Mark, Cathie Sposito Named Ambassadors of the Year
Krug, Mullins, Ford Also Honored
By Ryan Schlehuber

St. Ignace Ambassadors of the Year Cathie and Mark Sposito with their children (from left) Alex, 18, Emily, 16, and Molly, 11. Longtime restaurant owners in town, the couple was honored for their work on the Visitors Bureau special events committee.

Mark and Cathie Sposito have been named St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors of the Year for their work on the Visitors Bureau special events committee. The award was presented during the annual banquet Thursday, May 17, at Little Bear East Community Center.

It was only the second time two people have won the award since it was first presented in 1964. Cliff and Helen Johnson shared the award in 1997.

Also winning awards at last week's banquet were George Ford, the recipient of the Community Spirit Award, LaSalle High School senior Jamie Krug, who won the Outstanding Student Citizen Award, and Lewie Mullins, a LaSalle senior, who won the inaugural Ambassador Scholarship.

The banquet also recognized the Mackinac Bridge's upcoming 50th birthday celebration. Surrounded by posters of Mackinac Bridge images and a slide show of photographs of the 1957 construction of the bridge, Bob Sweeney, executive secretary of the Mackinac Bridge Authority, spoke about plans to celebrate the event July 27 and 28.

The winner of the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce Student Citizen Award, Jamie Krug (second from right) is a LaSalle High School senior who has donated 230 hours of community service in three years. Pictured with her are (left) award presenter Jane Weiss, school board president, and Miss Krug's parents, Kayla and Jim Krug.

Those who attended were treated to a buffet that featured foods prepared by 18 St. Ignace businesses. Attendees also received a copy of the program from the first Mackinac County Chamber of Commerce dinner in 1959, provided by Marv Winkelman, the 1957- 58 Chamber president.

Ambassadors of the Year

Cathie and Mark Sposito, longtime restaurant operators in St. Ignace, said they were surprised at being chosen for the award, which is not announced until the banquet. They were instrumental in creating St. Ignace's first pond hockey tournament in late February, an idea that was spawned from an informal Visitors Bureau special events committee. The tournament attracted 1,000 people over two days.

Assisting in setting up and clean-up at the Chamber of Commerce annual banquet were members of the Glen Memorial Baptist Church Saints Alive Youth Group, including (from left) Cayla Cowell, Kathleen Bunker, Ben Lane, Jess Wyse, Elissa Crystal, Tyler McKerchie, Bonnie McKerchie, Jason Huyck, Jacob McKerchie, and Merv Wyse. Members not pictured are Chelsea Cowell, Derek Marshall, Kalib Marshall, James Peterson, Corey Nelson, Nichole Lanczak, Carissa Cowell, Meredith Wyse, Shawn Cowell, Rachel Therrian, Immanuel Davis, Caleb Litzner, and Darwin Hughey.

The committee wants to create a week-long winter carnival and is hoping to raise $17,000 to purchase large tents that can be used for any event in St. Ignace. The Spositos host Visitors Bureau committee meetings every month at the Mackinac Grille.

Mrs. Sposito is a member of the Chamber board, the Downtown Development Authority, and the St. Ignace Kiwanis Club. Mr. Sposito serves on the Visitors Bureau board.

At left: LaSalle High School senior Lewie Mullins was presented the first Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Scholarship of $500. Janet Peterson (left), director of the Chamber, presented him with a plaque. Also pictured are his parents, Mary Ann and Mark Mullins of St. Ignace. Mr. Mullins arrived at the dinner right after playing a high school baseball game in St. Ignace, as did Student Citizen of the Year Jamie Krug.

They have lived in St. Ignace all of their lives and were graduated from LaSalle High School in 1979 and 1980, respectively, before attending Michigan State University.

The couple, in partnership with Mr. Sposito's brother and his wife, Tom and Heidi Sposito, own and operate the Driftwood Sports Bar and Motel, Varsity Catering, and the Mackinac Grille Restaurant.

Mark and Cathie Sposito have three daughters, Alex, 18, Emily, 16, and Molly, 11.

Other Awards

Shirley Sorrels, head of the city's Ojibwe Museum, presented the Community Spirit Award to Mr. Ford, the president of the Mackinac County Animal Shelter and a member of the Mackinac Animal Aid Association. He also received a resolution of recognition signed by Governor Jennifer Granholm, State Representative Gary McDowell, and State Senator Jason Allen.

George Ford of Brevort Lake, who is involved in many groups in St. Ignace, including the Mackinac Animal Aid Association and the Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, is given the Spirit Award by Shirley Sorrels at the annual Chamber banquet.

"I just love this community," said Mr. Ford, originally from Owosso. "It reminds me of the community I lived in downstate. It's like the 1960s, where everyone is so nice and people help other people take groceries out to their car. It's like going back in time here."

Mr. Ford is the chairman of the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors. He is working to secure nonprofit status for the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce Foundation and is helping the Chamber organize three summer mud runs in St. Ignace.

He has been an active volunteer for Mackinac County's Michigan State University Extension office, the 4-H Club, Moran Township committees, and he is a member of the St. Ignace Lions Club.

Mr. Ford and his wife, Jo Ann, live in Brevort Lake. He is a retired employee of General Motors in Pontiac.

Jamie Krug and Lewie Mullins, both dressed in baseball uniforms, arrived at the event just as their teams finished playing home games.

Miss Krug was awarded the Chamber's Outstanding Student Citizen Award for her dedication to community service. She participates in a high school program that awards students white cords for graduation day for earning 90 hours or more of community service. She recorded more than 230 hours in three years.

The daughter of Kayla and Jim Krug of St. Ignace, she is a fouryear softball player and works with the St. Ignace summer softball program as a statistician and scorekeeper. She plans to study business and law at Central Michigan University.

Mr. Mullins was chosen as the best candidate out of 12 applicants for the first Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Scholarship. He will receive $500.

The scholarship is awarded based on leadership, academic success, and dedication to participating in school activities.

The son of Mary Ann and Mark Mullins of St. Ignace, he is a member of the National Honor Society, vice president of his class for the second consecutive year, and a member of the baseball and basketball teams. He has earned 139 hours in community service, not including service hours for National Honor Society.

Mr. Mullins plans to attend Michigan Technology University in Houghton to study architectural engineering.