Category: Fun

SC4 Symphonic Band to play three waterfront concerts this summer

The St. Clair County Community College (SC4) Symphonic Band will perform three free twilight concerts this summer in the Riverside Pavilion, adjacent to the College’s campus along the Black River in Port Huron.

Twilight concert dates include:

Saturday, June 17, 2023
6 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, July 8, 2023
6 to 8 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023
6 to 8 p.m.

Led by Erick Senkmajer, the bands will play classic and contemporary songs for the June 17 and Aug. 6 concerts. The July 8 concert will highlight sounds and styles from the 1920s to celebrate the College’s 100th anniversary year.

Students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and neighbors of all ages are invited to attend.

SC4 to host annual Golf Classic June 23 benefiting student athletes

The St. Clair County Community College (SC4) Athletics Department will host its annual SC4 Golf Classic on Friday, June 23, at Marysville Golf Course. Participants will enjoy 18 holes of golf with friends to support SC4 Athletics.

This year’s event sponsor is SC4 alumnus and Skippers Hall of Fame member Joe Mericka. Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available.

“We are grateful for the ongoing community support of Skippers Athletics and our students,” said SC4 Athletic Director Dale Vos. “This event is a great opportunity for us to come together, have some fun and help our hard-working student athletes pursue a college degree.”

The four-person scramble is limited to the first 28 teams to register. The cost is $125 per golfer or $500 per team. Golfers can register for the event online at sc4.edu/thepier/golf.

Check in begins at 11:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. Dinner, awards and prizes will begin at 4:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Dale Vos at (810) 989-5671 or email dvos@sc4.edu.

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.

Alumni Spotlight: Karen Deschaine

Current or most recent title and employer?
Director of Communications, Woman’s Life Insurance Society

How did SC4 help prepare you?
I was working full-time when I first enrolled at SC4, and initially only planned to take a few classes to improve my graphic design skills. An SC4 advisor helped me create a path to complete my associate degree in business by combining the required/core classes with electives that helped me build the design skills I needed for the job I had then. It was a lot of hard work, taking classes in person and online while working full-time, but it was definitely worth it in the end. The classes I took at SC4 prepared me well for the next level of classes when I transferred to Walsh College. Even today, the combination of my degree(s) and those creative skills helps set me apart from others and has enabled me to continue to grow in my career.

What do you like most about what you do professionally?
I’m fortunate to work for an organization that has a mission I care about deeply. In my role, I get to work on a wide variety of communications and marketing-related projects and campaigns from developing corporate messaging and ad campaigns to graphic design, video production to social media and website content. I love that I get to apply the skills I gained at SC4 and continue to learn new things every day while helping my organization and the people we serve as we pursue our mission.

Did you transfer on and earn other degrees? If so, what degrees and from where?
After graduating from SC4, I transferred to Walsh College where I earned my bachelor’s degree in business and marketing.

SC4 announces 2023 summer camps

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) will host a variety of athletics and STEM-based camps this summer.

Camp offerings include:

  • Galaxy Quest STEM Summer Camp for learners in grades 3-8
  • Basketball Camp for learners in grades 5-12
  • Basketball Shooting Camp for learners in grades 5-12
  • Cross Country Camp for learners in grades 5-12 
  • Esports Camp for learners in grades 5-12
  • Soccer Camp for learners in grades 5-12
  • Softball Camp for learners in grades 5-12
  • Volleyball Camp – Advanced for learners in grades 8-12
  • Volleyball Camp – Beginners for learners in grades 4-7
  • Volleyball Camp – Defensive Specialist for learners in grades 7-12
  • Volleyball Camp – Hitters and Setters for learners in grades 7-12
  • Wrestling One-Day Clinic for learners in grades 5-12 
  • Additional camps may be offered!

The Galaxy Quest STEM Summer Camp will incorporate hands-on science and nature fun. Campers will engage in experiments, nature exploration, immersive space simulations in the Challenger Learning Center at SC4 and more.  

All athletic camps take place in the SC4 Fieldhouse, except for softball at Marysville Park, soccer at Morton Park in Marysville and the Esports in SC4’s Fine Arts Building. Camps are led by SC4 coaches and student-athletes.  

“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 welcoming youths to camp this summer.” 

