport Promotion and Management Association.
	Szabo serves as vice president of service for Delta College's chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, a role through which involves coordinating service projects. She also is involved with the Community College Completion Core, encouraging Delta students to make the pledge to achieve their college goals. She is a coach for Public Achievement, which involves working with middle school students in Saginaw to address issues of concern. Szabo also is the founding president of Citizens in Action, a student club dedicated to the Public Achievement program.

The Great Women of the Great Lakes Bay Region will receive their awards Thursday, Feb. 27. A networking reception will begin at 4 p.m. in SVSU's Curtiss Hall. The program includes a panel discussion on how women can serve as change agents and make a meaningful difference in their communities. The ceremony is open to the public and free of charge, but seating is limited.

The honorees also will be publicly recognized during halftime of the women's basketball game between SVSU and Northwood University that begins at 6 p.m. That game is Girl Scout Night, and all girl scouts wearing official Girl Scouts apparel will be admitted free of charge, along with up to two guests each. For others, tickets are $5 for general admission and $3 for students and seniors.

Presented by Catholic Federal Credit Union and Graff Chevrolet of Bay City, The Great Women of the Great Lakes Bay Region award is sponsored by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, General Motors and Spring Hill Suites of Saginaw, and hosted by SVSU Athletics.

To register for the awards ceremony or for more information, contact SVSU Athletics at gwglbr@svsu.edu or (989) 964-2565.