Category: Learning

SC4 names wheelchair basketball head coach and disability services specialist

Jordan Scheidecker—an adaptive sports and disabilities support services expert, three-time national championship wheelchair basketball player and national championship coach—has been named wheelchair basketball head coach and disability services specialist at St. Clair County Community College (SC4).

Scheidecker brings to SC4 hands-on experience planning and implementing high-quality adaptive sports programs and experiences. He also brings recruitment- and diversity, equity and inclusion-based expertise and knowledge. His past roles include transition and outreach specialist at the Center for Students with Disabilities, graduate assistant of Adaptive Athletics, and assistant director of Wheelchair Basketball Camp, all at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

A disability awareness speaker who travels throughout the Midwest, Scheidecker earned a master’s degree in educational leadership and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Jordan to campus,” said SC4 Chief Diversity Officer Jessica Brown. “His diverse combination of work and athletics experiences uniquely positions him to lead and support students on the court and across our campus. As one of just a few adaptive sports teams in Michigan—and the only community college in the nation—SC4 and its students will benefit greatly by having Jordan as part of our team.”

“I’m really excited to join the SC4 community and create greater awareness, participation in and support for adaptive sports and students with disabilities,” Scheidecker said. “We want to be a place that helps people find success and ultimately move on to where they want to go, athletically and academically. Through my roles at SC4, I look forward to doing just that by advocating for more awareness, leading and supporting students, and providing information from the perspective of a person with disabilities to an able-bodied, diverse population.”

Scheidecker will start in his full-time capacity in late October, though he’ll be on campus prior to that for the Wolverine Invitational and adaptive sports clinics to teach individuals how to play Sept. 28-Oct. 1 at the SC4 Fieldhouse.

Committed 2023 Wolverine Invitational teams thus far include top teams from across the U.S. and Canada:

  • University of Michigan (NWBA Adult D2)
  • LWSRA Hawks (NAWBL) – Chicago
  • Kitchener Spinners (CWBL D1) – Ontario
  • London Forest City Flyers (CWBL D2 / NWBA Adult D3) – Ontario
  • Brampton Rockets (CWBL D2) – Ontario
  • University of Arizona (NWBA Intercollegiate Women)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University (NWBA Intercollegiate Men)
  • University of Wisconsin Whitewater (NWBA Intercollegiate Men)

With a full tournament schedule forthcoming, the University of Michigan tips off against the University of Arizona at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29, and the championship game is set for Sunday, Oct. 1, at noon (12:20 p.m. tip off planned). Additionally, SC4’s new wheelchair basketball team will take on Michigan State University on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 12:30 p.m. in the Wolverine Invitational’s Emerging Teams bracket.

“This is high-level competition,” Scheidecker said. “The caliber of athletes is impressive and something the entire region should get excited about and attend. I’m looking forward to it!”

The co-ed SC4 wheelchair basketball team is open to SC4 students and community members with disabilities or those who are able-bodied and passionate about wheelchair basketball, with priority given to students enrolled at SC4. For more information about joining the wheelchair basketball team at SC4, visit sc4.edu/campus-life/athletics/athlete-interest-form/.

To learn more about the Wolverine Invitational at SC4—including ticket information and how to volunteer at the event—visit sc4.edu/wolverine.

SC4 welcomes eight new full-time faculty members 

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) is pleased to welcome eight full-time faculty members.   

  • Andrew Beaudin, MAcc, Accounting 
  • Ryan Johnson, M.A., History 
  • Cadey Korson, Ph.D., Geography 
  • Jacqueline Mahannah, MFA, Art/Graphic Design 
  • Jacob Vinson, MFA, Art 
  • Kevin Watkins, RN, BSN, Nursing 
  • Christine Yntema, RT(R)(CT), B.S., Radiologic Technology 
  • Linda Ziolkowski, RT(R), BAS, Radiologic Technology 

“These talented professionals and scholars bring theoretical, practical, clinical and creative expertise, certifications and experience to the online and in-person classrooms,” said SC4 Chief Academic Officer Ethan Flick. “They represent excellence across business and information technology, the humanities and fine arts, health care, sciences and social sciences, and general education. We’re thrilled to welcome them to our SC4 team and look forward to the positive impact they’ll have on student success at SC4.”   

