Category: Community

SC4 to host Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration Jan. 18

St. Clair County Community College and its Global Diversity Advisory Council will present a celebration event for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Due to the pandemic, this year’s celebration was pre-recorded and will be available for viewing beginning at 2 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 18, on the college’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion event page. Visitors may view the recording at their convenience any time after it is made available.

The theme of this year’s event is “Where Do We Go From Here.”

The event will feature a celebration of Dr. King’s legacy with a diverse variety of speakers, musicians and other performances.

Visit the event page to preview the program for the event and also watch two videos of Dr. King’s 1967 speech at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Atlanta, entitled “Where Do We Do From Here?”

For details or more information, contact the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at dei@sc4.edu.

Time at SC4 prepared alumnus Lauren Tuckey for professional illustration career

For as long as she can remember, Lauren Tuckey has enjoyed drawing things. Now she’s enjoying seeing her work in print as the illustrator of her first children’s book.

After graduating from Yale High School in 2013, she chose to go to SC4 to save tuition costs and stay close to her family in Port Huron. While taking general education classes, Tuckey also took plenty of art classes on the side.

“In my art classes, I made many of my closest friends,” Tuckey said, “and was able to work on diverse art projects I wouldn’t have been able to do from home. I was featured in and worked on the annual Patterns book, too.”

She learned from her many talented art instructors, as well as other SC4 faculty, but has a special memory of one class that changed her approach to her art.

“Color and Design with Doug Frey was the most beneficial art class I took,” Tuckey explained. “He helped me step out of my comfort zone as an artist and explore techniques and styles that helped me sculpt the more well-rounded style I have now.”

After graduating from SC4, Tuckey had the chance to work with an author from North Carolina, Phil Routszong, to create illustrations for a children’s book titled Hobgoblin Humbug, which was published in October and is available for ordering through Amazon. She also stays busy illustrating custom portraits through her shop on Etsy.

Tuckey is a strong believer in the importance of community colleges.

“Colleges like SC4 are a great asset to students who want to save some money while still gaining a valuable education, experience, and great memories,” she said. “I’m thankful for everything SC4 equipped me with as I move forward as a professional illustrator.”

Photo: SC4 alumnus Lauren Tuckey (right) with author Phil Routszong and their book Hobgoblin Humbug.

Scholarships available for SC4 students

St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron is accepting scholarship applications from students who plan to attend SC4 for the 2021-22 academic year.

SC4 has many scholarship opportunities available. Some are geared toward students who plan to study a specific subject, while others are intended for students from a particular town or high school. There are also a number of awards open to students based on academic performance and extracurricular activities. Whatever your background, there’s likely a scholarship that you are qualified to apply for!

Visit www.sc4.edu/money to apply for available scholarships, including SC4 scholarships and scholarships through external sources. You can apply for multiple scholarships by filling out just one online application. Many scholarships require that you have filed your FAFSA. If you haven’t already done so, you can visit fafsa.gov to get started today.

SC4, the SC4 Foundation, community groups and private donors offer numerous scholarships to fit nearly all student academic records, backgrounds and financial situations.

The deadline to apply for scholarships is Sunday, March 14.

For details, call the Financial Aid Office at (810) 989-5530 or email financialaid@sc4.edu.

December 3rd worldwide celebration of International Day of People with Disabilities

The International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPD or IDPwD) was established in 1992 by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to increase understanding and awareness of disability issues and the abilities of people with disabilities; promote the full and effective participation in society for the dignity, rights and well-being of people with disabilities; and celebrate the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities. It is observed worldwide on December 3 each year.

This year, during the annual celebration of people with disabilities, the 2020 theme ‘Not all Disabilities are Visible’ also focuses on spreading awareness and understanding of disabilities that are not immediately apparent, such as mental illness, chronic pain or fatigue, sight or hearing impairments, diabetes, brain injuries, neurological disorders, learning differences and cognitive dysfunctions, among others. 

According to the WHO World Report on Disability, 15 percent of the world’s population, or more than 1 billion people, are living with disability. Of this number, it’s estimated 450 million are living with a mental or neurological condition— and two-thirds of these people will not seek professional medical help, largely due to stigma, discrimination and neglect. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, isolation, disconnect, disrupted routines and diminished services have greatly impacted the lives and mental well-being of people with disabilities right around the world. Spreading awareness of invisible disabilities, as well as these potentially detrimental— and not always immediately apparent— impacts to mental health, is crucial as the world continues to fight against the virus.

Around the world, physical, social, economic and attitudinal barriers prevent people with disabilities face from participating fully and effectively as equal members of society. They are disproportionately represented among the world’s poorest individuals. People with disabilities lack equal access to basic resources, such as education, employment, healthcare and social and legal support systems. They also have a higher rate of mortality. Yet disability as a whole has remained largely invisible in the mainstream development agenda and its processes.

St. Clair County Community College is firmly committed to making higher education accessible to students with disabilities by removing barriers and providing programs and support services necessary for them to benefit from the instruction and resources of the College. SC4 Disability Services provides support and resources for students with or without a documented disability. Students do not need to have documentation of a disability to discuss strategies for college success. For more information, visit our Disability Services website.

Information obtained from IDPWD.org.