Author: Mark Rummel

SC4 seeking employers for Career Fair April 28

The 2022 St. Clair County Community College Career Fair will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 28. The event will bring hundreds of students, alumni and community members to the SC4 Fieldhouse in search of career opportunities.

The college is partnering with the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County, Macomb/St. Clair Michigan Works!, the City of Port Huron/McMorran Place and SC4’s TRIO Program for this year’s event, and is currently seeking employers in search of qualified candidates for their open positions.

“The Career Fair is a great opportunity for employers in our region to showcase their company, network with other employers, and above all, find the best candidates from our community’s rich talent pool,” said Bonnie DiNardo, executive director of community and public relations at SC4. Participating employers also have the opportunity to post positions on Career Coach, the college’s online employment system for students and alumni.

The Career Fair is expected to fill to capacity this year — interested employers are encouraged to register as early as possible, but no later than April 14. Employers can find detailed information and convenient online registration at sc4.edu/careerfair.

Financial Aid Awareness

This week we are switching gears and focusing on a different type of borrowing. We will dive into financial aid. Financial Aid is money that is given, earned, or lent to help students pay for their education. Financial aid makes it possible for millions of students to pay for college.

There are four types of Financial aid; Grants (free money such as Pell Grant), Scholarships (free money awarded for exceptional academics, talent, or financial need), Loans (funds borrowed from banks, colleges, and the government), and Work-study (programs that provide students with financial aid part-time jobs to fund education).

Most often, financial aid is awarded in the form of a package. Packages, consisting of grants, scholarships, loans and/or work-study, are put together by the college’s financial aid office. It is important to know that you can have differing aid packages from college to college. It is important to understand that financial aid is awarded based on financial need. Therefore, if your family can afford to pay $6,000 and the cost of the college is $15,000, the student has a financial need of $9,000. After you can your parents complete the FAFSA (Federal Application for Federal Student Aid), you will get a report that tells you how much your family should be able to afford to pay for college the following year.

The FAFSA is available on October 1. Some aid is awarded on a first-come, first-first served basis, so apply as soon as you can. The application can be completed online, and you will need to create a profile with a password so keep your password in a safe place. The FAFSA is free so there never is a need to pay a company to complete your application. By completing the FAFSA you are applying for a Pell Grant. It is important to understand that although it may seem scary, it is easy to complete and never assume you won’t be eligible.

When completing your FAFSA you will need the following:

  • Log in Info
  • Social Security number
  • Federal Income Tax Return, W2’s, and any other earned money
  • List of schools being considered

With all the above items it could take about an hour to complete. As a TRIO student, you have a secret weapon, your advisor is equipped to assist you in completing your aid. I would encourage you to have your FAFSA and any scholarships submitted to SC4 by March 15. If you are intimidated by the FAFSA, please contact your advisor. As always, Let’s Build!

Black History Month Read-In event planned Feb. 21

In recognition of Black History Month, SC4’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is hosting a Read-In event from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21, in the Fine Arts Theatre.

The National African American Read-In was created in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month.

“Black History Month is a celebration of achievements and contributions to human development. And the fact that Black history is part of American history is essential for all Americans to know, learn about and understand,” said Jessica Brown, director of SC4’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

The event is focused on bringing the community together to listen to the reading of poems, stories and book excerpts from favorite Black authors. Program participants include K-12 students, SC4 students, faculty, staff and local citizens.

Brown stated, “The Read-In event reflects groundbreaking efforts to encourage communities to read together, centering on African American books and authors and celebrating the beautiful legacy together.”

The mission of SC4’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is to advance the college’s efforts in providing educational access and support for all. The office hosts national speakers, podcasts, guided book discussion, events and programs to make our campus an inclusive environment for students, faculty, staff and our community.

Attendees are asked to register in advance for the free Read-In event by filling out the event registration form. To read more about SC4’s DEI Office, visit sc4.edu/dei.

Cindy Rourke named recipient of SC4 Alumni of the Year award

Well-known community advocate and supporter Cindy Rourke has been named the recipient of the 2020 St. Clair County Community College Alumni of the Year award after a pause in award distribution due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was so surprised to receive the 2020 Alumni of the Year Award,” Rourke said. “It is an honor just to be considered let alone to receive the award.”

Rourke enrolled as a student at SC4 in 1968, as did her husband of 38 years, Jim Rourke, and many of her friends and family members.

“For most of us, we were the first in our family to attend college,” Cindy said. “None of our families had much money and we all knew that SC4 would be our stepping stone to the future.  My education at SC4 prepared me for going on to Western Michigan University. I also had great fun there playing euchre in the union and as a work study student in the library. That’s how and why I chose library science as my career path.”

Fortunately for the College and community, Cindy and Jim made their way back from WMU and the University of Michigan to the Port Huron area after receiving their bachelor’s degrees and began work at SC4 and Mueller Brass, respectively.

Cindy served in a variety of library, technology and support-based roles in her 28-year career at SC4, including dean of the Library and the Achievement Center. Among many other notable achievements, Cindy played a key role in the library design when the library was moved from the Clara E. Mackenzie Building to the College Center.

Throughout their professional careers and beyond, both Cindy and Jim believed greatly in SC4’s mission of maximizing student success through an accessible, high-quality education at an affordable price.

Cindy and Jim, who passed in November 2015, created the James Rourke Family Education Fund with a $100,000 donation to the SC4 Foundation to provide scholarship support to graduating seniors from St. Clair and Port Huron high schools to attend SC4.

“SC4 is still the best thing going for this area as demonstrated by its longevity in the community,” Cindy said. “It is the same stepping stone for many as it was for me. My husband was always very supportive of SC4 and encouraged his employees at Mueller Brass to attend as well. We decided that it was important to fund scholarships that would enable students to attend SC4.”

Cindy retired from SC4 in 2010 but remains actively involved in the College’s retirement group and within the campus community, as well as with the United Way. Community residents also can see Cindy and Jim’s generous support at McLaren Port Huron, where many SC4 graduates thrive working as healthcare professionals.

“We are thrilled to provide this award to Cindy,” said Dr. Deborah A. Snyder, president of St. Clair County Community College. “Her legacy as an alumna, professional, supporter, advocate and friend of SC4 is remarkable. She and Jim will continue to impact the lives of area residents for years to come and, for that, we are forever grateful.”