of the Year

Most people know Carolyn as a long time educator. Carolyn taught for Alma Public Schools for 25 years and was the principal for Alma Middle School for almost 13 years. Since her official retirement, she has been the Director of the summer STEM camps at Alma College, coordinating sessions for 6th-12th grade students to further their math, science, and engineering skills. Carolyn also spends much of her free time as a board member of many local non-profits in our community and is active in volunteering and participating with philanthropic groups that keep her calendar full. She has a heart for community service, having donated much of her free time to nonprofit organizations in central Michigan. She has served on the Board of Directors for: Child Advocacy (ten years), including filling officer positions of Treasurer and President, the United Way of Gratiot & Isabella Counties, and Gratiot County Hope House. She also volunteers for The Royal Family Kids Camp as a placement coordinator of summer camp experience, at the food pantry at the First Presbyterian Church in Alma, at Alma Public Schools supporting the middle school’s STEM for Girls program and working the time clock at sporting events, as a youth advisor with the Gratiot County Community Foundation, with the Gratiot-Isabella College Access Network, and as a co-chair of Arts United.

Above all, she loves and supports her own family, which includes her son Kevin and daughter Katie, and four grandchildren: Sam, Simon, Dayton, and Zoe. She is modeling the love, devotion, and determination young people need as they raise the next generation of leaders.

Dr. David Freestone Ithaca Person of the Year

Dr. Freestone received his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University, attended medical school at the University of Michigan, and completed his residency in Albany, NY. Following this, he served his country in four years in the Air Force at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi. He is an adventurous world traveler who has been to six of the seven continents and took 500 days to travel across America prior to beginning his career in Mid-Michigan. Following his exciting adventures, he decided to put down his roots here in Gratiot County where he could raise his son, Caleb, and daughter, Amelia.

His passion for service is evident throughout the community. Young children have enjoyed the playscape that was built in Woodland Park, of which he was the co-project manager. Dr. Freestone provides physicals for many of Ithaca’s student athletes and his presence on the sidelines of the football field, and various other sports, as team doctor has been invaluable. This type of involvement has allowed him to build both relationships and community. In addition to being passionate about the people in the community of Ithaca, he is committed to preserving and protecting the environment as well. Several acres of his property have been set aside through a Conservation Restoration Project to support native plant and wildlife species including pheasants, bees, and monarch butterflies. Throughout the last twenty years, with the help of his children and family, he has planted over 4,800 trees for future generations to enjoy.