SC4 announces winter 2024 camps

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) is pleased to announce four camps in baseball, basketball, softball and volleyball this winter.

“These camps provide a wonderful opportunity to learn from collegiate coaches, athletes and experts,” said SC4 Athletic Director Dale Vos. “We expect these camps to fill fast and look forward to helping young athletes learn new skills this winter to improve their future success.”

All athletic camps take place in the SC4 Fieldhouse.

Limited space is available for each of the camps. For more information and to register, visit sc4.edu/camps. Email drvos@sc4.edu or call (810) 989-5588 with questions.

Award-winning mezzo-soprano, renowned concert pianist to perform at SC4 Dec. 7

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) welcomes to campus award-winning mezzo-soprano Lisa Marie Rogali and sought-after pianist and vocal coach Nathalie Doucet, head of Music and Director of the Resident Opera Program at Detroit Opera, for performances at noon and 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7, in SC4’s Fine Arts Theatre.

Rogali has been praised as a versatile performer of opera, musical theater, contemporary and concert music. She’s debuted roles in operas and premieres across the U.S. and world, earning top accolades from the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Jensen Foundation, Giulio Gari Foundation, Gerda Lissner Foundation and many more.

During Detroit Opera’s 2023-2024 mainstage season, Rogali will be featured as a soloist in Arias and Overtures, and Beyond the Pit. She will sing the role of Kate Pinkerton in Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly,” the role of The Dog in Janáček’s “The Cunning Little Vixen,” and will cover the role of Dodo in Missy Mazzoli’s and Royce Vavrek’s “Breaking the Waves.” She also will sing the role of Der Trommler in “Der Kaiser von Atlantis” with Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings.

Rogali holds a master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Pennsylvania State University.

Doucet boasts a remarkable international career. In addition to her role at the Detroit Opera, she has collaborated with renowned opera-producing organizations, singers and conductors worldwide, including the Washington National Opera, Summer Scape Festival-Fisher Center at Bard, The Dutch National Opera, l’Opéra de Montréal, the Vancouver Opera and more.

She has held esteemed positions in Europe as head coach of the Opera Studio Nederland and principal coach at the Dutch National Opera Academy. She contributed her talents to organizations such as De Nederlandse Reisopera, the NTR Saturday Matinee (Concertgebouw), the Neue Stimmen, the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition, and the International Vocal Competition in s’Hertogenbosch. Additionally, she spent 11 years as a faculty member at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.

Doucet also serves as a judge for the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.

The concerts on Dec. 7 are free as an SC4 Community Arts offering to encourage and support the arts in our community. No tickets are needed. For the most current list of upcoming events at SC4, visit sc4.edu/events/.

New scholarship honoring alumna Ellen Petho to benefit SC4 art and design students

Future generations of St. Clair County Community College (SC4) art and design students will benefit from a new scholarship thanks to a generous $100,000 donation from the Petho family in honor of SC4 alumna and interior designer Ellen Petho.

Ellen Petho called Port Huron her home for more than 75 years. She and her husband, Lou, raised their family in Port Huron. Ellen had a long and successful career in interior design. She also devoted herself to philanthropic work. She was proud to earn her advertising and design degree from SC4 in 1988. SC4 was an integral part of Ellen’s education and the beginning of her design career. While at SC4, she formed great relationships and had wonderful mentors.

Sadly, Ellen Petho passed away on Jan. 2, 2023. To honor Ellen and her devotion to art and giving to others, Lou, her daughters and their families have made a generous $100,000 donation to SC4 on its 100th year anniversary. This donation will provide scholarship money to aspiring art students. The scholarship will be called the “Ellen Petho Design Ideas Memorial Scholarship.” Through this scholarship, Ellen’s passion for learning, art and design, and giving to others will live on as her legacy.

SC4 students soon can apply for the “Ellen Petho Design Ideas Memorial Scholarship” at sc4.edu/scholarships.

To learn more about SC4 art, design, and other programs and career pathways, as well as how to apply and register for winter 2024 classes, visit sc4.edu/programs/.

Petho family, pictured above from left to right: Christine Moore, Lou Petho, Kathy Patterson and Karri Petho

On National STEM Day, SC4 announces SC4 STEM Fest with Michigan Tech to be held March 9

>>> REGISTER HERE FOR SC4 STEM FEST

In recognition of National STEM Day on Nov. 8, St. Clair County Community College (SC4) is pleased to announce that its second annual SC4 STEM Fest will take place on Saturday, March 9, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event—which again is free and open to the public thanks to generous donations and grants—aims to spark a sense of wonder and features more than 100 hands-on, interactive science, technology, engineering and mathematics exhibits by SC4 and Michigan Technological University’s Mind Trekkers.  

“Nearly 4,000 people from more than 130 zip codes registered for our inaugural STEM Fest event last year,” said Kristin Copenhaver, SC4 chief marketing officer. “It was a huge success for our college and community, inspiring the next generation of leaders and innovators in STEM as well as bringing excitement, energy and economic impact to our region.”

