Former dean of arts and sciences at Montcalm Community College creates artwork to raise money for student scholarships

Dr. Gary Hauck, former dean of the College of Arts and Science and former adjunct professor at Montcalm Community College, is drawing on a relatively new found hobby to continue making a difference in the MCC community after his retirement. Dr. Hauck has been painting prolifically, and from August 1-3, his paintings will be in the silent auction at the 37th Heritage Festival at Montcalm Heritage Village. All proceeds from these paintings will go directly toward student scholarship funds.

According to an article on Montcalm Community College’s website, Dr. Hauck explained how he came into his recent hobby, saying, “Even though I taught art appreciation and art history as part of the humanities curriculum over the years, I never tried to paint except for a noon-time workshop under adjunct art instructor Debbie Bell, which I thoroughly enjoyed.” After his son bought him the tools he needed to begin painting regularly, Dr. Hauck dove in headfirst: “Painting soon became a fun hobby. I painted landscapes and dabbled with doing historic landmarks that I had visited, using the grid method.”

The 20 paintings that Dr. Hauck is contributing to the Heritage Festival’s silent auction came to fruition due to a suggestion from Lisa Lund, the executive director of the MCC Foundation, who suggested that he paint Heritage Village buildings. She also suggested that he do so in the name of funding scholarships for students to attend Montcalm Community College.

Dr. Hauck said, “While I enjoyed serving as dean and directing MCC’s cultural events for those 10 years, my greatest pleasure was in the classroom, teaching humanities, religion, geography, local history, communications and art appreciation. I absolutely loved interacting with my students and was so appreciative of the scholarship assistance that so many of them had received, making their education with us possible. When Lisa mentioned this as an objective of the fundraiser, I couldn’t have been more excited.”

Throughout his time at Montcalm Community College, Dr. Hauck served as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 2008 to 2018, and he also served as an adjunct professor until 2023. He still has a hand in the Montcalm Community College community, as he continues to teach noncredit courses. Additionally, he served as the docent for the Heritage Village Committee for a decade. In addition to participating in reenactments and presentations for the village, he also authored a book for its 25th anniversary in 2011.

Dr. Hauck’s artistic hobby has flourished since officially retiring from Montcalm Community College. He estimates that he’s completed approximately 75 paintings. His artwork has appeared in ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and will appear again for the second consecutive year. He has even had three art shows to show off his work in his various communities.

“I feel so blessed to still be a part of the MCC family and Montcalm community and am happy to make whatever contribution I can in return for all that I have been given and experienced here,” said Dr. Hauck.

For more information about Montcalm Community College, visit the school’s website.