SC4 provides access to life-changing higher education. Its alumni are successful health care leaders, engineers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, welders, scientists, public safety officers, designers, managers, entrepreneurs, artists and more.  

Pictured from left to right: Ryan Johnson, Jacob Vinson, Linda Ziolkowski, Christine Yntema, Jacqueline Mahannah, Kevin Watkins, Andrew Beaudin, Cadey Korson

SC4 signs on to The Detroit Promise Program, providing free college to Detroit high school students

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) has partnered with The Detroit Promise, a program that provides a tuition-free path to trade, two-year or four-year credentials for Detroit-based students. This expands options for students who live in and attend high school in Detroit to pursue postsecondary education at no cost.

“We are excited to partner with The Detroit Promise,” said SC4 Chief DEI Officer Jessica Brown. “While many of our students are St. Clair County residents, many more come to our college and community from other areas to enroll in classes. Last year, for instance, we welcomed students from more than 200 zip codes. This partnership with The Detroit Promise—enhanced by our College Housing options for SC4 students—will allow us to welcome and support more Detroit-area students seeking higher education.”

“I am thrilled to be expanding our partnerships and to welcome SC4 to The Detroit Promise,” said Detroit Promise Senior Director of College Success and Partnerships Wytrice Harris. “More higher education partners mean more options for students to pursue a degree or credential that will shape their futures. This growing support speaks to the value of this program for the students and educational institutions involved, as well as for the future of the state’s workforce and economy.”

The Detroit Promise works with its higher education partners to ensure improved access to and success through postsecondary education for Detroit students, and the program is celebrating 10 years in 2023 and more than 5,000 students supported from over 50 Detroit high schools. The Promise covers the total cost of tuition and other expenses after any Pell or TIP funding is applied to a student’s bill. The noncompetitive award is available to any student that meets basic requirements and applies for the Detroit Promise.

SC4 is one of just eight community colleges across Michigan that offers College Housing—and the only one in Southeast Michigan.

Additionally, SC4 offers many other free and reduced tuition programs and options to help students across Michigan and beyond earn college credits, including scholarships, dual enrollment, middle colleges, the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, Michigan Reconnect Scholarship, Tuition Incentive Program, Federal Pell and other grants, and much more.

For more information on The Detroit Promise and to apply, visit https://detroitpromise.com/. To apply to SC4, visit https://sc4.edu/. To learn more and apply for SC4 College Housing, visit sc4.edu/housing/.

SC4 open for extended hours Saturday, Aug. 19, to help students get registered for fall semester

SC4’s Welcome Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19, to help students who still need to apply, register, pay for classes, talk with an advisor and more prior to the start of the fall semester on Aug. 21. 

The bookstore also is open Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 125, Acheson Technology Center. 

Of course, students can feel free to contact these offices with questions via email or phone as well.  

SC4 to offer health care information sessions

St. Clair County Community College (SC4)—a long-time leader in health care education—is pleased to offer upcoming information sessions for its health care programs.

Program information sessions are free and the first step for anyone interested in earning a health care degree from SC4. For those interested in nursing or radiologic technology programs, attending a session is mandatory.

Radiologic Technology

Associate Degree Nursing

Practical Nursing

Transition Programs (LPN to ADN, Health Care Professional to ADN)

At the heart of SC4’s transformative health sciences education lies its newly renovated Health Sciences Building (HSB). This cutting-edge facility serves as a hub for immersive learning experiences, providing students with a hospital simulation wing that replicates real-world medical settings and helps develop critical knowledge and skills.

SC4 also offers degree programs in allied health, respiratory therapy and therapeutic massage, which is a cooperative effort with the Lakewood School of Therapeutic Massage, as well as transfer pathways to other health care careers.

To view program information and deadlines for all SC4 health care programs, visit sc4.edu/programs/health-human-services/. To view transfer pathways for additional programs and degrees, visit sc4.edu/admissions/transfer/. Contact SC4 at (810) 989-5520 or starthere@sc4.edu with questions.

SC4, Lake Huron Medical Center to host health careers open house

Are you looking to take the next step forward in your health care career? Look no further! St. Clair County Community College (SC4) and Lake Huron Medical Center invite all aspiring health care professionals to an exclusive event on Wednesday, Aug. 9, at 2 p.m. in the Lake Huron Medical Center Cafeteria.

