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
Category: Learning
New scholarship honoring alumna Ellen Petho to benefit SC4 art and design students
Future generations of St. Clair County Community College (SC4) art and design students will benefit from a new scholarship thanks to a generous $100,000 donation from the Petho family in honor of SC4 alumna and interior designer Ellen Petho.
Ellen Petho called Port Huron her home for more than 75 years. She and her husband, Lou, raised their family in Port Huron. Ellen had a long and successful career in interior design. She also devoted herself to philanthropic work. She was proud to earn her advertising and design degree from SC4 in 1988. SC4 was an integral part of Ellen’s education and the beginning of her design career. While at SC4, she formed great relationships and had wonderful mentors.
Sadly, Ellen Petho passed away on Jan. 2, 2023. To honor Ellen and her devotion to art and giving to others, Lou, her daughters and their families have made a generous $100,000 donation to SC4 on its 100th year anniversary. This donation will provide scholarship money to aspiring art students. The scholarship will be called the “Ellen Petho Design Ideas Memorial Scholarship.” Through this scholarship, Ellen’s passion for learning, art and design, and giving to others will live on as her legacy.
SC4 students soon can apply for the “Ellen Petho Design Ideas Memorial Scholarship” at sc4.edu/scholarships.
To learn more about SC4 art, design, and other programs and career pathways, as well as how to apply and register for winter 2024 classes, visit sc4.edu/programs/.
Petho family, pictured above from left to right: Christine Moore, Lou Petho, Kathy Patterson and Karri Petho
On National STEM Day, SC4 announces SC4 STEM Fest with Michigan Tech to be held March 9
>>> REGISTER HERE FOR SC4 STEM FEST
In recognition of National STEM Day on Nov. 8, St. Clair County Community College (SC4) is pleased to announce that its second annual SC4 STEM Fest will take place on Saturday, March 9, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The event—which again is free and open to the public thanks to generous donations and grants—aims to spark a sense of wonder and features more than 100 hands-on, interactive science, technology, engineering and mathematics exhibits by SC4 and Michigan Technological University’s Mind Trekkers.
“Nearly 4,000 people from more than 130 zip codes registered for our inaugural STEM Fest event last year,” said Kristin Copenhaver, SC4 chief marketing officer. “It was a huge success for our college and community, inspiring the next generation of leaders and innovators in STEM as well as bringing excitement, energy and economic impact to our region.”
The event’s more than 100 activities and exhibits will have learners exploring a wide array of STEM topics. Specific session highlights will be announced shortly, with the event once again taking place throughout SC4’s Fieldhouse and Clara E. Mackenzie Building / Experience Center, which includes the Challenger Learning Center at SC4 and the Dr. Bassam H. Nasr Natural Science Museum. (Visit sc4.edu/stem-fest/stem-fest-experiences/ to view a list of last year’s activities. Please keep in mind, however, that 2024 activities and exhibits will/may differ.)
Mind Trekkers is a flagship program of Michigan Technological University’s Center for Educational Outreach. Powered by undergraduate and graduate student guides, Mind Trekkers travels across the country to deliver high-energy, hands-on, STEM demonstrations to learners of all ages, inspiring them to pursue post-secondary education.
“We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with SC4 with the return of Mind Trekkers to this event,” said Cassy Tefft de Muñoz, executive director of the Center for Educational Outreach at Michigan Technological University. “The southeast Michigan community is fortunate to have such a strong educational leader in SC4 and we are looking forward to providing another fun and engaging experience for families in the region.”
More information regarding exhibits, details and registration soon will be available—though registration is now open. RSVP for the event at sc4.edu/stem-fest/stem-fest-registration/ now and be among the first to hear updates.
To help support STEM Fest and STEM programming at SC4, visit sc4.edu/give. Please direct any questions to SC4 at (810) 989-5789 or experiencecenter@sc4.edu.
SC4 announces President’s Honor List for summer 2023
A total of 235 St. Clair County Community College (SC4) students earned a spot on the President’s Honor List for the 2023 summer semester.
Students must complete at least six credits and have a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher to make the list.
View the President’s Honor List for the 2023 summer semester—as well as the 2023 winter semester list recognizing 1,355 students—sortable by hometown.
