It’s graduation season, and we’d like to give a special shoutout and thank you to the Albion College students who have made an impact in our community. These students have been involved in Albion in various ways from community service to working locally. We appreciate their hard work and dedication.
Add to the celebration! Submit yourself or your impactful graduating student in the short survey linked here! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026Albion-College-Grad
Shania Clemon-Hawkins
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Major: Economics and Management | Concentration: Business & Health
Campus Involvements: Albion Dance Team (4 years) and Captain of the team for 3 years, fitness class instructor, Campus Life Student Manager, AC Drop E-Board Member, and cooking business owner
Community Involvements: Employee at Superior Street Mercantile
Future: Shania’s future plans are to work with City Year in Detroit and completing a year of service as a Student Success Coach. After that, she will be completing a post-baccalaureate program to finish her prerequisites for medical school, then attending shortly after. Long term, she plans to become a pediatrician and start her own private practice focusing on helping girls and Women of Color, creating easier access to healthcare and providing quality care to underserved communities.
Submitted by Shania’s manager, Hayden Ryan: “Shania has made a huge impact on Superior Street Mercantile. She has been with us for a little over two years and has brought a positive attitude, creative ideas and a great work ethic to our downtown market. We are so sad to see her leave, but we know she’s destined to do great things!”
Zoe Autore
Hometown: Cedarville, MI
Major: Marketing with a Business Emphasis | Concentration: Gerstacker Business Institute
Campus Involvements: Alpha Xi Delta, Tour Guide Executive board, Women’s golf team, Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and Sports Information Assistant
Community Involvements: Pure Albion Production and Marketing Intern
Future: Zoes plans to continue to grow her skills in marketing with the goal of owning her own business in the future.
What is one aspect of Albion that you love? “I love the community I’ve made at Albion. Whether on or off campus the relationships I’ve made with people has been what I love most!”
Submitted by Zoe’s supervisor, Cassidy Porter: “Zoe has been amazing addition to our team at Pure Albion! She has brought a wonderful perspective to the store with creative ideas and a driving passion for small business.”
Jayshon Russ
Hometown: Albion, MI
Major: Kinesiology
Campus Involvements: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, Community Assistant, Curtis Institute for Social Change, Wilson institute, Albion Fellow, Union Board, Student Senate, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Black Student Alliance (BSA)
Community Involvements: Volunteer at Playright Sports Academy, Kids ‘N’ Stuff Children’s Museum, and Harrington Elementary School
Future: Jayshon plans to attend Morgan State to pursue a master’s degree in biomedical sciences and later apply to medical schools.
What is one aspect of Albion that you love? “One aspect of Albion I love is the sense of community I have been able to make my time here. It helped me find my voice.”
Taylore Wilson
Hometown: Harbor Springs, MI
Major: Marketing Management & Psychology
Campus Involvements: Albion College AmeriCorps, Golf, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
Community Involvements: Volunteer at Families First Learning Center and AmeriCorps Signature program – Brain Corps
Future: Taylore plans to continue to work on marketing and communications for nonprofits, and this summer will be working at an artist learning more about how impactful nonprofits are and how they operate from a business standpoint.
What is one aspect of Albion that you love? “The ability to choose. Having the opportunity to be a part of different things and not having to pick and choose. Getting to be an athlete while apart of other organizations and being involved in the community.”
Haileystar Castañeda
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Major: Economics & Management and Music
Campus Involvements: Organization of LatinX Awareness (OLA), Black Student Alliance (BSA), Albion Democrats, TRIO Program, Honors Program, Gerstacker Institute
Community Involvements: AmeriCorps Office of Belonging Community Outreach, Sister City Committee, First United Methodist Church Choir
Future: Haileystar plans to study abroad for their last semester in Milan, Italy and then go into Project Management.
What is one aspect of Albion that you love? “I love the city of Albion’s community and all the connections I have made on and off campus.”
Vanessa Fuentes
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Community Involvements: Vanessa works at Stirling Books & Brew
Submitted by Employer, Jim Stuart: “Vanessa has been a terrific employee for us while she was at Albion College. She connects well with our customers, and especially with other Albion College Students. We are thankful that we have her through the summer this year as she prepares for her next adventure.”
