Category: General

SC4 Cinema Celebrates Black History Month with Special Film Series

PORT HURON, Mich. — St. Clair County Community College (SC4) will honor Black History Month with a powerful lineup of films at SC4 Cinema, celebrating Black artistry, storytelling and cultural impact. The featured films highlight music, sports, resilience and history through compelling cinematic experiences.

The series includes:

“Amazing Grace” is an Aretha Franklin concert film shot in a church at the live recording of her gospel record of the same name. Filmed in 1972, technical and legal challenges kept it unseen for nearly 40 years. It’s a powerful film of music and soul that showcases the legendary Detroit singer at the absolute height of her talent, spirit, and power.

“Love and Basketball” is a film about a competitive boy and girl who grow up as friends loving the sport. Can they balance their basketball dreams with their relationship as they get older? This classic drama from Gina Prince-Bythewood is a sensitive and crowd-pleasing blend of sports and romance.

With “Creed,” Ryan Coogler, the Oscar-nominated director and writer of “Sinners” and “Black Panther” made a bold and exciting early-career feature with a sequel to the “Rocky” movies. By focusing on the son of that character’s rival hoping to follow in his footsteps, he finds fresh perspective. A powerhouse performance from star Michael B. Jordan centers an exciting boxing story that builds real emotional heft in the drama between matches.

Last year’s Best Picture Oscar nominee “Nickle Boys,” based on the novel by Colson Whitehead, follows a boy mistakenly sent to a juvenile detention camp in the South during the 1960s. A story of struggle and perseverance, director RaMell Ross gives it a unique first-person perspective that matches its deeply empathetic storytelling with exciting filmmaking craft.

“Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the depth, creativity and impact of Black voices in film,” said Sarah Rutallie, Chief of Staff at SC4. “Through SC4 Cinema, we are proud to provide our campus and community with meaningful stories that inspire reflection, spark conversation and honor the cultural contributions that continue to shape our world.”

Film dates, showtimes and ticket information are available at www.sc4cinema.com. Community members are encouraged to attend and take part in this month-long celebration of powerful storytelling and cinematic excellence.

SC4 employees posing in SC4 cinema shirts at the SC4 cinema at sperrys lobby

Alumni Spotlight: Kevin M. Totty Sr.

Current or most recent title and employer?
Philanthropist – Community Foundation of St. Clair County

How did SC4 help prepare you?
Communication, Connections and Community! SC4 is our hometown gem that needs to be shared with other folks around the world!

What do you like most about what you do professionally?
Connect folks to paths of resources where they can tell their story in life.

Did you transfer on and earn other degrees? If so, what degrees and from where?
Bellevue University – Bachelor in Business
ECornell – Certificate in Equitable Community Program
Ordained Minister – International Council of Community Churches

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/.