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Outstanding Graduate Fall 2022 Feature: MaeLynn Huhn

MaeLynn Huhn

MaeLynn Huhn

As MaeLynn Huhn wrapped up her days at Portland High School, in 2019, she focused on greater learning opportunities and the ability to serve as a mentor and leader. The “where” and the “how” was a bit unclear at the time. Now, she finds herself prepared to graduate from Ferris State University on Saturday, Dec. 17, with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology while departing as the president of the Student Government Association.

“Around our home, there was not much emphasis on my going to a college or a university to earn a degree,” Huhn said. “My father had been in the military, so he suggested I enter the service, attend a trade school or study to be a flight attendant. My mother was part of a ‘fifth year’ program after high school at Montcalm Community College. She was more inclined to let me choose my direction and make the decision, with the promise that they would support my choice and help to figure out the details.”

A Big Rapids campus visit brought MaeLynn to a happy conclusion. She was planning to attend Ferris to be a Bulldog.

“What brought me to Ferris was the atmosphere and campus experience, where I saw a real sense of community with supports readily available, when I might need that help,” Huhn said. “Getting through the necessary applications and filings was a real experience for myself and my family.”

MaeLynn was joined by a few of her Portland Raiders classmates in Big Rapids to begin classes in the 2019-2020 academic year. “I had a few connections with other students from my hometown, but our school did not send a great deal of students here and higher education is not often the goal for graduates there,” Huhn said.

She added, “I knew coming into Ferris that I wanted to be involved with campus activities, but I studied those choices and made my decisions as I became more comfortable in my college experience.”
Huhn pledged Alpha Xi Delta in 2020, which found her taking a role as their representative in Student Government that fall.

“My position with Student Government grew, as I was made chair of The BIG Event in 2021, along with a role as Philanthropy Outreach Coordinator,” she said. “With COVID-19 keeping us from going out into the community the year before. We hoped to rebuild momentum. I helped create an online registration format that would record student and group participation, allowing us to organize their participation at the homes where assistance was requested.”

Huhn devoted this time to sorority and student government functions, thanks to a choice made in her high school days.

“I arrived at Ferris with 24 college credits earned through a dual enrollment program at Portland High,” Huhn said. “That freed up my schedule, so I could also join the Student Psychology Association, a registered student organization that gave me perspective and opportunities beyond my coursework.

All these assignments helped me gain experience, grow my leadership skills and realize the importance of being ready to give back to the campus and community.”

So that her cost of education were supported, MaeLynn has also kept an active work schedule as a student employee in roles across the Ferris campus.

“I have always had some kind of job since I turned 16,” Huhn said. “When I was a freshman, I worked as a tutor for the Academic Support Center in Math, Economics and other subjects. In the last year, I have been at the desk of the Vice President of Student Affairs’ office and a member of the social media team in the News Services office. Writing blogs was one of my hobbies that turned into a work opportunity, which has proven to be very useful experience, as part of my education.”

Huhn furthed noted, “I think it is important to work hard and take on the costs of education now, along with earning money for a well-rounded college experience.

Huhn said there was more to gain from her student worker roles than the paycheck from the university.

“Networking with faculty, staff and administrators is another benefit that came from serving as a Ferris employee and leader on campus,” Mae Lynn said. “I have been able to make connections and learn from each job and activity, which will help me as I look to my life following graduation.”
In a college experience rich with opportunities, MaeLynn added another important chapter, completing an internship with Pine Rest Christian Mental Health in Grand Rapids.

“I was with them through the 2021 Fall semester into early 2022,” Huhn said. “They gave me significant exposure to the psychological testing and evaluation process by administering intelligence and attention exercises, the Test of Memory Malingering, which included the scoring and reporting of those tests.”
Huhn said her coursework in Psychology at Ferris helped her prepare for the internship experience.

“I got to sit in on clinical interviews, which made for an amazing internship,” MaeLynn said. “I learned so much, with my coursework having prepared me for involvement in the psychological testing aspect. The hands-on experiences offered to me by Pine Rest were a real boost to my learning, dealing with and noting the reactions of those seeking clinical care.”

She looked to the final weeks of the 2022 Fall semester with pride and thoughtfulness, as MaeLynn includes her Student Government Association service and presidency on her resume.

“When the 2021-22 academic year was ending, I was paying lots of attention to Student Government President Paige Abromaitis and her approach to leadership,” Huhn said. “I had great interest in the presidency, even though I would graduate in December. Cassidy Engels also expressed her hopes for this role, so we took our intentions to Vice President for Student Affairs Jeanine Ward-Roof.

She said that she supported us and the decision to both go forward as candidates, and I was so honored to be elected by my peers in Student Government.

She and her fellow members take pride in what Student Government has accomplished.

“Those of us who have been with the Association are proud of the group’s momentum over the past couple of years,” Huhn said. “There are students from groups and other individuals willing to be servants and workers dedicated to making a difference on campus.”

Chief among those ready to step up and serve is Engels, according to MaeLynn.

“I am confident Cassidy will be the choice to assume the presidency and continue the good works of the SGA,” Huhn said. “It has been an honor to have this opportunity to work for the good of the Association and the university, which was completed with this time to serve as president.”

The graduation mortarboard and gown are in hand and MaeLynn looks forward to her afternoon commencement ceremony Saturday, Dec. 17, having earned her Psychology degree in three and a half years on campus. What follows immediately and eventually for her are not yet defined.

“I am really excited about graduation, going through and celebrating all that I have seen and dealt with at Ferris to reach this point,” Huhn said. “There is a realization that the ‘one door is closing, another is opening’ adage certainly applies in my case. While I have much to enjoy and be proud of in terms of my Ferris experience, I am very intent on graduate studies to earn a Master of Social Work degree. Those would have to start in the fall, whenever they begin. That means my short-term direction is a bit unclear, so I look forward to examining what is the best choice to continue my learning journey and being accepted where those opportunities exist. I am also ready to begin working before I enter an MSW program, but I will have to see what might present.”

Ferris hosts commencement ceremonies on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 10 a.m. (College of Business and College of Health Professions) and 1:30 p.m. (College of Arts, Sciences and Education, the College of Engineering Technology and the Doctorate in Community College Leadership) in Jim Wink Arena.