Category: Fun

SC4 announces winter 2024 camps

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) is pleased to announce four camps in baseball, basketball, softball and volleyball this winter.

“These camps provide a wonderful opportunity to learn from collegiate coaches, athletes and experts,” said SC4 Athletic Director Dale Vos. “We expect these camps to fill fast and look forward to helping young athletes learn new skills this winter to improve their future success.”

All athletic camps take place in the SC4 Fieldhouse.

Limited space is available for each of the camps. For more information and to register, visit sc4.edu/camps. Email drvos@sc4.edu or call (810) 989-5588 with questions.

Award-winning mezzo-soprano, renowned concert pianist to perform at SC4 Dec. 7

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) welcomes to campus award-winning mezzo-soprano Lisa Marie Rogali and sought-after pianist and vocal coach Nathalie Doucet, head of Music and Director of the Resident Opera Program at Detroit Opera, for performances at noon and 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7, in SC4’s Fine Arts Theatre.

Rogali has been praised as a versatile performer of opera, musical theater, contemporary and concert music. She’s debuted roles in operas and premieres across the U.S. and world, earning top accolades from the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Jensen Foundation, Giulio Gari Foundation, Gerda Lissner Foundation and many more.

During Detroit Opera’s 2023-2024 mainstage season, Rogali will be featured as a soloist in Arias and Overtures, and Beyond the Pit. She will sing the role of Kate Pinkerton in Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly,” the role of The Dog in Janáček’s “The Cunning Little Vixen,” and will cover the role of Dodo in Missy Mazzoli’s and Royce Vavrek’s “Breaking the Waves.” She also will sing the role of Der Trommler in “Der Kaiser von Atlantis” with Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings.

Rogali holds a master’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Pennsylvania State University.

Doucet boasts a remarkable international career. In addition to her role at the Detroit Opera, she has collaborated with renowned opera-producing organizations, singers and conductors worldwide, including the Washington National Opera, Summer Scape Festival-Fisher Center at Bard, The Dutch National Opera, l’Opéra de Montréal, the Vancouver Opera and more.

She has held esteemed positions in Europe as head coach of the Opera Studio Nederland and principal coach at the Dutch National Opera Academy. She contributed her talents to organizations such as De Nederlandse Reisopera, the NTR Saturday Matinee (Concertgebouw), the Neue Stimmen, the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition, and the International Vocal Competition in s’Hertogenbosch. Additionally, she spent 11 years as a faculty member at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.

Doucet also serves as a judge for the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.

The concerts on Dec. 7 are free as an SC4 Community Arts offering to encourage and support the arts in our community. No tickets are needed. For the most current list of upcoming events at SC4, visit sc4.edu/events/.

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