2025 Alumni Achievement Award: Patrick Elzinga

Patrick Elzinga’s journey from Lake Michigan College student-athlete to healthcare leader exemplifies the transformative power of education and service. A 2013 graduate with an Associate of Arts in General Studies, Patrick chose LMC for its affordability, academic quality, and opportunity to play collegiate baseball. At LMC, he served as team captain and earned academic honors including Phi Theta Kappa and NJCAA Academic All-American.

His achievements at LMC led him to Berea College in Kentucky, where Patrick again captained the baseball team, helped launch a service fraternity supporting a local food bank, and completed internships while serving on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2015, Patrick pursued a Master of Public Administration from Eastern Kentucky University, earning Pi Sigma Alpha and Phi Kappa Phi honors.

Now a Senior Program Services Manager at Vizient Inc., Patrick leads cost-saving initiatives for more than 30 health systems. His strategic innovations during the COVID-19 pandemic helped hospitals overcome critical shortages while establishing financial sustainability.

“LMC provided the foundations for my personal growth and professional development,” Elzinga said. “My experience as a student athlete instilled core principles of service, discipline, and resilience that remain central to my healthcare career.”