Breanna Ridley
Hometown: Albion, Michigan
Major: Sociology | Minor: Education
Campus Involvements: Build Albion Fellows & AmeriCorps
Community Involvements: Volunteer at Harrington Elementary School, Big Read College Volunteer, and 4-H Mentor
Future: Breanna plans to attend Eastern Michigan University for their Masters Social Work program.
What is one aspect of Albion that you love? “I love that everyone in Albion supports each other and wants to help each other in whatever someone needs.”
Makayla Vines
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Major: Kinesiology | Minor: Psychology
Campus Involvements: Albion College AmeriCorps, Student Reproductive – Justice- Member-At-Large, Union Board, Albion-O, Office Assistant for Office of Belonging, Phi Gamma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated
Community Involvements: Volunteer within the community
Future: Makayla plans to attend Grad School for Occupational/Athletic Training Program at Grand Valley State University.
What is one aspect of Albion that you love? “One aspect of Albion that I love is how close knit it is with students, staff, and faculty. Also, that everyone shows up for you in the ways that matter most so your never alone or in need of help!”
Derek Koshorek
Hometown: Menominee, Michigan
Major: Psychology
Campus Involvements: Albion College AmeriCorps
Community Involvements: Tutor at local schools; MOHS, Marshall High, and Harrington. Kids ‘N’ Stuff Children’s Museum and Playright Sports Academy
Future: Derek will be taking a gap year before moving to Settle for graduate school, with the end goal of being a youth therapist.
What is one aspect of Albion that you love? “I love the community of Albion, when asked if I’m ready to graduate, I only hesitate since I will miss all of the people I was able to work with while going to school here. The program directors, community members, other volunteers, and the students themselves. Every relationship that I was able to create, I am grateful for.”
Breanna Staley
Hometown: Muskegon, Michigan
Major: Economics & Management | Minor: Environmental Studies
Campus Involvements: Women’s Tennis Team, Ford Institute, Alpha Chi Omega, Panhellenic Council
Community Involvements: Served two AmeriCorps terms at the City of Albion and Albion Economic Development Corporation
Future: Breanna plans to find to the perfect community where she can make a difference.
What is one aspect of Albion that you love? “I love how the community here always comes together to get things done. For example, Albion Community Day.”
Submitted by Breanna’s supervisor, Debbie Kelly: “Brenna assisted me in my new role as President & CEO by getting me organized – she created Board Governance, Planning, and Budget Books, organized files, assisted staff with grant administration, and as one of her last projects, Brenna researched data bases and created a presentation. Brenna set the stage for the AEDC to begin having those tough discussions with our residents and businesses. Brenna made everyone feel cared for and helped everyone no matter what their question was.“
Sarah Kohler
Hometown: South Lyon, Michigan
Major: Public Policy | Minor: Economics
Campus Involvements: Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, Swim and Dive Team, Albion Fellow, Ford Institute for Leadership in Public Policy and Service, Gerstacker Institute for Business & Management, Chi Alpha Sigma Honoree, and Harry Guyselman Scholarship
Community Involvements: Worked at Albion Economic Development Corporation, Director of Advocacy with Albion College Athletics, and Mentor for Cutler Center at Albion College.
Future: Sarah will be attending University of Michigan for Graduate School studying International Economic Development or Masters in Education.
What is one aspect of Albion that you love? Sarah loves the highly engaged community members that offer effective philanthropic ideas for the greater Albion area.
Submitted by Breanna’s supervisor, Debbie Kelly: “Sarah has a wide wealth of knowledge and has provided reports that community leaders will be able to use for rebuilding Albion! Sarah is a part of our work family and will be missed!”
Hailey Manson-Wilson
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Major: Psychology
Campus Involvements: Co-Captain of Albion College Cheer, AC Drip President, Union Board, AmeriCorps, Alpha Kappa Alpha
Community Involvements: Citizens to Beautify Albion’s Annual Men Who Cook
Future: Hailey plans to work on her science courses for med school, with a certification in CNA, as well as work for City Year Detroit.
What is one aspect of Albion that you love? “I love how close knit the community it, they welcomed me with open arms.”