For more information regarding dates, times and to register, visit sc4.edu/camps. Email experiencecenter@sc4.edu with questions related to the STEM camp. Send questions regarding the athletics camps to athletics@sc4.edu or (810) 989-5662.

Alumni Spotlight: JD Wheeler

Current or most recent title and employer?
Athletic Director – Hartland High School

How did SC4 help prepare you?
SC4 was a major building block in my development as a student and an athlete. Coming from a small town in the thumb of Michigan, the environment that SC4 provided was perfect for me. I grew up a lot during my two years in Port Huron. The life skills learned made my transition to Central Michigan University very easy. SC4 was the “first step” that I needed to propel me into a successful future.

What do you like most about what you do professionally?
I enjoy working with student-athletes and young coaches. I love setting them up to reach the goals that they have set for themselves and their teams. Interscholastic Athletics are a very unique avenue for students to learn a lot about life. I enjoy providing an environment for them to do that while also having a great time with their teammates and coaches.

Did you transfer on and earn other degrees? If so, what degrees and from where?
Yes. Central Michigan University (K-12 physical education) and a master’s degree from Oakland University.

Alumni Spotlight: Ray Selman

Current or most recent title and employer?
CAD Operator – DTE Energy

How did SC4 help prepare you?
After moving to the area for a new job in December of 2019, Covid shut us down and I was laid off in March 2020. While figuring out what I wanted to do, I remembered I had the GI Bill that I had not used. I had a background in tool and die, so I decided to take the engineering graphics/CAD degree program. That got me into DTE as a co-op in May of 2022, and I was hired full-time in October of 2022.

What do you like most about what you do professionally?
I draw gas transmission piping for our northern customers. I enjoy working from home four days a week, as well as the flexibility to finish my degree at SC4 in May of 2023. DTE is a great company to grow with and share information amongst groups. It truly is the best organization I have ever been a part of.

Did you transfer on and earn other degrees? If so, what degrees and from where?
After I graduate in May of 2023, I am enrolling at Central Michigan University for their online organizational leadership bachelor program.

Alumni Spotlight: Janice Fritz

Current or most recent title and employer?
Professor at St. Clair County Community College

How did SC4 help prepare you?
SC4 provided opportunities that my small rural high school could not. I took 17 credits as a dual-enrolled student. My SC4 credits gave me an advantage on scholarship applications and helped me prepare to be a full-time college student.

What do you like most about what you do professionally?
I get to help students on their path to their dream job.

Did you transfer on and earn other degrees? If so, what degrees and from where?
I transferred my credits to Western Michigan University where I got a B.S. with a double major in biomedical sciences and health chemistry. I went on to get a Ph.D. from Wayne State University. Much later I took more SC4 classes and reverse transferred some of my University credit to get an SC4 associate degree.

Cros-Lex seventh graders launch to the moon thanks to Eastern Michigan Bank support

Challenger Learning Center at SC4 recently welcomed 145 seventh-grade students from Croswell-Lexington Community Schools thanks to generous support from Eastern Michigan Bank, which provided funds to cover mission fees for all the students.

“We are so fortunate to have access to such a unique opportunity as the Challenger Learning Center right here in our own backyard,” said Eastern Michigan Bank President and CEO Will Oldford. “Being able to introduce our local students to the vast array of opportunities in STEM that are available to them as possible career choices is a terrific benefit, and Eastern Michigan Bank is proud to be able to sponsor this experience for a number of our local youth.”

The students were divided into four missions at the Challenger Learning Center, with each group launching to the moon in a fully immersive, space-themed experience to learn more about STEM careers and topics and build communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills. While there, they commanded and assisted in Mission Control, boarded the Spacecraft as astronauts, and served on teams like biology, geology, weather, robotics, life support and more.

Croswell-Lexington Middle School Principal Brad Robbins says the students were grateful and eager to have the opportunity to go on a field trip as many of those opportunities had diminished during the recent pandemic.

“The Challenger Center was the perfect trip for our 7th graders to experience as a welcome back type event,” Robbins said. “They were busy and engaged in their work, but it was fun and had a sense of purpose. The staff did a great job and it was very easy to set up. The communication with the Challenger team was top-notch, and the overall experience was first class.”

