Category: General

SC4 to host first round of NJCAA Men’s and Women’s Soccer National Championships

St. Clair County Community College has been awarded a two-year bid to host the first round of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Men’s and Women’s Soccer National Championships Oct. 29-30, 2022, and Oct. 27-28, 2023, at the Skippers Soccer Field in Marysville, Mich.

This Region 12 event will bring eight teams from throughout Michigan, Ohio and Indiana to the Blue Water Area. The teams will be playing for an opportunity to advance in the tournament, which concludes with the NJCAA National Championship in Tucson, Ariz., the week of Nov. 14-19.

The Skippers Soccer Field, a collegiate synthetic turf surface spanning 75 yards wide by 120 yards long, played a large role in securing the bid as a host site. Another key factor was the outstanding support from the local communities that SC4 has received in successfully hosting other NJCAA tournaments in volleyball, basketball, softball and wrestling, including the 2022 NJCAA National Championship in women’s basketball.

SC4 is excited to bring high-caliber collegiate soccer to the Blue Water Area and is committed to providing all teams, as well as fans in attendance, with a memorable experience.  

“We are thrilled to welcome more NJCAA championships to our campus and community. We look forward to showcasing the SC4 Skippers Soccer Field as well as our many great restaurants, hotels, businesses and activities,” said Dale Vos, SC4 director of athletics. “I encourage area residents to come watch some exciting collegiate-level soccer competition.”

The eight tournament qualifiers and match schedule will be announced by Region 12 of the NJCAA on Oct. 23. Both the women’s and men’s semi-finals will be played Fri. Oct. 29, with the finals held on Sat. Oct. 30. All matches will be played at the Skipper Soccer Field located at 560 Busha Highway in Marysville, Mich. Ticket information will follow once the tournament details are set.

This new soccer event will make a substantial positive impact to the local community, bringing visitors to the area and filling hotels and restaurants. For example, the 16 teams competing at the NJCAA Women’s Basketball Championship last March accounted for more than 1,200 hotel room nights during the week of the event, a major positive boost to the local economy. The women’s basketball National Championship will return to the SC4 Fieldhouse March 21-25, 2023.

“The city of Marysville is happy to welcome soccer teams for the NJCAA tournament,” said Marysville City Manager Randy Fernandez. “We are proud to be the home of one of the finest soccer fields in the state through our collaboration with the college. This tournament provides a great opportunity to bring people to our area and showcase SC4, the city of Marysville and the region as a whole.”

SC4 announced women’s soccer as a new offering in the fall of 2019; however, the team’s first season was delayed until the spring of 2021 due to the pandemic. The Skippers are working hard to qualify for the NJCAA tournament and will open their 2022 regular season at home on Wed., Aug. 24, at 5 p.m. vs. Rochester University. A full schedule of Skippers games is available at sc4skippers.com/sports/wsoc/2022-23/schedule. 

SC4 expands mental health and wellness support for students through new 24/7 counseling partnership, basic needs pantry and more

St. Clair County Community College is expanding its mental health support network as an increasing number of college students nationwide are experiencing growing mental health and wellness needs.

In addition to available appointments with the SC4 Student Wellness team, students can now access telehealth sessions 24/7 with a licensed, diverse network of mental health counselors through BetterMynd.

The telehealth sessions are 50 minutes, private, confidential, and can take place on a laptop or smartphone. Five telehealth sessions are free and available for any active SC4 student, and five more additional sessions may be granted by contacting studentwellness@sc4.edu. (Continued services are available for an out-of-pocket fee.)

BetterMynd—which is not to be used for emergencies—also provides free self-help resources and group workshops to current students.

“We want to provide our students with the mental health and wellness resources they need to maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle—and to succeed in an academic environment,” said Director of Student Wellness David Goetze. “The past few years have been very challenging for many of our students. BetterMynd will help enhance our offerings and provide students with even greater access and support.”

With more than “70 percent of community college students experiencing emotional distress, stress and/or anxiety due to a lack of basic needs,” SC4 also launched Skip’s Corner Pantry this past spring. Located on the first floor of SC4’s Welcome Center and open during College business hours, Skip’s Corner Pantry is stocked with food and hygiene products that are free to SC4 students.

“Our goal with Skip’s Corner Pantry is to provide students with items they need, whenever they need them,” said Executive Director of DEI, Student Recruitment, Advising and Admissions Jessica Brown. “We don’t require check-in and want to maintain a discreet environment so that students feel comfortable walking in and shopping.”

Additional support at SC4 is provided through many other offices such as Advising, Disability Services, TRIO, Veterans Services, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). The DEI Office, for instance, recently began its STRIVE Mentorship Program to help prepare students of all backgrounds for future success by acquiring unique skill sets, learning leadership skills, and building relationships and confidence.

The on-campus SC4 Health Clinic, operated by the St. Clair County Health Department, continues to offer greater access and services to students as well. The clinic provides services for many common health issues and concerns including vaccinations, health screenings, consultations and presentations.

“The more we can do to support our students and their health and well-being needs, the greater opportunities they’ll have for future success,” Goetze said. “That’s our mission, and it’s why we do what we do here at the College each and every day.”

Students in need of immediate assistance are encouraged to call (810) 989-5552 (Director of Student Wellness), the St. Clair County Community Mental Health Mobile Crisis Response Unit at (810) 966-2575, 911 or the 24/7 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential support to people experiencing mental health-related distress, suicidal crisis, emotional distress or substance use crisis.

Registration open for SC4’s Golf Classic to benefit student-athletes

The St. Clair County Community College Athletic Department will host the SC4 Golf Classic on Friday, July 22, at Marysville Golf Course. Participants will enjoy 18 holes of golf with friends to support student-athletes.

This year’s event is sponsored by Joe Mericka in honor of his sister Georgette “Gigi” Mericka. As both a community and SC4 supporter, Gigi assisted in securing sponsorships and helped make the SC4 golf outing a success for many years.

“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 32 teams to register. The cost is $125 per golfer or $500 per team. Registration for golfers and additional sponsorship opportunities are available 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.