The award recognizes professional achievement by an MCC graduate from the past 15 years. Bartels will be honored on Monday, May 1, at the Alumni Awards Dinner and will be formally recognized on Wednesday, May 3, at the 2017 MCC Commencement in Walker Arena.
Bartels’ successful climatology research has brought him grant study work at Western Michigan University, Louisiana State University, and the University of North Florida. He has also completed research for Homeland Security, as well as a stint at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. He has presented his research at NASA headquarters in Washington D.C.
He is currently employed by Southern Regional Climate Center in its Climate Impacts Planning Program, and is teaching at Louisiana State University while pursuing a Ph.D. in Geography and Climatology with a Doctoral Minor in Statistics.
Bartels, who was part of the class of 2007 at MCC, earned a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology and Geography from Valparaiso University in addition to his degree from WMU.
His higher education journey started at MCC, where his interest in geography, meteorology, and climatology began with the encouragement and mentorship of his geography instructor Diana Casey. His passion translated into his becoming a founding member, secretary and treasurer of MCC’s GEO Club.
“Rudy is such a wonderful example of the beauty in developing relationships with classmates and faculty,” said Casey. “He has always come back to MCC. In his words, ‘MCC is where it all began.’ I am honored to have been one of his instructors. I treasure the friendship we have developed. Rudy Bartels has gone into the world always proud to give credit to his collegiate beginnings at MCC.”
The Bartels name is well known at MCC. His father, Rudy, attended MCC and his grandfather, also named Rudy Bartels, is one of the namesakes of the Bartels-Rode Gymnasium on the MCC campus. His grandfather was a legendary coach who led the Jayhawk cross country team to MCC’s first national championship in 1963.
“The support and encouragement from MCC has helped me achieve many of my accomplishments and I am forever thankful of the education and support system that MCC has for its students,” said Bartels.
Press release and photo courtesy Muskegon Community College