For students Jaxon Stacer and Kendell Freiberg, the trip to Challenger Learning Center at SC4 provided an opportunity to learn about STEM concepts in a fun, hands-on manner.

“I really liked all of the tech stuff that they had us do during the mission,” Stacer said. “It kept us really busy, and we had a lot of fun. I also liked how we went around and toured the nature center [in the Experience Center].”

Added Freiberg, “I had a good time as a member of the medical team. We had a lot of jobs, and I didn’t know that there were so many things happening on the ground while astronauts were in space.”

Since its launch in April 2022, more than 2,500 students, visitors, educators, business employees, community residents and friends from close to 100 zip codes have visited Challenger Learning Center at SC4.

The Center now offers two missions for visitors to enjoy. In Mission Lunar Quest, which is available for learners in fifth grade and beyond, mission participants deploy a Lunar Exploration Rover to investigate areas of the lunar surface and make critical decisions to turn a potential catastrophe into NASA’s finest hour. In Operation Comet, which is new to Challenger Learning Center at SC4 as of January 2023 and expands programming to third-grade and above learners, the mission crew must quickly reengineer a robotic probe so that it can stop a comet from a direct collision with Earth.

“We’ve had many visitors from right here in the Blue Water area but also from well beyond in counties across Southeast Michigan,” said Kristin Copenhaver, chief marketing officer. “We’re finding that many visitors are rebooking new missions right after they visit, and we anticipate Operation Comet will bring even more learners from across Michigan and Ontario to Port Huron.”

Robbins agrees. “We have already reserved our dates for 2023, and the kids are excited to go!

To learn more or schedule a group mission, visit challenger.sc4.edu/visit/. Contact the Challenger Learning Center with questions at experiencecenter@sc4.edu or (810) 989-5789.


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Eastern Michigan Bank
Eastern Michigan Bank is a locally owned community bank headquartered in Croswell, Michigan, with eleven full-service branches in the Thumb and Blue Water communities of Croswell, Deckerville, Fort Gratiot, Lakeport, Lexington, Port Huron, Marysville, Ruth and Sandusky. It provides a full range of commercial and consumer banking services to a wide range of clients and continually demonstrates a strong commitment to the communities it serves, supporting numerous local civic and charitable organizations through corporate donations and sponsorships, as well as through staff volunteer time to local boards, committees and organizations. 

St. Clair County Community College
St. Clair County Community College prepares students for rewarding careers through associate degrees, certificates and transfer pathways with four-year institutions. Founded in 1923, SC4’s commitment to providing access to a college education and meeting community needs is unwavering and contributes greatly to the economic vitality of Michigan and beyond.

Challenger Learning Center at SC4 expands mission programming with Operation Comet

Challenger Learning Center at SC4 is pleased to announce the addition of Operation Comet, a new mission that expands Center offering options to learners as young as third grade. Current Lunar Quest mission programming is available to learners in grades five and beyond.

“We’re thrilled to add more fun and exciting STEM learning opportunities at SC4,” said Kristin Copenhaver, chief marketing officer. “When we first launched the Challenger Learning Center in April 2022, there were many requests to bring in younger elementary groups. Many of those groups were able to take advantage of Experience Center programming, but Operation Comet helps us address the growing needs of STEM learning at this younger age level in additional new ways.”

Challenger Learning Center at SC4 is the only Center of its kind in Michigan and one of 40 Challenger Learning Centers nationwide and around the world. It is a fully immersive, space-themed experience aimed at deepening understanding and appreciation of STEM careers and topics and building critical 21st-century skills. It offers unique learning and team-building opportunities for students, educators, corporations and community residents.

In Operation Comet, the mission crew must quickly reengineer a robotic probe so that it can stop a comet from a direct collision with Earth. In Mission Lunar Quest, mission participants deploy a Lunar Exploration Rover to investigate areas of the lunar surface and make critical decisions to turn a potential catastrophe into NASA’s finest hour. Both missions meet national science standards for recommended grade levels and are scalable for older learners.

Since its launch in April 2022, more than 2,500 students, visitors, educators, business employees, community residents and friends from close to 100 zip codes have visited Challenger Learning Center at SC4.

To learn more or schedule a group mission, visit challenger.sc4.edu/visit/. Contact the Challenger Learning Center with questions at experiencecenter@sc4.edu or (810) 989-5789.