Category: Student success

For the Wiltons, Success at Blue Water Middle College Academy Runs in the Family

The Blue Water Middle College Academy gave Sharon Wilton’s two daughters a jump on the game with free associate degrees thanks to the partnership between the St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency, area school districts and St. Clair County Community College.

Wilton, March of Dimes development manager, said she is amazed at the paths her daughters, Emily and Meghan, have taken since earning degrees from the Middle College, which gives students an opportunity to earn a free associate degree by attending school an extra year.

“All the professors were very welcoming to the Middle College students,” she said. “They helped prepare students for college at a young age, gave them confidence to complete college-level work and provided support along the way.”

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Emily, 22, enrolled in the Middle College as a junior in 2012 while attending Port Huron Northern High School. She was president of SC4’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society her senior year and graduated with honors in 2015 with a liberal arts degree in addition to earning her high school diploma – all at no cost to her and her family.

She went on to Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, taking accelerated courses to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration. She was Northwood’s student government president, awarded the school’s prestigious Arthur E. Turner Award and inducted into its Gallery of Distinction.

Emily now works at the Midland Brewing Co. on a consulting project. She and Northwood classmate Sydnie Michael have started a homemade pasta business, Pastamico, and sell at the Midland Farmers Market and in the Bay City-Saginaw area.

Wilton said both Emily and Meghan were captains of Northern’s color guard, held jobs and taught dance classes while attending the Middle College.

“Middle College requires that students work hard because they have classes at the high school and college until their 13th year,” she said. “But they definitely can still work or participate in sports at the same time.”

IMG_1426 (1)Meghan, 19, also a Northern BWMCA high school student, finished Middle College in May. After transferring 64 credits, Meghan is attending Grand Valley State University for hospitality and tourism management, working part time and still helping with color guard.

Wilton herself earned an associate degree from SC4 in 1996 and received her bachelor’s from Baker College and master’s from its Center for Graduate Studies.

“I do have parents ask me if I would recommend Middle College, and I definitely do,” she said. “I think it’s a wonderful program. I am very proud of both of them and grateful they had this opportunity in St. Clair County.”

TRIO Student of the Month: Crystal Devlaminck

Crystal Devlaminck was raised by her grandparents, who gained legal guardianship when she was taken away from her parents as a child. Though it may not seem like it, Crystal was born with a handicap, resulting from choices her parents made during pregnancy. She grew up in special education classes and utilized different types of therapy and counseling for most of her life. Along with her disabilities, Crystal has been managing mental health issues for nearly 15 years.

“Even with all these barriers, I was able to graduate high school in 2010 and am now attending St. Clair County Community College, finishing up my last transfer class for the 3 + 1 program with Siena Heights University to get my bachelor’s in business administration,” she says. After this semester, she will begin courses as a senior at Siena Heights.

Crystal is also driven by her Christian faith, explaining she came to religion later in life in her early 20s. “I have had a lot of ups and downs throughout my college career that I have had to overcome. Thanks to my support team in TRIO and others at SC4, I have always been encouraged to persevere. I am so very thankful for having everyone who has supported me throughout these years and motivated me to achieve success.”

Learn more about TRIO Student Support Services at SC4.

During Michigan College Month, think about SC4

October is Michigan College Month, the statewide focus of a larger national initiative that encourages graduating high school seniors to submit at least one college application and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by Oct. 31.

Michigan is home to some of the country’s finest two- and four-year colleges and universities. Still, the decision to attend college remains a difficult choice for many, even with recent studies showing that graduates have greater access to job opportunities and earn $1 million more on average over their lifetimes than those with only a high school diploma.

Beyond the numbers, going to college also provides formative sociocultural benefits, bringing students together in diverse communities to bond over shared interests and different perspectives while challenging preconceptions that prove costly in today’s global marketplace.

Why SC4?

Cost

The cost of a college education can make an undeniably smart choice more difficult. That’s one of the main reasons why community colleges like St. Clair County Community College are so important: They offer options and affordability.

  • Associate degree programs prepare you to immediately enter your chosen field in as little as two years.
  • Save time and money on a bachelor’s degree by earning affordable credits you can transfer to a four-year institution.
  • SC4 offers a more personalized learning environment, with smaller class sizes and more one-on-one engagement with instructors.
  • If you’re not sure what to study, you can explore various subjects that interest you by taking courses that cost less.
  • Study on your schedule. SC4 offers more flexible courses in the evenings after business hours and online.

Campus life

When considering community college, campus life is sometimes listed as a drawback. While flexibility and affordability are important, many students are interested in a “true college experience.” That’s where SC4 sets itself apart, offering the benefits of a community college with the feel of a four-year institution — including the opportunity to complete a degree or earn easily transferable credits at nearly a third of the cost.

  • A 29-acre campus in the heart of downtown Port Huron, a uniquely vibrant city where something new is happening every day. Our city is right on a busy international border, straddling the banks of the St. Clair River and steps away from the beautiful shores of Lake Huron.
  • Accredited programs led by faculty members who have achieved success in their fields, lending their expertise to prepare students for fulfilling careers.
  • Brand-new campus housing right downtown, with room for 80 students and all the creature comforts.
  • 11 athletics teams, with tailgates, game days and all the excitement of college sports.
  • A center of arts and culture in the community, with everything from special exhibits to one-of-a-kind concerts, plays and so much more.
  • A full fitness center — free for students — with a basketball court, walking track, weight room and cardio equipment.
  • A wide array of student clubs and activities to explore interests and passions.
  • Dedicated advisors and student support services like the math, writing and achievement centers.