The event’s more than 100 activities and exhibits will have learners exploring a wide array of STEM topics. Specific session highlights will be announced shortly, with the event once again taking place throughout SC4’s Fieldhouse and Clara E. Mackenzie Building / Experience Center, which includes the Challenger Learning Center at SC4 and the Dr. Bassam H. Nasr Natural Science Museum. (Visit sc4.edu/stem-fest/stem-fest-experiences/ to view a list of last year’s activities. Please keep in mind, however, that 2024 activities and exhibits will/may differ.)

Mind Trekkers is a flagship program of Michigan Technological University’s Center for Educational Outreach. Powered by undergraduate and graduate student guides, Mind Trekkers travels across the country to deliver high-energy, hands-on, STEM demonstrations to learners of all ages, inspiring them to pursue post-secondary education.

“We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with SC4 with the return of Mind Trekkers to this event,” said Cassy Tefft de Muñoz, executive director of the Center for Educational Outreach at Michigan Technological University. “The southeast Michigan community is fortunate to have such a strong educational leader in SC4 and we are looking forward to providing another fun and engaging experience for families in the region.”

More information regarding exhibits, details and registration soon will be available—though registration is now open. RSVP for the event at sc4.edu/stem-fest/stem-fest-registration/ now and be among the first to hear updates.

To help support STEM Fest and STEM programming at SC4, visit sc4.edu/give. Please direct any questions to SC4 at (810) 989-5789 or experiencecenter@sc4.edu.

TRIO Student of the Month — Michele Erdman

Twenty years ago, Kimball Township resident Michele Erdman, was thrown a curveball with a diagnosis of Muscular Dystrophy.

“My future was unknown, and all the plans our family had made went out the door,” said Erdman, a proud mother of four. “However, I did not let that stop me.”

On the contrary, Erdman kept busy and active camping with her family, volunteering at local schools and in living history French and Indian War encampments around the state of Michigan, traveling, antiquing with her husband, and cheering on her children in sports. She also set her sights on earning a college degree.

Erdman became a first-time college student in 2009. A year later, however, she needed to pause her schooling to focus on her family and health. “I knew that it was the right thing to do, but I also knew that it would not be the end of my goal of finishing college,” she said.

She started back at SC4 in fall 2021, this time more focused on a degree in business management after serving as a Kimball Township election inspector for more than 10 years.

“Volunteering within the local government sector has opened my eyes to how important our city and township governments are in our day-to-day lives,” said Erdman, who continues to serve as election inspector. “I am still unsure how I will be using my degree, but I know that between my education and experience, I am prepared to work in government or a non-profit to help better serve the people around me. I have a passion for people with disabilities. I am thankful for my Muscular Dystrophy as it has prepared me for life in a way that I probably wouldn’t have realized without this disease.”

Erdman is scheduled to graduate this year and credits SC4’s TRIO Program and the entire SC4 community for helping her cross the finish line.

“TRIO is a wonderful program that has given me some amazing opportunities to learn more about myself as well as to meet and interact with some amazing individuals,” she said. “It has helped me to better navigate college with personalized help as well as understanding how to navigate campus with physical disabilities. I am so encouraged by the students I meet and have gotten to know in the program.”

She added, “It has been an absolute pleasure meeting and interacting with the instructors, staff and students here at SC4. We are a family and community that truly care for one another. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have been given to be able to go to college. As an older student, I have never been made to feel as though I don’t belong. I am excited to begin my next chapter in life and look forward to where my degree will take me. I am very proud to say I have endured and overcome!”

Alumni Spotlight: Sheri Faust

Current or most recent title and employer?
Co-Founder and Executive Director of Friends of the St. Clair River, Environmental Health Educator for the St. Clair County Health Department

How did SC4 help prepare you?
My experience at SC4 was rewarding because I was able to build relationships with my instructors due to the small class sizes. Some instructors evolved into personal mentors, like Bob Collins or more affectionately known as Bio Bob. He was a tremendous influence in my life as he devoted extra time out of class to spend time with students in the field teaching invaluable lessons and experiences that can’t be had in a classroom. It was his influence that convinced me I was on the right path to pursue my passion in natural resources management. Many of my instructors were influential in my early life as a young college student because they were personable, accessible and helpful. SC4 gave me the confidence to move on to a four-year university and pursue the career I was passionate about.

My various professional roles and titles have benefited from partnerships with SC4, so I’m grateful to have a long history with the College – both as a student and as a career professional. As a student, I became familiar with the landscape and culture of SC4, and when I returned back to Port Huron after college and marriage, getting reacquainted with SC4 staff and campus was familiar territory because I felt like I had a personal connection to the campus. This partnership has carried on for the duration of my career living and working in Port Huron.

What do you like most about what you do professionally?
My interests, hobbies, passions and career all intersect. I think this is an ideal scenario which I feel lucky to be blessed with.

Did you transfer on and earn other degrees? If so, what degrees and from where?
After two years at SC4, I transferred to MSU and earned a bachelor’s degree in natural resources management. Additional certifications, community service and awards include: Certified Planning and Zoning Citizen Planner, Planning Commissioner for Port Huron Township, Board Member for the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, Blue Water Woman Government Professional of the Year award

SC4 announces President’s Honor List for summer 2023

A total of 235 St. Clair County Community College (SC4) students earned a spot on the President’s Honor List for the 2023 summer semester.

