Schoolcraft College

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Rob Casalou, the president and CEO of Trinity Health Michigan & Southeast Regions, will address graduates at the ceremony taking place May 3 in the TrinityElite Sports Center.

Schoolcraft College graduates will hear from one of Michigan’s most successful and influential health care leaders before they receive their degrees this spring.

Rob Casalou, president and CEO of Trinity Health Michigan & Southeast Regions, will serve as speaker at the College’s 60th Annual Commencement, scheduled to take place May 3 at the College’s main campus in Livonia.

“I’m honored to be invited by Dr. Cerny and the Schoolcraft College community to mark this momentous day in the lives of the 2025 graduating class,” said Casalou. “These graduates are the doers and dreamers whose hard work and determination will help change the world. I am incredibly humbled and grateful to share a stage with them and to offer them a little perspective from my own career and life experiences.”

Casalou has been in his current role since 2018 when Trinity Health’s Mercy Health System in western Michigan and Trinity Health’s Saint Joseph Mercy Health System in southeast Michigan came together to form one statewide health system. In 2020, his role expanded with him overseeing the Trinity Health Southeastern region in Georgia and Florida.

First joining the health care system in 2008 as the President and CEO of St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor and Livingston hospitals, he later was named the regional president of the Saint Joseph Mercy Health System in 2015.

He has also previously served as president of Providence Park Hospital, where he oversaw the construction of its Novi health care facility.

His address comes at a time when Schoolcraft College and Trinity Health have forged an important partnership in educating health care professionals. The two entities have worked together for years in preparing students to join the workforce, including through an agreement signed in 2023 that provides full tuition assistance to current employees and Schoolcraft students who express interest in working for the health system.

In addition to the academic partnership, Trinity Health Livonia also opened Trinity Health Medical Center – Schoolcraft Campus in 2021. Offering outpatient services such as primary and specialty care services; urgent car; clinical labs; radiology and more, the Livonia Medical Center has become a staple of the community located on Schoolcraft College’s campus.

“Rob has been a friend of Schoolcraft College for many years, and we’re honored to invite him to speak to our graduates this year,” said Dr. Glenn Cerny, president of Schoolcraft College. “Given how many of our students go on to become members of the Trinity Health family after graduation, having Rob address them was a no-brainer. We are excited to hear his important message later this spring.”

Hundreds of graduates are expected to walk during the ceremony, where students will be recognized for their completion of bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, certificates and skills certificates. Schoolcraft College’s 60th Annual Commencement will take place at 1 p.m. May 3 at the TrinityElite Sports Center on the College’s main campus at 18600 Haggerty Road in Livonia.

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Schoolcraft College has long been a place to celebrate the arts. This summer, it will host some additional pieces thanks to the Detroit Institute of Arts.

The College is participating in this year’s Inside | Out program, which brings high-quality reproductions of the DIA’s collection to outdoor venues to increase engagement between the museum and its diverse audience. Five reproductions from the museum’s collection will reside on campus this summer outside various campus buildings such as the Vistatech Center, Bradner Library and more.

The reproductions will be installed in May and remain on campus until October, allowing students, employees and guests the chance to walk campus and discover each piece.

“These five pieces of art will be a wonderful addition to our campus this summer,” said Dr. Michele Kelly, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “Paired with the vibrant student-created artwork already displayed throughout Schoolcraft, the DIA’s Inside|Out installation will offer our community even more reason to engage with our beautiful campus. We’re especially excited to see how faculty across disciplines will weave these works into their curriculum, creating meaningful opportunities for dialogue, discovery and connection.”

This is the first time Schoolcraft College has participated in the Inside | Out program since it launched 14 years ago. Other communities surrounding the College have hosted reproductions in the past, including Livonia, Northville Township, Plymouth, Canton, Redford Township and more.

“We’re honored to bring Inside|Out to Schoolcraft College in 2025,” said Julie McFarland, the DIA’s Executive Director of Public Affairs and Engagement. “We hope those to have a chance to view the instillations on campus will be able to connect with the artworks they see and be inspired to make their way to the DIA to view the rest of our collection.”

Several options to engage with the art will be available to the community this year. Maps with locations of all the DIA pieces, along with Schoolcraft College’s permanent artwork, will be available for those looking to enjoy the works on their own. The College’s Personal & Professional Learning program will offer a guided tour from a DIA docent on campus of the pieces this fall, as well as a bus ride down to the DIA for an onsite visit to see the museum in-person.

Learn more about artwork found on Schoolcraft College’s campus at schoolcraft.edu/sculptures.

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Three students found just the right angle to convince Schoolcraft College’s Mathematics Department to grant them winners of its most prestigious award.