During this event, you will have the opportunity to learn about the tuition reimbursement opportunities available at Lake Huron Medical Center, designed to assist you as you pursue various health care programs offered by SC4. As a long-standing leader in health sciences education, SC4 offers a comprehensive range of in-demand courses, programs, certificates, and transfer pathways.

Whether you are interested in nursing, medical assisting, radiologic technology, respiratory therapy or any other health care field, SC4 has the resources and expertise to help you achieve your goals. This event will provide you with a chance to explore the multitude of options available and gain valuable insights into the exciting world of health care.

“The partnership between Lake Huron Medical Center and St. Clair County Community College has been instrumental in shaping the future of health care professionals in our community,” said Jose Kottoor, CEO of Lake Huron Medical Center. “We are committed to supporting individuals who are passionate about pursuing a career in the healthcare industry and are thrilled to offer tuition reimbursement opportunities to aid them in their educational journey.”

“We’re pleased to host this health careers event with Lake Huron Medical Center,” said Dean of Health Sciences and Director of Nursing Tracy Dunsmore. “SC4 alumni are positively impacting the health and well-being of their communities as nurses, radiologic technologists, respiratory therapists, massage therapists, doctors, pharmacists, physical therapists and much more. We look forward to welcoming anyone interested in joining our remarkable health care community to the event to discuss potential health career options.” 

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn more about the tuition reimbursement program through Lake Huron Medical Center and the exceptional health care programs offered by SC4. Registration is required for this event. Please register at sc4.edu/lhmc.

Skippers athletes break longtime academic excellence record, garner team honors 

A record number of St. Clair County Community College (SC4) athletes have been named recipients of National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) academic awards.

Twenty-seven Skippers athletes—the most for the Skippers in any single year since the early 2000s—received academic honors for the 2022-23 year by completing a minimum of 24 credits with at least a 3.60 GPA.

Additionally, eight Skippers teams achieved NJCAA Academic Team status for the 2022-23 year by having a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

SC4 student-athletes honored

NJCAA All-Academic First Team (4.0 GPA)
Olivia Crawford – Cross Country
Colleen Kubisiak – Soccer
Brandon Zielke – Cross Country

NJCAA All-Academic Second Team (3.80-3.99 GPA)
Elizabeth Baldwin – Cross Country
Brandi Bassett – Softball
Zach Dingwell – Baseball
Miyana Dishroon – Volleyball
Nicholas Knust – Cross Country
Ethan McCombs – Cross Country
Kaylie Rickert – Softball
Cameron Schomburg – Men’s Bowling
Tyler Simpson – Golf
Jesse Uzansky – Baseball

NJCAA All-Academic Third Team (3.60 – 3.79 GPA)
Ashley Bales – Bowling
Jacob Barrett – Basketball
Heather Broski – Volleyball
Lukas Danko Cross Country
Sarah Fantin – Softball
Andrew Howison – Wrestling
Elizabeth Hubbard – Bowling
Ben Moore – Baseball
Kayla Rosen – Women’s Basketball
Madelyn Smith – Women’s Basketball
Olivia Storm – Soccer
Ethan Strong – Baseball
Allison Tomczak – Cross Country
Joslyn Williams – Soccer

SC4 teams honored

Women’s Bowling (3.48 GPA)
Men’s Cross Country (3.36 GPA)
Men’s Bowling (3.29 GPA)
Soccer (3.12 GPA)
Softball (3.11 GPA)
Men’s Golf (3.07 GPA)
Volleyball (3.02 GPA)
Women’s Basketball (3.01 GPA)

“We are incredibly proud of our student-athletes and what they accomplish, both academically and athletically,” said SC4 Athletic Director Dale Vos. “Their commitment to their teams and future career paths is inspiring, and we’re grateful to see their hard work recognized by the NJCAA.”

To view the full list of individual award recipients visit NJCAA All-Academic Awards. To view team rankings, visit NJCAA Academic Teams of the Year.

Women’s Bowling team pictured above.

SC4 student perseveres, gains confidence on path to nursing career

“This isn’t working for me. I want more. I want to go back to school.”

Amber Fields—a single, working mom and caretaker without a high school diploma—remembers the day in 2018 she officially set her sights on becoming a nurse.  

“I was working dead-end jobs and was tired and burned out,” Fields said. “I’ve always wanted to help people and needed a change. I started searching paths, first to earn a GED. I came across 2GEN Learning Center and was met with immediate encouragement, love, and the support I didn’t even know I needed. It was my first step in becoming a nurse and I didn’t have to take it alone.”

