Category: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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.”   

SC4 announces April 18 Career/Job Fair

The 2023 St. Clair County Community College (SC4) Career/Job Fair will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 18. The event will bring hundreds of students, alumni and community members to the SC4 Fieldhouse.
 
The Career Fair portion of the event allows participants to learn about opportunities to start their career path at SC4 and talk with professionals in various career fields about key skills needed to succeed. Event participants can meet with an SC4 recruiter to walk through the steps to an enriching career, discuss career paths with health career educators, and explore apprenticeship options with the SC4 apprenticeship coordinator.
 
The Job Fair portion of the event provides attendees with opportunities to find employment in a wide variety of industries across the region.
 
Job Fair tables are expected to fill to capacity. Interested employers in search of qualified candidates are encouraged to register as early as possible at sc4.edu/careerfair. 
 
SC4 is collaborating with the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County, Macomb/St. Clair Michigan Works!, the City of Port Huron/McMorran Place and SC4’s Support Services, including the TRIO Program, for this year’s event.