Category: Beyond the classroom

SC4 announces 2023 summer camps

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) will host a variety of athletics and STEM-based camps this summer.

Camp offerings include:

  • Galaxy Quest STEM Summer Camp for learners in grades 3-8
  • Basketball Camp for learners in grades 5-12
  • Basketball Shooting Camp for learners in grades 5-12
  • Cross Country Camp for learners in grades 5-12 
  • Esports Camp for learners in grades 5-12
  • Soccer Camp for learners in grades 5-12
  • Softball Camp for learners in grades 5-12
  • Volleyball Camp – Advanced for learners in grades 8-12
  • Volleyball Camp – Beginners for learners in grades 4-7
  • Volleyball Camp – Defensive Specialist for learners in grades 7-12
  • Volleyball Camp – Hitters and Setters for learners in grades 7-12
  • Wrestling One-Day Clinic for learners in grades 5-12 
  • Additional camps may be offered!

The Galaxy Quest STEM Summer Camp will incorporate hands-on science and nature fun. Campers will engage in experiments, nature exploration, immersive space simulations in the Challenger Learning Center at SC4 and more.  

All athletic camps take place in the SC4 Fieldhouse, except for softball at Marysville Park, soccer at Morton Park in Marysville and the Esports in SC4’s Fine Arts Building. Camps are led by SC4 coaches and student-athletes.  

“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 welcoming youths to camp this summer.” 

For more information regarding dates, times and to register, visit sc4.edu/camps. Email experiencecenter@sc4.edu with questions related to the STEM camp. Send questions regarding the athletics camps to athletics@sc4.edu or (810) 989-5662.

Alumni Spotlight: Mathew King

Current or most recent title and employer?
Sheriff, St. Clair County

How did SC4 help prepare you?
Earning my associate degree in criminal justice helped prepare me for my job as a Police Officer and later a Sheriff’s Deputy.

What do you like most about what you do professionally?
I like being able to positively impact the community that I live in.

Did you transfer on and earn other degrees? If so, what degrees and from where?
No

Alumni Spotlight: Justin Rich

Current or most recent title and employer?
Mechanical Designer – KUKA A&T

How did SC4 help prepare you?
SC4 gave me a solid working knowledge of multiple CAD softwares, as well as design principles and basic controls design.

What do you like most about what you do professionally?
It’s rewarding being trusted to come up with unique and creative designs.

Did you transfer on and earn other degrees? If so, what degrees and from where?
I did not. My associate degree in engineering graphics has served me well.

Alumni Spotlight: Joe Burgett Rachwal

Current or most recent title and employer?
District Community Leader/WomenHeart Champion at WomenHeart the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease

How did SC4 help prepare you?
The Communications program helped me hone my writing skills in print media, confidence in public speaking, and a strong skill set in fund development and events planning.

What do you like most about what you do professionally?
Sharing my personal story nationally and participating as a peer support educator annually at the WomenHeart Science and Leadership Symposium at Mayo Clinic.

Did you transfer on and earn other degrees? If so, what degrees and from where?
I transferred to UM-Flint to continue my pursuit of a degree in communications, journalism and women’s studies.

Alumni Spotlight: Abigail Davis

Current or most recent title and employer?
Human Resources Intern at BorgWarner

How did SC4 help prepare you?
SC4 helped prepare me for University by offering affordable classes. I was able to get an associate degree before becoming a transfer student.

What do you like most about what you do professionally?
I love helping other employees.

Did you transfer on and earn other degrees? If so, what degrees and from where?
I graduate from Oakland University in April 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources and Development.

Alumni Spotlight: Jessica Totty

Current or most recent title and employer?
Nurse – Lake Huron Medical Center

How did SC4 help prepare you?
I received a wealth of knowledge from some amazing professors/teachers to attain my nursing degree. We are blessed to have a fine institution like SC4 right here in Port Huron.

What do you like most about what you do professionally?
I enjoy helping others. Nursing is a very personal profession. You have to gain someone’s trust quickly so they can receive the proper care. Listening is a huge part of what I do. I am not the expert, the patient is. They know how their body works and I must listen when they speak. Then I can offer and recommend solutions. It is definitely a partnership.

Did you transfer on and earn other degrees? If so, what degrees and from where?
No

SC4 hosts SkillsUSA Regional Welding Competition

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) was pleased to host the SkillsUSA Regional Welding Competition on Friday, Feb. 10, in the Acheson Technology Center. Longtime SC4 welding professor Joseph McFalda served as the competition facilitator.

The approximately 30 junior and senior students competing at SC4 came from St. Clair County TEC, Oakland Schools Technical Campuses (OSTC), Warren Consolidated Schools and Centerline Public Schools (CPC).

Students receive a blueprint and precut metal at the competition. They are then judged on skill as well as how clean and safely each piece is welded in four categories: gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, shielded metal arc welding, and overall.

Winners, who will now go on to compete in the state competition, included:

Gas metal arc welding
1st place – Lucas Jones – CPC
2nd Place – Derek Buckles – CPC
3rd Place – Carter Belian – CPC

Shielded metal arc welding
1st place – Scott Pauly – St. Clair County TEC
2nd Place – Gregory Jones – St. Clair County TEC
3rd Place – Remington Koveck – St. Clair County TEC

Gas tungsten arc welding
1st Place – Zachary Vanbuskirk – St. Clair County TEC
2nd Place – Colin Turzak – OSTC
3rd Place – Dylan Emmert – St. Clair County TEC

Overall
1st Place – Lukas Morris – St. Clair County TEC
2nd Place – Logan Fiedler – St. Clair County TEC
3rd Place – Derek Gurne – St. Clair County TEC

“Welders are needed more now than ever,” said McFalda, who’s been judging competitions for more than 15 years. “This type of competition takes students out of their comfort zone and simulates going in for a job interview or a job test, where everything is new. They don’t know what to do sometimes or what to expect. It’s a little more real-world for them.”

