Category: Learning

Time at SC4 prepared alumnus Lauren Tuckey for professional illustration career

For as long as she can remember, Lauren Tuckey has enjoyed drawing things. Now she’s enjoying seeing her work in print as the illustrator of her first children’s book.

After graduating from Yale High School in 2013, she chose to go to SC4 to save tuition costs and stay close to her family in Port Huron. While taking general education classes, Tuckey also took plenty of art classes on the side.

“In my art classes, I made many of my closest friends,” Tuckey said, “and was able to work on diverse art projects I wouldn’t have been able to do from home. I was featured in and worked on the annual Patterns book, too.”

She learned from her many talented art instructors, as well as other SC4 faculty, but has a special memory of one class that changed her approach to her art.

“Color and Design with Doug Frey was the most beneficial art class I took,” Tuckey explained. “He helped me step out of my comfort zone as an artist and explore techniques and styles that helped me sculpt the more well-rounded style I have now.”

After graduating from SC4, Tuckey had the chance to work with an author from North Carolina, Phil Routszong, to create illustrations for a children’s book titled Hobgoblin Humbug, which was published in October and is available for ordering through Amazon. She also stays busy illustrating custom portraits through her shop on Etsy.

Tuckey is a strong believer in the importance of community colleges.

“Colleges like SC4 are a great asset to students who want to save some money while still gaining a valuable education, experience, and great memories,” she said. “I’m thankful for everything SC4 equipped me with as I move forward as a professional illustrator.”

Photo: SC4 alumnus Lauren Tuckey (right) with author Phil Routszong and their book Hobgoblin Humbug.

SC4 professor teaches to help students obtain their dream job

When Professor of Biology Janice Fritz started her Ph.D. program, she had no intention of being a teacher. As a student she was given financial support as a teaching assistant. “I was more than a little uncertain about teaching biology labs to undergrads,” said Fritz. “But it turned out that I loved it.”

The further she got in her Ph.D. program, the more she wanted to teach and the less she wanted to run a research program. After completing her postdoctoral training, she taught part-time at Wayne State University and Lansing Community College. “I really enjoyed both,” said Fritz. “But I really loved teaching at the community college level.”

“I love the focus on teaching, the variety of students, and the interactions I can have given the small class sizes,” said Fritz. “Truly, I have my dream job.” 

Fritz teaches Human Anatomy and Physiology, a core course for allied health programs like nursing and respiratory therapy, as well as pre-professional programs for students looking to go on to become doctors, pharmacists, physical therapists, physician assistants, and more. Given the importance of high-quality health care professionals, it’s important that SC4’s healthcare-related programs, and the courses that feed into them, like Fritz’s, are rigorous and provide students with the information and skills they need to succeed. Fritz wants her classes to be challenging and she tries to provide students with all the tools they need to meet the challenge.

Fritz notes that during the pandemic, it’s been harder to teach students in a virtual environment, but she’s worked hard to give them the best possible experience, using a combination of technology and hands-on experience to replace the activities done normally in the classroom. She uses online digital models to help students identify anatomical structures and students also received supplies for building models, dissecting specimens, measuring vital signs, assessing sensory function, conducting urinalysis, and more. She uses live sessions through Microsoft Teams (recorded for those who can’t attend) to review the activities and demonstrate procedures. She uses a large monitor to see the students and keep an eye on the chat window, a multimedia computer to project documents though an interactive projector so she can add annotations, a document camera for sharing physical objects, a phone for demonstrating apps, and a laptop for accessing other documents. So she has her hands full!

Fritz held a few live sessions where students were able to come to campus if they wanted help with their dissecting. With only a few students in the room, they could maintain social distancing requirements and Fritz used the document camera to show the dissection and point out structures. Sessions were streamed for the benefit of students who couldn’t, or preferred not to, be on campus.

Online learning is definitely a challenge for some students, who have had to cope with computer issues, software incompatibilities, Wi-Fi issues, illness, and more. “Overall, my students are doing a great job engaging, staying on top of the work, and learning the content,” said Fritz. “I have just as much confidence in the future success of my students this semester as any other semester.”

“I teach at SC4 so I can help my students get their dream job like I did,” said Fritz, smiling.

To learn more about available programs at SC4, visit sc4.edu/programs. If you are looking to start your educational journey, let us help, fill out an application today at sc4.edu/starthere.