2GEN, which “moves families toward economic security by improving educational attainment and addressing the non-academic barriers hindering success,” helped Fields get started.

“My son attended with me, attending developmental child care,” the mom of three said. “It took me about five to six months to pass, but I got my GED in February 2019.”

From there, Fields turned her focus to enrolling at St. Clair County Community College (SC4) and applying to its Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program.

“I filled out a lot of scholarship applications thanks to the help and support of my 2GEN family and the Community Foundation,” she said. “I was surprised to learn that I ended up getting every scholarship I filled out!”

Fields enrolled at SC4 beginning in fall 2019, taking prerequisite courses needed for the nursing program. She applied and was accepted into the nursing program in 2021, but had some difficulty in one class in particular.

“Unfortunately, I ended up failing the class,” said Fields, who had also started work as a full-time nurse aide at McLaren Port Huron. “That meant I had to wait until the next year to reapply to the program. So that’s what I did.”

She persevered and restarted her journey last fall. Since then, she’s continued on her path and even has been recognized for her efforts in the program. In April 2023, she was selected as the winner of the Faculty Memorial Award continuing student, an honor chosen by the SC4 faculty and presented at the Student Recognition Ceremony.

“I’ve gotten so much confidence going back to school and going to SC4,” she said. “The classes are small and you get really close with the professors. They know you and are very willing to help you through issues and with problems.”

Fields expects to graduate from SC4 with her ADN in 2024—and already is looking into where to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

“Nothing worthwhile is easy, you just have to keep moving,” Fields said. “My dreams are coming true. I’m looking forward to heading into a rewarding career as an RN.”

For more information about applying to SC4 and registering for courses, contact the SC4 Admissions team at (810) 989-5571 or starthere@sc4.edu. For more information about financial aid and scholarships—including Michigan Reconnect, a last-dollar scholarship program that pays for adult learners 25 and older to attend SC4 for free or at a reduced cost—contact SC4 Financial Aid at  financialaid@sc4.edu or call (810) 989-5530.

Photo credit: 2GEN Learning Center

Alumni Spotlight: Amy Robinson

Current or most recent title and employer?
VP, CFO & CAO, Board Treasurer, the Kresge Foundation

How did SC4 help prepare you?
I was just sharing with a colleague that though I had full scholarship offers from four-year institutions back in the mid-80’s, I was engaged coming out of high school so I wanted to stay in the local area and also thought starting in a smaller environment would better support my transition to full-time college student. SC4 was the perfect place for me, with excellent instructors, caring staff and a curriculum that supported my desire to enter into finance/business as my major. My accounting class at SC4 was pivotal in my desire to major in accounting at Walsh, where I transferred to on a full scholarship due to the preparation I received at SC4. I later became a CPA, a career goal of mine from early on.

What do you like most about what you do professionally?
Without hesitation – the people. I am blessed with the best job ever, and to say that after 25 years with the same organization is impressive. I work with the best staff, leadership team and board, who push me to use all of my personal and professional skills to think and act in new and different ways to support our mission and those we serve. The work is challenging, wide-ranging and always changing to meet the needs of our grantees/investees.

The Kresge Foundation is a private, national foundation that, with our work grounded in equity, works to expand opportunities in America’s cities through grantmaking and social investing. In collaboration with our partners, we help create pathways for people with low incomes to improve their life circumstances and join the economic mainstream. I get to use my skills, whether that be in accounting, tax, operations management, mentoring, etc., to support that mission.

Did you transfer on and earn other degrees? If so, what degrees and from where?
After SC4, I transferred to Walsh and earned by BACCT. I also am a CPA. Full bio here: https://kresge.org/person/amy-b-robinson/

Alumni Spotlight: Misty DeLeon

Current or most recent title and employer?
Clerical Services Program Leader at Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center

How did SC4 help prepare you?
It incited a desire to go further and be an agent of change.

What do you like most about what you do professionally?
I have the best of all worlds. I get to work with clients and help my employees develop personally and professionally.

Did you transfer on and earn other degrees? If so, what degrees and from where?
I have my bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan-Flint and my master’s in clinical psychology with a concentration in applied behavioral analysis from the Michigan School of Psychology.