Students must complete at least six credits and have a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher to make the list.

View the President’s Honor List for the 2023 summer semester—as well as the 2023 winter semester list recognizing 1,355 students—sortable by hometown.

Winter 2024 registration at SC4 now open

Registration for the winter semester is now underway at St. Clair County Community College (SC4). Winter semester courses—which are offered online and on-campus— begin Jan. 8, 2024.

Students interested in earning credits toward a degree or transfer pathway, as well as those community members interested in learning more about a particular topic or passion, can enroll now to secure their classes.

“SC4 credits are a fraction of the cost compared to four-year institutions and they transfer easily,” said SC4 Chief Marketing Officer Kristin Copenhaver. “Plus, we offer our students a wide array of support services, College Housing and exciting campus life experiences.

”A full list of courses and sections is available at sc4.edu/schedule, and new students can learn how to apply and register at sc4.edu/admissions/. Current students can register via their Service Center accounts within the SC4 Portal at portal.sc4.edu.

“Our successful community of SC4 alumni—who work as engineers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, welders, scientists, public safety officers, designers, managers, entrepreneurs and much more—illustrates there’s no one path toward a successful career,” said SC4 Registrar Carrie Bearss. “Students have many options, and we’re here to help each navigate the process so that they enroll in the right courses, programs and pathways to get to their next educational or career milestone.”

Dual enrollment and early/middle college options are available for current high school students to earn college credits at no cost. However, if cost is still a factor for other types of students, SC4 financial aid experts stand ready to assist.

“Our goal is to help students understand what support is out there so they can focus on what matters most—their classes,” said SC4 Executive Director of Financial Assistance Jo Cassar. “Most of our students receive financial aid, through a combination of federal, state and private funding sources, grants and scholarships. There’s potential support out there, but you won’t get it unless you fill out a FAFSA and apply for admission.”

New this year is the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which provides eligible high school graduates (starting with the Class of 2023) with up to $2,750 if they attend a community college, per year. Additionally, Michigan Reconnect—which just announced an expansion to assist Michigan students ages 21 and older—pays for qualifying students to attend SC4 tuition-free.

For more information about applying to SC4, contact the SC4 team at starthere@sc4.edu or call (810) 989-5571. For course registration assistance, contact Enrollment Services at enrollment@sc4.edu or call (810) 989-5500. For more information about financial aid and scholarships, email financialaid@sc4.edu or call (810) 989-5530.

Nationally acclaimed performer to take the SC4 stage Nov. 16

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) will welcome nationally acclaimed acoustic singer and guitarist Cliff Erickson to campus for performances at noon and 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16, in SC4’s Fine Arts Theatre.

Erickson—a longtime performer who’s opened for top industry icons such as Ringo Starr, Kenny Rogers, The Beach Boys and Wynona Judd—brings to the stage original works along with passionate renditions of classic cover tunes.

His two albums, “Rendezvous” and “Acquired Taste,” released by Accurate Records, capture the essence of acoustic songwriting. Sales of his Christmas album, “The Spirit of Christmas,” released in 2005, raised thousands of dollars for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The Nov. 16 Cliff Erickson concerts are free as an SC4 Community Arts offering to encourage and support the arts in our community. No tickets are needed. For the most current list of upcoming events at SC4, visit sc4.edu/events/.

SC4 to open traveling Detroit Historical Society ‘WWII Propaganda Posters’ exhibit Nov. 6

St. Clair County Community College’s (SC4) Fine Arts Gallery will soon offer an unforgettable journey back in time with a traveling “WWII Propaganda Posters” exhibit from the Detroit Historical Society.
 
The exhibit opens on Monday, Nov. 6, with a ceremony at 6 p.m. in the SC4 Fine Arts Theatre and Gallery featuring SC4 history professors Scott Fernandez and Patricia Frank. The exhibit is open for viewing from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday until Dec. 8, with closure dates Nov. 22-24. 
 
Posters included in the exhibit highlight key messaging by U.S. Government departments at the time, reflecting themes such as military and nursing recruitment, patriotism, conservation of resources and security. They also highlight the works of specific period cartoonists, illustrators, graphic artists and portraitists.
 
“We’re thrilled to bring this exhibit to our community,” said SC4 Chief Academic Officer Ethan Flick. “These posters—a primary communication tool long before digital screens and social media platforms existed—help us explore the notion of propaganda and provide a glimpse into a pivotal time in our nation’s history. We look forward to welcoming students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends to this exhibit.”
 
“WWII Propaganda Posters” is free as an SC4 Community Arts offering to encourage and support the arts in our community. No tickets are needed.
 
For more information and the most current list of upcoming events, visit sc4.edu/events/. Please note that additional programming may be added and event information may change.

Above posters are part of the Detroit Historical Society’s “WWII Propaganda Posters” exhibit at SC4 beginning Nov. 6.