Category: Community

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.

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

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.