He added, “Students can make a very good living being a welder. They can spend an entire career getting better as they go. I’ve been doing it for 45 years. I’ve never tired of it and am still learning and getting better.”

Alumni Spotlight: Daniel Damman

Current or most recent title and employer?
Judge – 31st Circuit Court

How did SC4 help prepare you?
SC4 gave me an opportunity to cost-effectively begin my education after high school. I remember having the greatest instructors who cared deeply about the success of the student body at SC4. Attending community college allowed me receive excellent instruction from wonderful instructors close to home. I remain very thankful that I had the opportunity to attend St. Clair County Community College.

What do you like most about what you do professionally?
I loved the law while in private practice. I was a trial attorney, and it was a career that I cherished. I also had the opportunity to serve the City of Marysville as Mayor for three terms and developed a strong desire to serve my community at a higher level. As a Circuit Court Judge, I use the knowledge and trial skills that I honed during my many years of private practice to serve the people of St. Clair County. It is the greatest career that I could imagine and I am thankful that the people of St. Clair County have trusted me in this position.

Did you transfer on and earn other degrees? If so, what degrees and from where?
After SC4 I transferred to Michigan State University earning a B.A. in psychology. I was a double major with law and society as my secondary major. After graduating from MSU I attended Wayne State University Law School, graduating with a J.D. in 2002.

SC4 welcomes retired NASA astronaut to SC4 STEM Fest  

PORT HURON – Attendees at SC4 STEM Fest on March 11 will have the opportunity to meet retired NASA astronaut Dorothy “Dottie” Metcalf-Lindenburger. 

Metcalf-Lindenburger—who also was present for the launch of Challenger Learning Center at SC4 in April 2022—currently leads her own speaking and consulting business, Dottie ML, LLC. 

A former high school earth science and astronomy teacher, Metcalf-Lindenburger was selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate in 2004. She completed astronaut training in 2006 and in 2010 served as a mission specialist on STS-131, a re-supply space shuttle mission to the International Space Station. 

In 2012, Metcalf-Lindenburger commanded the NEEMO 16, a 12-day, undersea exploration mission aboard the Aquarius underwater laboratory, which resulted in her becoming an aquanaut for spending over 24 hours underwater. 

Metcalf-Lindenburger retired from NASA in 2014.  

“I’m looking forward to the upcoming SC4 STEM Fest because I enjoy engaging students to think about and experience what is possible for them,” Metcalf-Lindenburger said. “Also, I know how impactful STEM events were in shaping my early career path, and the Challenger Learning Center at SC4 will definitely launch their dreams!”

Among her many honors and accolades, she is a recipient of the Space Flight Medal for STS-131 (2010), Duncan Bonjorni Extraordinary Achievement Award from Central Washington University (2010), Pete Reid Award for Young Alumni from Whitman College (2009), VIP for the Vancouver School District (2004), Outstanding Teacher Preparation Candidate at Central Washington University (1999), Academic All-American for Cross Country and Track NAIA Division (1995 and 1996), 1996 NAIA Conference Champion in the 10K, and a 2007 Space Camp Hall of Fame Inaugural Inductee.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dottie back to campus,” said Kristin Copenhaver, SC4 chief marketing officer. “Her career illustrates what’s possible to achieve when you are passionate about and committed to what you do. Her presence at STEM Fest will inspire future generations of leaders and scientists.”

SC4 STEM Fest takes place Saturday, March 11, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on SC4’s Port Huron campus. The event—which 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, Michigan Technological University’s Mind Trekkers, the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum and the Leslie Science & Nature Center. 

Experiences and activities will take place throughout SC4’s Fieldhouse and Clara E. Mackenzie Building / Experience Center, which includes Challenger Learning Center at SC4, the Dr. Bassam H. Nasr Natural Science Museum, a live sturgeon exhibit, virtual reality experience, health activities, exploration stations, and bird and mineral galleries. 

The event’s more than 100 activities and exhibits will have learners exploring a wide array of STEM topics. Some hands-on highlights for the event include a Challenger Mini-Mission: An Interactive Challenger Learning Center Tour,, virtual reality simulations, virtual anatomy dissection, rocket launches, robotics technology, live animal exhibits and wildlife presentations, awe-inspiring experiments using liquid nitrogen—and many more! 

Register for the SC4 STEM Fest at sc4.edu/stem-fest/stem-fest-registration/. Please direct questions to SC4 at (810) 989-5789 or experiencecenter@sc4.edu. 

Alumni Spotlight: Todd Armstrong

Current or most recent title and employer?
Supervisor of Parole and Probation / Michigan Department of Corrections

How did SC4 help prepare you?
SC4 gave me the opportunity to begin my higher education close to home so I could work part-time, attend school and save money. SC4 provided a solid educational foundation, which I utilized to continue my pursuit of higher education.

What do you like most about what you do professionally?
I supervise an office of probation officers, which serves the circuit court judges in St. Clair County. Our office supervises close to 500 adult felony probationers.

Did you transfer on and earn other degrees? If so, what degrees and from where?
I transferred to Ferris State University and earned a Bachelor of Science. I later attended Wayne State University and earned a Juris Doctor.