The Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees recognized two Niles residents for their five years of service to the college during the board’s February meeting

David Maxwell  began at the college in 2007 as an instructor of Precision Machining Technology program. He is an instructor in the Division of Advanced Technologies as the lead faculty.

Maxwell has a master’s degree from Grace College and Seminary and a bachelor of art’s degree from Fort Wayne Bible College. He is a certified through the National Institute of Metalworking Skills in Measurement, Materials, and Safety; CNC milling, programming setup and operations; CNC turning, programming, setup and operations; job planning, and bench work and layout
Laura Skillings, of Niles, started at SMC in 2007 as an EXCEL counselor. She is the director of the EXCEL program at the college.

Skillings has a master’s degree in counseling and career development and a bachelor of art degree in history, both from Colorado State University.

Previously, she worked as the director of the STARS program, Student Support Services at Neosho County Community College in Kansas.