Category: Financial Aid

SC4’s Josephine Cassar wins MASFAA State Leadership Award

St. Clair County Community College’s Director of Financial Assistance and Services Josephine Cassar has received the State Leadership Award from the Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (MASFAA). Additionally, the Summer Institute and Leadership Symposium Committee on which Cassar is a member received the Committee of the Year Award.

cassar-jo-img_1093.jpgAccording to the MASFAA website, the State Leadership Award is annually presented to recognize outstanding leadership and performance of a member from each of the nine states within MASFAA. Cassar was recognized for her exceptional contributions to the financial aid profession at the state and regional levels and for her integrity, character and creative leadership.

The Summer Institute and Leadership Symposium Committee received the Committee of the Year Award as a result of the committee’s performance and significant contributions it made to MASFAA.

Cassar, who also was recently honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Michigan Student Financial Aid Association, brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education to MASFAA and SC4. She is known as a leader among financial aid professionals in the state and across the country.

“We are so proud to have Jo on our team,” said Vice President of Student Services Pete Lacey said. “Jo has helped improve college access for thousands of students and families by sharing her knowledge and expertise. Congratulations to her on another outstanding and well-deserved honor.”

SC4 to host annual Financial Aid Night Oct. 3

St. Clair County Community College will host its annual Financial Aid Night at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, in the college’s Fine Arts Theatre.

Open to students, families and all area residents, the event connects SC4’s financial aid experts with the community to share valuable information about financial aid processes, opportunities and tips to maximize the money students can receive.

With the 2020-21 Federal Application for Free Student Aid (FAFSA) becoming available Oct. 1, the event provides timely assistance for anyone who wants to learn more about paying for college. While Financial Aid Night is hosted by SC4, students and families interested in any college are welcome to attend.

“If you’re interested in earning a degree or certificate and want to learn more about federal, state and private funding sources and scholarships that might help you achieve your goals, this event is for you,” said Director of Financial Assistance and Services Josephine Cassar.

The college also hosts a number of other financial aid info sessions throughout the year both on- and off-campus. For instance, those unable to attend the Oct. 3 workshop at SC4 can attend the below upcoming SC4 workshops:

  • Oct. 17 at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, 6:30 p.m.
  • Oct. 21 at Sandusky High School, College Night, 6 p.m.
  • Oct. 22 at Algonac High School, 6 p.m.
  • Oct. 28 at Yale High School, 6 p.m.

Learn more about making college affordable at sc4.edu/financial-aid.

SC4 students to benefit from Janet S. Albrecht-Hillaker Memorial Scholarship

The SC4 Foundation has a rich history of providing scholarships to students from all walks of life and from all communities in our region.

In 2019 alone, the SC4 Foundation provided over $100,000 to deserving students. Each year, students can apply for awards from more than 50 scholarship funds at the SC4 Foundation.

The Janet S. Albrecht-Hillaker Memorial Scholarship is a new fund recently established by Dick Hillaker in honor and memory of his late wife, Janet. This scholarship will support future teachers since teaching young children was Janet’s life mission.

Dr. David H. Sturtz honors parents, supports SC4 students with new $50,000 endowed scholarship

“There’s an old saying: ‘The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,’” says Dr. David H. Sturtz, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and St. Clair County Community College alumnus. “My mother was an avid reader and believer in higher education, though neither of my parents attended college. St. Clair County Community College was there for me. It’s where I got my start.”

Dr. Sturtz’s love and admiration for his parents, appreciation of his community college, and passion for improving the health and wellness of his patients inspired him to establish the David and Anne Sturtz Endowed Scholarship in memory of his parents to support SC4 students pursuing health care and STEM programs. The scholarship will help new generations of SC4 students positively impact quality of life in the Blue Water Area and far beyond for years to come.

Screen Shot 2019-05-13 at 9.45.37 AMDr. Sturtz grew up in Lexington, Mich. Upon graduation from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy as a way to serve his country, see the world and secure a more stable path to a college education. The Vietnam War veteran chose SC4 at the end of his term to save money and get basic credits out of the way. According to Dr. Sturtz, SC4 advisors and faculty members provided immediate and lasting support and assistance.

“Our ship got in about two weeks into the start of the semester,” he says. “SC4 agreed to accept me late. Advisors like Paul Geer and professors such as Chris Russell took a chance on me and gave me invaluable advice. They helped guide me toward becoming a health care professional.”

Dr. Sturtz earned his Associate in Science from SC4 in 1974. He then transferred to Albion College, where he graduated summa cum laude as a pre-med major before enrolling at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. There, he met his wife, Barbara – the only U.S. Navy scholarship student in a class of more than 150 – and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery.

Though he had already spent years pursuing his dream career in health care, the organizational skills and perseverance learned in the Navy continued to serve him well in the years that followed. Dr. Sturtz completed his residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery at the Naval Hospital San Diego, followed by a three-year tour at the Naval Hospital Yokosuka Japan as the chief of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

He retired from the Navy in 1999, practiced at a number of offices around Metro Detroit, and purchased Plymouth Oral and Facial Surgery, PLC offices in Plymouth, Ann Arbor, and Chelsea. In addition, he has taught as an adjunct professor on the U-M School of Dentistry faculty for years and went back to school to earn a Master of Science in Business Administration with a health care administration specialty from Madonna University.

With vast professional experiences and credentials earned from a wide variety of prestigious institutions, Dr. Sturtz’s belief in SC4 holds strong.

“My mom always said the best investment you can make is in yourself,” says Dr. Sturtz, who resides in Northville with his wife and two daughters. “The quality of education and the support and services I found at SC4 were on par with anywhere else I went. I feel very fortunate to have started at SC4. It provided me with a solid foundation, great experience and a seamless transition.”