Category: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

SC4 signs on to The Detroit Promise Program, providing free college to Detroit high school students

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) has partnered with The Detroit Promise, a program that provides a tuition-free path to trade, two-year or four-year credentials for Detroit-based students. This expands options for students who live in and attend high school in Detroit to pursue postsecondary education at no cost.

“We are excited to partner with The Detroit Promise,” said SC4 Chief DEI Officer Jessica Brown. “While many of our students are St. Clair County residents, many more come to our college and community from other areas to enroll in classes. Last year, for instance, we welcomed students from more than 200 zip codes. This partnership with The Detroit Promise—enhanced by our College Housing options for SC4 students—will allow us to welcome and support more Detroit-area students seeking higher education.”

“I am thrilled to be expanding our partnerships and to welcome SC4 to The Detroit Promise,” said Detroit Promise Senior Director of College Success and Partnerships Wytrice Harris. “More higher education partners mean more options for students to pursue a degree or credential that will shape their futures. This growing support speaks to the value of this program for the students and educational institutions involved, as well as for the future of the state’s workforce and economy.”

The Detroit Promise works with its higher education partners to ensure improved access to and success through postsecondary education for Detroit students, and the program is celebrating 10 years in 2023 and more than 5,000 students supported from over 50 Detroit high schools. The Promise covers the total cost of tuition and other expenses after any Pell or TIP funding is applied to a student’s bill. The noncompetitive award is available to any student that meets basic requirements and applies for the Detroit Promise.

SC4 is one of just eight community colleges across Michigan that offers College Housing—and the only one in Southeast Michigan.

Additionally, SC4 offers many other free and reduced tuition programs and options to help students across Michigan and beyond earn college credits, including scholarships, dual enrollment, middle colleges, the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, Michigan Reconnect Scholarship, Tuition Incentive Program, Federal Pell and other grants, and much more.

For more information on The Detroit Promise and to apply, visit https://detroitpromise.com/. To apply to SC4, visit https://sc4.edu/. To learn more and apply for SC4 College Housing, visit sc4.edu/housing/.

SC4 to host wheelchair basketball demonstration days

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) and its Athletics Department will host demonstration days for students and community members with disabilities or those who are able-bodied interested in learning more about wheelchair basketball and joining its recently announced team.

The College will host demonstration days at the SC4 Fieldhouse:

  • Friday, Aug. 4 at 3 p.m.
  • Thursday, Aug. 10 at 3 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Aug. 16 at 5 p.m.
  • Thursday, Aug. 17 at 9 a.m.
  • Monday, Aug. 21 at 9 a.m.
  • Friday, Aug. 25 at 5 p.m.

“We welcome everyone to come to demo days with us and check out this exciting new offering at SC4,” said SC4 Athletic Director Dale Vos. “It’s an exciting co-ed sport for athletes and fans alike.”

This year, SC4’s Wheelchair Basketball Team plans to schedule exhibition contests and games as part of the inaugural season. The team is also working to participate as part of the Wolverine Invitational, which is scheduled to return to the SC4 Fieldhouse this fall, Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.

When SC4 alumnus Mike Millsap heard about the College’s recently announced wheelchair basketball team, he was excited to get involved.

“As a kid, I enjoyed watching my uncle, who also has a spinal cord injury, compete in the local wheelchair basketball team that existed at the time,” said Millsap, who became a C-5/C-6 quadriplegic after a diving accident in 2008 and went on to earn an associate degree in business from SC4. “I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to be involved with the new wheelchair basketball team SC4 is launching this fall.” 

Similarly, St. Clair, Mich., native Eric Wrocklage is excited about the new team and ready to get back into a sport he loved as a kid. Wrocklage has Spina Bifida, which complicates walking, and uses a wheelchair to get around.

“Basketball was my passion as a kid and I always wanted to play,” he said. “I was introduced to wheelchair basketball in the early 90s and played on a junior team in Sterling Heights until the age of 18. Then I played on an adult team in Port Huron for a couple of seasons. It will be exciting to get back to that with this new team that is forming at SC4. I look forward to what the future holds.”

Those interested in joining the wheelchair basketball team for 2023-24 should visit sc4.edu/athletics, send an email to mjwhittredge@sc4.edu or contact the Athletics Department at 810-989-5670 with questions.

Juneteenth Celebration planned for June 19

St. Clair County Community College’s (SC4) Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion invites the community to attend “Freedom Day 2023: A Juneteenth Celebration” from noon to 6 p.m. Monday, June 19, on SC4’s campus.

Juneteenth (short for June 19) is an annual holiday that commemorates the day when the last slaves in Galveston, Texas, were told of their freedom on June 19, 1965—two and a half years after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in January of 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln.

The event at SC4 will feature games and activities, food, live music performances and entertainment, black-owned business vendors, giveaways, educational and community resources, and a Kid’s Zone that includes free crafts, games, a cake walk, activities and bounce houses.

It is co-hosted by SC4, the City of Port Huron, the NAACP Port Huron Branch, Port Huron Museums, St. Clair County Organizing for Regional Equity (SCCORE), Black Lives Matter Port Huron, the International Council of Community Churches, the Community Foundation of St. Clair County and the Diversity Initiative of St. Clair County.

 “Last year, we welcomed more than 500 community members to campus for this event, and we anticipate greater participation this year,” said SC4 Vice President of DEI and Admissions Jessica Brown. “Individuals can bring their blankets and chairs to lounge on the lawn and enjoy all the day offers!”

For directions to campus and information about parking, visit sc4.edu/about/maps-and-directions/. For questions related to SC4’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, email dei@sc4.edu.

SC4 adds adaptive sports, wheelchair basketball team to its athletic offerings

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) is pleased to announce the launch of a wheelchair basketball team beginning in the fall 2023 semester.

The SC4 wheelchair basketball team is open to SC4 students and community members with disabilities or those who are able-bodied and passionate about wheelchair basketball, with priority given to students enrolled at SC4. Those interested in joining the wheelchair basketball team for 2023-24 should visit sc4.edu/athletics, send an email to mjwhittredge@sc4.edu or contact the Athletics Department at 810-989-5670 with questions. 

This co-ed team brings collegiate athletic offerings at SC4 to 16 teams, joining opportunities in baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, dance, Esports, golf, soccer, softball, volleyball and wrestling. Its addition makes SC4 a leader in adaptive sports offerings among colleges and universities in Michigan.

“Our Skippers Athletics program continues to grow and flourish, and the addition of adaptive sports at SC4 is a significant step forward in creating a more inclusive and diverse campus community,” said SC4 Athletic Director Dale Vos. “We’re thrilled to offer this new opportunity for both athletes and fans.”

Last fall, talented wheelchair basketball teams from around the Midwest and Canada converged at SC4 for an action-packed weekend of wheelchair basketball. Hosted by the University of Michigan Adaptive Sports and Fitness department in conjunction with SC4, the Wolverine Invitational marked the second edition of the event and kicked off the second competitive season of wheelchair basketball for the University of Michigan.

This year, SC4’s wheelchair basketball team plans to schedule exhibition contests and games as part of the inaugural season. The team is also working to participate as part of the Wolverine Invitational, which is scheduled to return to the SC4 Fieldhouse this fall, Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. 

“The opportunity to host the Wolverine Invitational right here on our own campus with high-caliber collegiate athletes from institutions such as the University of Michigan is extremely exciting,” Vos said. “We’ll provide more information on game schedules and more as soon as details are finalized.”