Category: Fun

SC4 names new Skippers Dance head coach

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) alumna and longtime dancer Abigail Davis has been named head coach of the Skippers Dance team.   

The co-ed, collegiate Skippers Dance team was created in 2019 and is open to any SC4 student who wishes to audition. The team performs at SC4 games and events throughout the year. The Skippers will also compete against other college and university dance teams.   

Davis, who currently works as a human resources coordinator at AGS Automotive, brings years of studio, competitive and ballroom dance experience to the Skippers team.   

“We’re excited to welcome Abigail as head coach of our Dance team,” said SC4 Director of Athletics Dale Vos. “Her experience and leadership will be a tremendous asset to the team and to this institution. We look forward to more students becoming actively involved on campus and continuing their passion for dance right here at SC4.”   

“I’m excited to be able to work with this team and give back to the dance community that gave so much to me growing up,” said Davis, who earned an Associate in Arts from SC4 before earning a bachelor’s degree in human resources from Oakland University. “I look forward to serving as a coach and mentor to the students, while also getting the chance to be creative.”  

Those interested in joining SC4’s Dance team should fill out the form at sc4.edu/campus-life/athletics/athlete-interest-form/, or reach out to Davis at (810) 305-9799 or aldavis@sc4.edu with questions.  

Award-winning country artist to perform Oct. 12 at SC4

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) is pleased to welcome award-winning singer, songwriter and storyteller Bob Marshall to campus for solo acoustic performances at noon and 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 12, in SC4’s Fine Arts Theatre.

A second-generation cowboy, Marshall has been a solo performer for more than 40 years and specializes in a mix of contemporary western sounds and originals. His eclectic taste in music is inspired by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Perry Como, Dean Martin, Marty Robbins, Burl Ives, Motown, the blues greats, rock and roll, and various other singer-songwriters.

Also a member of the Bob Marshall Band, Marshall has won the Will Rogers Award for “Vocalist of the Year” (Academy of Western Artists), “Country Album of the Year” (CMA of Texas), and was a Pro Cowboy Country Artist Association (PCCAA) Nominee for “Songwriter of the Year.”

His music and personality, according to bobmarshallband.com, are “homegrown to pull the audience into a personal experience with an entertainer who knows how it is done.”

The Oct. 12 Bob Marshall concerts are free and open to the public—as are all upcoming arts events at SC4—and no tickets are needed. For the most current list of upcoming events at SC4, visit sc4.edu/events/.

Former Skippers student-athlete receives 1st Team All-American ring, now playing NCAA D1 volleyball

Christina Bohm—St. Clair County Community College (SC4) alumna, current Oakland University student-athlete and St. Clair High School graduate—was present at the Oct. 2 Skippers Volleyball game vs. Mott Community College to accept her National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) 1st Team All-American ring. Bohm is the 17th Skippers athlete to be selected as a 1st Team All-American in the College’s 100 years of collegiate sports.

In addition, Bohm was named the Player of the Year for the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) Eastern Conference in 2022.

Her performance on the court for the Skippers earned her the opportunity to play NCAA Division 1 volleyball at Oakland University. She attributes her success to her SC4 coaches and teammates.

“The coaches and staff have really built a supportive program that people want to be a part of,” Bohm said. “As a whole, our teammates were very supportive of one another and had each other’s backs. I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for the support of my coaches. Even in moments of uncertainty, they continued to push for me and my future volleyball career. Not only did they aid me in the recruiting process, but they were there for me emotionally as well. SC4 created a place in which for the first time I felt fully supported and encouraged by not only my coaches, but an entire staff as well. I am very grateful for my time spent at SC4 and the growth it allowed me to achieve as a person.”

While with the Skippers, Bohm was a dominant force. For the 2022 campaign, in 31 matches she tallied 387 kills, 317 digs, and 941 total attempts. She also chipped in 31 aces and 54 block assists.

Bohm and her teammates won SC4’s first conference title in volleyball since 2015 as they earned a share of the MCCAA Eastern Conference. Her efforts also helped lead the Skippers to a runner-up finish in the NJCAA Region IX Volleyball District A Championship.

Bohm’s future plans include earning a degree in secondary education and eventually becoming a math teacher. She also hopes to one day coach volleyball as well.

Pictured above: Christina Bohm shakes SC4 Senior Vice President Dr. Pete Lacey’s hand at the ring ceremony, Bohm poses for a picture with SC4 Volleyball coaches Monica Freeman (assistant coach), Michelle McCulloch (head coach) and Brenna Donnelly (assistant coach), Bohm is pictured playing volleyball at Oakland University and SC4.

Betty M. (Large) Raetzel named recipient of 2023 Distinguished Alumni of the Year award

Port Huron resident Betty M. (Large) Raetzel was named the recipient of the 2023 St. Clair County Community College (SC4) Distinguished Alumni of the Year award.

Raetzel earned an Associate of Arts from the College—then known as Port Huron Junior College—in 1945. While a student, she participated in the College’s Assembly Board, the International Relations Club and as a Triton yearbook staff member. 

“I fondly remember studying in the Maccabees building with primarily female classmates, as the majority of male students were proudly serving our country in World War II,” Raetzel said. “I feel very fortunate to have attended the College and credit it and its educators for my professional success in life.” 

Upon graduating, she went on to own and operate a successful family retail shoe business with her husband in downtown Port Huron for 50 years. Throughout the years, Raetzel has demonstrated positive, unwavering support and advocacy for the College in the community. 

“The College is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023 and honoring an alumna who graduated 78 years ago,” said Dr. Karen Niver, chair of the SC4 Board of Trustees. “That’s pretty remarkable and speaks to our rich history of successful alumni and our mission of providing access to quality higher education. Betty has given back to this College and its students in many ways over the years and we are thrilled to honor her legacy.” 

SC4 has recognized a Distinguished Alumni of the Year since 1986. Former recipient Randy Fernandez (2018) was present at a reception honoring Raetzel on Thursday and offered his congratulations. 

“I’m very happy to be here to honor Betty Raetzel as the 2023 SC4 Distinguished Alumni of the Year,” said Fernandez. “I’ve known the family for many years with Raetzel’s Shoe Store in downtown Port Huron. It’s just an honor and privilege to be here to honor such a special alumna who was in one of our beloved College’s earliest graduating classes.”

Betty M. (Large) Raetzel pictured with "Smile and the whole world smiles with you" quote.

Pictured at top in back row from left to right: Acting President/Chief Operating Officer Kirk Kramer, SC4 Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Karen Niver, Dennis Raetzel. Betty M. (Large) Raetzel pictured with award.