TRIO Student of the Month — Kate Bosma

Kate Bosma is starting her final semester in SC4’s Associate Degree Nursing program. Although she’s nearing the end of this part of her educational journey, she faced significant barriers when she decided to return to college to pursue a career in nursing.

“Financial barriers were huge,” Bosma explained. “Coming back to college involved a major career shift, and I already had a previous degree. I was able to earn scholarship assistance, however, from both SC4 and the Community Foundation.”

It had also been a while since Bosma had taken classes, so relearning how to be a college student again was also a major hurdle, but resources like SC4’s Achievement Center and the TRIO Student Support Service Program paved the way for her success.

“Returning to college presented emotional struggles, too,” Bosma recalled. “But support from my amazing husband, my perfect daughter, and my family helped to keep me going whenever I wanted to give up.”

Bosma heard about the TRIO program during an orientation session for the ADN program. After hearing the requirements, she thought she’d be a good match, especially as a returning student with a family and a full-time job. “I knew I could use all of the help I could get to succeed,” she said.

“TRIO helped me succeed in many ways. Personal advising sessions, encouragement and words of advice, and stress relief from cultural enrichment opportunities offered through the program allowed me to take a break from my books and get some stress relief,” Bosma said. “I’d recommend TRIO without a doubt! College can be hard, so the more support systems you have built up will only help you succeed.”

Bosma is grateful to many people at SC4 for helping her make it to the finish line of her degree.

“Where to start?” she laughed. “Shawne Jowett and Amy Hengehold in TRIO have been so helpful. The free tutors in the Achievement Center got me back on my feet and into the groove of being a student again. Anne McPherson helped me find resources to aid in my success and taught me how to study effectively. Professor Carrie Dollar, whose classes I took when I was at SC4 the first time and now during my return, helped me develop confidence while completing the biology pre-requisites for the ADN program.”

All of her instructors have pushed Bosma to succeed and have given her the tools she’ll need to be a nurse. “I’ll look back and remember the women who not only taught me skills, but who also made me realize exactly why I want to be a nurse, even on the hard days.”

Bosma will graduate in May, then will take the NCLEX licensing exam to become an official Registered Nurse. She plans to enter the workforce while also continuing her nursing education.

“The opportunities are endless,” she said, “and my story is just beginning.”

For her dedication to her educational goals, Kate Bosma is the January 2021 TRIO Student of the Month. Congratulations!

SC4 honors 34 practical nursing graduates

St. Clair County Community College honored its practical nursing program graduates at the end of their NCLEX Review on Tuesday, Dec. 15.

Due to current restrictions on organized events, a formal graduation ceremony was not held. Exiting the review, students were given a gift bag containing a Practical Nursing pamphlet with their nursing pin, the traditional apricot rose, a USB slideshow prepared by graduate Allie Smith and an ornament created by students Nikki Rodriguez, Michaela Schulz, Heather Travis, and Demi Varty.

The 34 graduating students who completed the nursing program are qualified to take the National Council Licensure Examination.

A full list of graduating students is listed below. Those interested in learning more about SC4’s nursing programs can visit sc4.edu/nursing.

List of graduating students:

  • Elizabeth Bowen — Clay Township
  • Kayla Brabaw — Port Huron
  • Christina Cardinal — Port Huron
  • Sherri Domzalski — Capac
  • Brittney Dudley — Port Huron
  • Emily Escobar — Algonac
  • D. Hope Galarza-Amaro — Port Huron
  • Jenna Graham — Clay Township
  • Melissa Graham — Clyde Township
  • Lydia Hill — Avoca
  • Amanda Isaac — Fort Gratiot
  • Jessica Keast — Clay Township
  • Payton Kehoe — Richmond
  • Kaitlynn Kindsvater — Marysville
  • Jennifer Knoth — Lakeport
  • Shelly Lander — Port Huron
  • Christopher Luke — Algonac
  • Christene Marcum — New Haven
  • Davon Morris — Kimball Township
  • Katie Noble — Deckerville
  • Heather Porter — Jeddo
  • Nicole Ricciardi — Roseville
  • Niurka Rodrigues — Port Huron
  • Michaela Schulz — Algonac
  • Alexis Semaan — Algonac
  • Tara Smalls — Port Huron
  • Alexandra Smith — Memphis
  • Jennifer Steinke — Port Huron
  • Jenah Ternes — Macomb
  • Heather Travis — Port Huron
  • Demi Varty — Port Huron
  • Hannah Wiegand — Marysville
  • Renee Wolschleger — Memphis
  • David Wolven — Port Huron