The Mackinac Straits Health System board and staff received the Community Service award at the annual St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce dinner Thursday, May 20. Board chair Ron Mitchell accepted the award on behalf of the board and the employees. Pictured are hospital representatives who attended the event: (back, from left) Tamie Hartwig, Nancy Nelson, Mary Kaye Ruegg, Barb Davis, Dr. Alice Lindsey, Dr. Susan Hepker, Karen Litzner; (front) board chair Ron Mitchell, CEO Rod Nelson, Dr. Carl Hawkins, and Dave Davis. The annual Chamber of Commerce dinner Thursday, May 20, was a night of celebration for the new Mackinac Straits Health System , as CEO Rod Nelson was named the 2010 St. Ignace Ambassador of the Year and the entire hospital staff and board were honored with the Community Service award.

Cheryl Schlehuber, president of the Chamber of Commerce, presented the awards to the hospital at the dinner at Little Bear East Arena. In her speech, she touted Mr. Nelson's role in creating a “one-ofa kind partnership” in health care between the hospital Sault Tribal Health and Human Services, calling him a “true ambassador of St. Ignace.”

At right: Dorene Ingalls, girls basketball coach at LaSalle High School, was honored with the St. Ignace Community Spirit Award Thursday, May 20. “It came as a shock,” said Mr. Nelson of receiving the award. “There are so many great people in this community. We have a tremendous group of people at the hospital, and I feel fortunate and lucky to receive this award.”

Mr. Nelson added that he sees the new Mackinac Straits Health System, which employs more than 245 people, as an “anchor for future development” in the community, and that he expects to see “St. Ignace continue to prosper in the future” with the hospital as a foundation. Located on 16 acres of land donated and by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the medical facility on North State Street is the second-largest employer in Mackinac County with a payroll of more than $8 million .

LaSalle High School seniors Kristen Olsen, recipient of the Outstanding Student Citizen Award, and Kevin Guillard, recipient of the Chamber of Commerce Ambassador's scholarship, with their parents (from left) Brian and Trudy Olsen, and Judy and Ken Guillard. The students were honored for their academic excellence and volunteerism in the community. Growing up in Newberry, Mr. Nelson was graduated from Tahquamenon Area Schools in 1973 . 1977 to 1980, he served in the U.S. Army at the DeWitt Army Medical Center in Virginia as a laboratory technician. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Lake Superior State University.

Rod Nelson, CEO of Mackinac Straits Health System, received the Chamber of Commerce's 2010 St. Ignace Ambassador of the Year Award at the annual dinner Thursday, May 20, for his role in establishing the new Mackinac Straits Health System, which opened in April. He is pictured with his wife, Nancy, and son, Cory. His career in health care began more than 20 years ago when he worked as a sales representative in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula. He served as vice president of support services at War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie; president and CEO of Thorn Hospital in Hudson and at Morenci Area Hospital in Morenci. He was the executive director for Lenawee Health Alliance in Adrian before taking the CEO position of Mackinac Straits Hospital in September 1999.

Mr. Nelson and his wife, Nancy, have six children, Joshua, Nina, Marisa, Aaron, Miranda, and Cory, and two grandchildren, Alexis and Gabe.

Dorene Ingalls Wins Community Spirit Award

The 2010 Community Spirit Award went to Dorene Ingalls, LaSalle High School girls basketball coach for the St. Ignace Saints, who led the team to the state finals this year. The award was presented by chamber president Janet Peterson, who in her introduction noted that Ms. Ingalls captures the definition of community spirit perfectly. In recognition of her team spirit, Ms. Ingalls' plaque reads, “Today is a great day to be a Saint.”

“Dorene truly has a spirited personality in coaching and in life,” Ms. Peterson said. “She has a sincere love for each of her players and has the ability to bring out the best in each of them. The same pride and inspiration she teaches her players on the court carries over to our community.”

Ms. Ingalls grew up in New Baltimore . She attended Lake Superior State University, where she lettered in four varsity sports: basketball, volleyball, softball, and tennis. After earning a degree in geology in 1991, she moved to St. Ignace to work for Mackinac Environmental Technology.

In 1996, she started a homebased business called A&I Midwest Printing. As the business grew, she moved her business downtown St. Ignace, where she currently owns and operates The Locker Room and A&I Midwest Printing.

She became the head coach of the Saints girls basketball team 11 years ago. Throughout her coaching tenure with the Saints, she's earned a 213-55 overall record, winning two state runner-up titles in 2002 and 2010, and two state championships 1999 and 2000.

“It's overwhelming and wonderful to receive this award,” she said. “I'd like to thank all of the kids I've coached -- this is a reflection of what we've done together. It's been amazing this year to lead this community to a championship. I told my girls that if we work together we can achieve anything.”

Kristen Olsen, Kevin Guillard Earn Scholarships

The Outstanding Student Citizen Award went to LaSalle High School senior Kristen Olsen and the Ambassador Scholarship to LaSalle senior Kevin Guillard.

Miss Olsen will be attending Saginaw Valley State University to pursue a degree in nursing, and Mr. Guillard will pursue a degree in pre-medicine or engineering.

Miss Olsen completed more than 170 hours of community service in high school, volunteering for several local programs. She was a member of the high school's basketball, volleyball, track, and dance teams. As a student, she maintained honor roll status throughout high school, and served on the student council for four years.

Mr. Guillard volunteered more than 120 hours of community service, and was a member of the cross country, track, and basketball teams. Setting a personal goal of graduating in the top 10 of his class, he also excelled academically. As well as being on the honor roll four years, he was named a Straits Area Conference Scholar Athlete, and received the Eastern Upper Peninsula Principal's Award for Academic Excellence.

Also recognized were many businesses who decorated tables in the theme of St. Ignace summer events, such as the Car Show, Fourth of July, and fireworks shows.

Chamber of Commerce volunteers were thanked by Mrs. Peterson for their service this year, among them Judy Gross and Judy Bonello.

In addition to the award presentation, guests were treated to a “Sample St. Ignace” buffet-style dinner. Masters of ceremony for the evening were Tom Della-Moretta and Dave Ramsay, assisted by Gary Engle. Members of the Saints Alive Youth Group served water and cleared tables. Local businesses serving food and beverages includ- ed B.C. Pizza, Bentley's B-n-L Cafe, Bessie's Homemade Pasties, Driftwood Restaurant, Fred's Pub, Griffin Beverage, Gustafson's Smoked Fish, Hillside House Restaurant, Horseshoe Bay Restaurant, McDonald's Restaurant, Mackinac Grille and Varsity Catering, St. Ignace Big Boy, Galley Restaurant, Timmy Lee's Pub, Village Inn Restaurant, Zak's Kandy Haus Glen's Markets, Mackinac Fudge Shop, Mackinac Straits Health System, The Pines Trading Post, and Gold Mine Jewelry.