Author: Mark Rummel

SC4 radiologic technology students win top honors at statewide competition

St. Clair County Community College Class of 2020 radiologic technology students recently competed in the Michigan Society of Radiologic Technologists Annual Student Academic Competition in Bay City, Mich. SC4 student Taylor Kreger (shown above holding the trophy) earned first place, while SC4 students Danielle Sawyer (above right) and Katelyn Vespie (above left) won third and fourth place, respectively.

IMG_1123 (1).PNGSC4 students competed against students from a number of radiologic technology programs across Michigan. Students were tasked with special preparation sessions and assignments to be ready for the event.

“This competition comes at a good time in the program,” said SC4 Program Director Monica Rowling. “It helps prepare students early for their national certifying exam. Taylor, Danielle and Katelyn represented SC4 well and should be very proud of their accomplishments!”

As this year’s winner, Kreger won $250, a plaque, medallion and the right to display the competition trophy until next year’s competition. Sawyer won $75, a plaque and medallion, and Vespie was awarded a medallion.

SC4’s radiologic technology program is increasingly known for the high-quality education it provides to its students. SC4 radiologic technology students recently helped continue for a sixth year the program’s impressive 100 percent passing rate on the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) exam by taking and passing the exam on their first try.

SC4 Dean of Health Sciences Jenny Giles-Voss commented on the program’s perfect record on the national registry exam in a past SC4 news release.

“A perfect record like this is incredibly rare,” Giles-Voss said. “It illustrates the high level of commitment we have to our students in ensuring they are ready to thrive in this career path upon graduation.

“Specifically, Monica has had a remarkable record of preparing skilled radiographers in our region. We are fortunate to have her and our amazing team of faculty experts teaching future generations of health care professionals.”

SC4 alumna fulfills dream of becoming a nurse, leader in health care

Caren Kosal didn’t have to roam far from home to make her dreams of becoming a nurse come true.

caren-kosel-alumni-pics14.jpgKosal, who earned her associate degree in nursing from St. Clair County Community College in 2006, today serves as the trauma program manager at McLaren Port Huron.

“The SC4 nursing program helped me fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a nurse,” she said. “It is a very humbling experience to help others when they need it most. I am very proud to be a nurse.”

“The SC4 nursing program was very well organized and the instructors were very helpful. SC4 was affordable and conveniently located close to my home, and this helped to make my dream a reality.”

After graduating from Richmond High School in 1988, Kosal worked as an administrative assistant in the orthopedic department at Children’s Hospital from 1988-89 and transferred to the spina bifida clinic where she worked from 1989-96. She went on to work as an administrative assistant for a pediatric orthopedic surgeon until 1999.

She then stayed home with her two young sons for four years, typing medical transcriptions at home before deciding to go back to school.

“I decided to stay home with my first child when I was 29 years old,” she said. “After being home, I knew I really missed working at the hospital but I was ready for more of a leadership role if I were to return. While working in the spina bifida clinic, the manager was a clinical nurse specialist. That’s when I decided I needed to pursue a nursing degree.”

Kosal attended SC4 from 2003-06. While in nursing school, Kosal decided she wanted to become an emergency room nurse when finished with her degree, so she worked part-time as an ER tech at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital until receiving her nursing license.

After graduating from SC4 in 2006, she transitioned to an ER registered nurse role at Henry Ford Macomb.

Kosal said she later decided to apply for an assistant clinical manager position in the ER and was told she needed a bachelor’s degree to be considered.

“I remembered SC4 was affiliated with the University of Michigan-Flint Nursing School at the time, and knew I wouldn’t have a problem with credit transfers,” she said. “I obtained a bachelor’s degree while working full-time hours.”

She finished her bachelor’s degree in nursing from University of Michigan-Flint in December 2013 and the next month became the emergency room manager at McLaren Macomb.

Kosal has been the trauma program manager at McLaren Port Huron since 2017. She lives in Columbus Township with her sons, Noah and Owen, who are now 19 and 17, respectively.