This Michigan College Month, let’s not lose sight of our important local institutions. Amidst rising costs, SC4 is a different kind of community college offering more than you’d expect.

SC4 students from across region honored for outstanding academic achievement

A total of 141 St. Clair County Community College students earned a spot on the President’s Honor List for the 2018 summer semester, which concluded Aug. 3.

Students must take at least six credits and have a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher to make the list.

President’s Honor List for the 2018 summer semester, ordered by hometown:

ALGONAC – Brandi Hojnacki, Sanja Jovanovska-Hall, Jasmina Jovanovska-Spence and Tina Laparl.

ALMONT – Natasa Radisavljevic.

AVOCA – MacKenzie Hiller and Nicole Kuczmarski.

BROWN CITY – Nicole Jones.

BURTCHVILLE TOWNSHIP – Eric Laming and Richard Neumeyer.

CAPAC – Benjamin Geliske, Priscilla King and Kathryn Oliver.

CASCO TOWNSHIP – Meghan Brody.

CASS CITY – Angela Bryant.

CHINA TOWNSHIP – Morgan Scallen.

CLAY TOWNSHIP – Angela Mangiapane and Alexa Thompson.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP – Vedrana Jaric, Marija Milenkova and Jessica Ward.

CLYDE TOWNSHIP – Vaughn Haynes, Alexa Kanikowski and Rebecca Moses.

COLUMBUS TOWNSHIP – Karen Paszek.

CROSWELL – Pertrilla Brown.

DEARBORN – Heather Bruner.

EAST CHINA TOWNSHIP – Alyssa Ignasiak, Kelsie Kaczperski, JiHyun Park, Luke Stablein and Taylor Westrick.

EMMETT – Savannah Cox and Alyssa Miller.

FORT GRATIOT – Lara Backlas, Ian Blashill, Melissa Francis, Andrew Gossman, Daniel Grinnell, Bryce Hurd, Jennifer Mahalak, Hannah McNary, George Naguib, Jordan Palmer-McDonald, James Pospishel, Kimberly Richardson, Vicki Rose and Craig Schlinkert.

GOODELLS – Elyse Graham and Lydia Simasko.

HOWELL – Heidi Cunningham.

IMLAY CITY – Dawn Sills.

KENOCKEE TOWNSHIP – Rachel Hummel.

KIMBALL TOWNSHIP – Alexandria Brogan, Cynthia Garijo, Kaitlyn Meldrum, Erica Oriel, Gabrielle Romero, Lori Woycehoski, Paj Yang and Tyler Yelencich.

LAKEPORT – Abigail Bringard.

MADISON HEIGHTS – Kathy Burket.

MARINE CITY – Karyssa Austin, Zachary Denean, Janie Lacroix and Skylar McClarren-Middleton.

MARYSVILLE – Kristjan Allen, James Braun, Meghan Burns, Gwen Claussen, Elijah George, Faith Green, Sokol Halilaj, Joshua Innis, Andrea Marlett, Coryn May, Matthew Schaaf, Kristi Simmons, Samantha Smith and Devin Thorpe.

MAYVILLE – Mikala McMullen.

MEMPHIS – Cody Essenburg, Taylor Kreger and Annette Ruczynski.

MUSSEY TOWNSHIP – Pamela Lerash.

PALMS – Kristin Barham.

PORT AUSTIN – Jacob Aymen.

PORT HURON – Morgan Alexis, Sarah Baker, Nicole Bowers, Rachel Burgett, Brooke Dennis, Clifford Doan, Tiffany Dockery, Daniel Dusterhoft, Rachael Farquhar, Amber Hall, Billie Hillier, Katie Hurley, Lisa Jacobsen, Holly Kidd, Lindsay King, Tricia Middleton, Jesse Mihaescu, Sara Miller, Jillian Reed, Adam Reinholz, Danielle Sawyer, Daniele Soper, Ashley Sopha, Connor Tinsley, Erika Turner, Murphy Vandervest, Bradley Wentzel, Jessica Wiegand and Catherine Wingo.

RILEY TOWNSHIP – Emily Wyszczelski.

RUBY – Alyssa Chambers.

SMITHS CREEK – Christina Stoutenburg-Sanchez and Jennifer Winkler.

SNOVER – Amanda Hazard.

ST. CLAIR – Joshua Bach, Sydney Griffor, Annemarie Heitz, Amy Holmes, Maria Liniarski, Morgan Mead, Seth Rowell, Sarah Shell, Ashlee Trenz, Griffin Trenz, Amy Ware and Ally Winkler.

TURNER – Brooke Schutte.

WARREN – Zulikram Hossain.

YALE – Jennifer Heilig, Mary Pellerito Fernandez, Trenton Petersen, Kaycee Reid and Nichole Smith.