Michigan Townships Association

Michigan Townships Association awards its Robinson Scholarship to future local leaders

The Michigan Townships Association has awarded three individuals aspiring to careers in public service its 2021 Robert R. Robinson Memorial Scholarships. The annual award, available to a junior, senior or graduate student in a Michigan college or university, seeks to encourage today’s students to pursue a future in public service.

“This year’s recipients demonstrated a strong commitment to both their education, and to working toward careers serving Michigan’s residents,” said Marilyn Strickland, MTA Robinson Scholarship Committee chair and Newton Township (Mackinac Co.) treasurer, who also serves as MTA District 4 director. “MTA created this scholarship to honor the legacy of long-time township advocate Robert Robinson by fostering future local leaders—and our three honorees this year all have a bright future in public service.”

Midland native Krista Crockett is pursuing her master’s in Public Administration from Saginaw Valley State University, graduating in May 2022. Crockett, who has worked for the Michigan Department of Transportation since 2004, is a dedicated civil servant, and seeks a career in management and enforcement of government operations carried out in the public interest, such as public policy, public finance and public program development.

Nedra Hall, from Chesterfield Charter Township (Macomb Co.), will complete her master’s in Public Administration from Wayne State University this December. A member of the American Society for Public Administration and the AmeriCorps, Hall is also pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Economic Development. She aspires to transition into the role of policy analyst or program manager to work with local municipalities to promote and analyze the effects of educational programs.

Grand Valley State University Senior Mallory Prangley will graduate this May with a degree in Public and Nonprofit Administration and a minor in Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning. The Lowell resident, who currently interns with the City of Grand Rapids Planning Department, is looking forward to a career as a planner or director of a municipal planning department. Prangley is a student representative on the board of directors for the Michigan Association of Planning.