“Without my degree from SC4, I would never have been able to achieve my goals of being a nurse

SC4 Foundation hosts scholarship reception to recognize donors and students

The SC4 Foundation, in partnership with St. Clair County Community College and the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, recently hosted a scholarship reception to acknowledge its many dedicated donors and extraordinary student scholarship recipients.

According to SC4 Foundation Chairman Harold Burns, the inaugural reception served as an opportunity to thank donors, honor students, and celebrate the many combined student success-focused efforts of the three organizations.

“The SC4 Foundation believes a strong community college is a community asset, and for 56 years we have worked with the college to help students achieve their goals of obtaining a high-quality education,” Burns said. “This collaborative partnership expanded in recent years to include the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, which allows us to have an even greater impact on the students and the community we serve.”

48724223501_e7071e4363_kDonors, students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends enjoyed exploring the SC4 Experience Center’s Dr. Bassam H. Nasr Natural Science Museum before the program. The program featured donor and faculty member Dave Sheldon and student scholarship recipient Jessica Bohm, who is also a three-sport Skippers athlete.

48724398987_c31416010a_k“The Jinny and Bill Sheldon Endowed Scholarship for Education was founded in honor of our parents, Jinny and Bill Sheldon, and their lifelong support of education,” Sheldon said. “Providing financial assistance and support to students is so important, whether it’s through tuition, books or something else. A degree from SC4 can transform a life. We’re so honored to have an impact and we hope many others consider doing the same in the future.”

Added Bohm, “I am incredibly honored and grateful to have been selected as a scholarship recipient of the SC4 Foundation. The Ellen Kean Scholarship Award, along with other SC4 student-athlete support I’ve received during my two years here, has helped ease the financial burden my family and I face as I pursue my degree.”

Since its founding in 1963, the SC4 Foundation has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to SC4 students who otherwise would not be able to attend college. This year alone, the SC4 Foundation has contributed more than $140,000 in scholarships to more than 80 students. The college and the Community Foundation of St. Clair County also support students through numerous other partnerships, including the Community Foundation’s Complete Your Degree program that supports local students through successful degree completion at SC4.

Additionally, the SC4 Foundation and the Community Foundation of St. Clair County have helped support the college in its efforts to offer College Housing and further elevate its newly renovated Health Sciences Building for tomorrow’s health care education and training needs.

“We are fortunate to have so many community partners and friends supporting student success at SC4,” said SC4 President Dr. Deborah A. Snyder. “We are grateful to those helping us take the college to the next level through capital contributions and program support.”

To help maximize student success at SC4, visit the Community Foundation or SC4 websites for more information.

SC4 hosts regional NISOD workshop

St. Clair County Community College hosted a National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) regional workshop titled “Another New Paradigm: The MillennialZ and Educational Technology” on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019.

IMG_2039The workshop, which took place in the college’s Welcome Center, aimed to teach educators how to understand the differences between Gen Y and Gen Z students and develop technologies that increase student motivation and participation.

Fifteen SC4 faculty members attended the workshop thanks to grants and support from the SC4 Foundation and its J.B. Sperry Endowment Fund. In addition, the college funded 34 more staff and faculty members.

IMG_2030“We are grateful to the SC4 Foundation for its generosity and continued commitment to maximizing student success at SC4,” said SC4 Chief Academic Officer and Vice President of Academic Services Julie Armstrong. “Faculty attendance at this workshop will benefit our students for years to come.”

The J.B. Sperry Endowment Fund was set up in 1961 by Clare Sperry, son of J.B. Sperry. The fund aims to provide faculty grants to help continuously enhance quality of education at the collegiate level. In the past five years alone, more than $15,000 has been granted from the fund to faculty members for purposeful study, which contributes to professional growth that greatly benefits SC4 students.

SC4 has been a NISOD member for more than 23 years. In addition to faculty resources and workshops, the college consistently engages in NISOD writing and graphic design competitions, with SC4 student designs winning three years in a row.