Sinclair Hansen (1st), Mohammed Armaan (2nd) and Rowyn Han (3rd) are the three students receiving the 30th Annual Pythagorean Prize this year. An annual award given by the Mathematics Department honoring the top students, these three students will be recognized during the annual ceremony, which will be held beginning at 2:30 p.m. April 14 in Waterman A-C in the Vistatech Center.

“These three students are on another plane when it comes to their mathematical talents,” said Larry Choraszewski. “Through their work and dedication, they all have done extremely well in their studies and we’re looking forward to honoring them later this spring.”

To quality for the award, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Be enrolled and have taken classes at Schoolcraft College during Fall or Winter semester of the academic year of presentation.
  • Be completing or have completed at least three mathematics courses at Schoolcraft College, with at least one course at the Math 200 level or above.
  • Have an overall grade point average of at least 3.25.
  • Have a grade point average of at least 3.50 in mathematics courses.
  • Not have been a first-place winner of this award previously.
  • Have submitted a completed application and essay by the deadline date.

Hansen said her passion for math came after attending a meeting of the Math & Physics Club on campus. After getting involved and becoming the vice president of the club, Hansen began organizing practice sessions for the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) Math League Competition, as well as got involved with the Schoolcraft Scholars Honors Program and the Learning Center as a tutor. She also was involved in the STEAM@Schoolcraft conference, taking first place for her project during the event earlier this spring.

“As I look back on my journey at Schoolcraft—all the friends I’ve made, the honors programs, tutoring sessions, and summer opportunities I’ve embraced—I realize that it all leads back to that one Math & Physics Club flier,” Hansen wrote in her essay. “I am incredibly grateful for the supportive math community at Schoolcraft, whose encouragement and opportunities have not only shaped my college experience but also laid a strong foundation for my future endeavors.”

Armaan knows math is crucial as we prepares to enter the world of computer science engineering. Wanting to learn about both hardware and software, he knows math skills are imperative in his future career, which has led him to develop introductory skillsets in Calculus, statistics, differential equations and linear algebra.

“Math, I believe, is a fundamental tool behind a multitude of disciplines. Social scientists use statistics to conduct and interpret polls and surveys, engineers use multiple branches of math in various applications, medical professionals use math to determine dosages, carpenters use geometry to build structures– just to name a few,” he wrote. “I am fortunate to have developed some of these skills and look forward to expanding my mathematical toolkit as I continue my journey.”

Han was completely frustrated by math in high school. But after taking a gap year and wanting to major in business, she realized she would need to take Calculus I, which terrified her. But instead of shying away, Han rose to the challenge and spent a summer relearning every mathematical concept she could. When it came time to begin Calc I, she found she had a passion for math. After succeeding and acing the course, Han decided to change majors, opting to go for aerospace engineering with her newfound love of numbers.

“Perhaps the most unexpected outcome of my journey is that math taught me more than numbers and concepts, it taught me the importance of facing challenges head on with confidence and a growth mindset,” Han wrote in her essay. “My journey with mathematics has shown me that perseverance and adaptability can turn the impossible into reality, and with this mindset, I am ready to take on whatever challenges lie ahead.”

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Simply completing all required coursework isn’t enough: in addition to passing all their classes, students must also submit their application for graduation in order to receive their degree or certificate.

What does it take to earn an associate degree?

In addition to completing the required coursework and credit hours, there are a few other steps all students must take to complete their degree and walk at commencement.

Simply completing all required coursework isn’t enough: in addition to passing all their classes, students must also inform Schoolcraft College of their intent to graduate by submitting their application for graduation.

Students can access Ocelot Access and fill out the application online with all the appropriate information. Once that application is submitted, that triggers an audit from the Records department on campus, which makes sure the student has completed all the necessary requirements. Without submitting the graduation application, students cannot graduate and receive their degree or certificate.

All of these are important enough reasons for students to take the extra step and make sure they apply for graduation, said Dr. Laurie Kattuah-Snyder, Chief Student Services Officer.

“Degree completion is an incredibly important achievement. It shows future employers that students finish what they start,” she said. “College graduates with a credential are shown to earn more and have more employment opportunities available to them.”

Students wrapping up their classes can apply for graduation at any time once they determine they have enough credits for a credential. To make sure students have all their requirements fulfilled, they should meet with an academic advisor. Advisors are available by appointment throughout the week, with drop-in advising available on Wednesdays. Get more information on advising by visiting schoolcraft.edu/advising.

Earning an academic credential can also lead to better-quality employment opportunities, as well as better salary opportunities. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics shows those with an associate degree on average earn 18% more than someone with just a high school diploma.

It also aids the state of Michigan’s goal to help a more educated workforce: under the state’s 60 by 30 program, the state aims to have 60% of the workforce have a degree or certificate by 2030. This aims to achieve several goals, including closing the skills gap, increase opportunity and make the state more competitive for economic growth.

After applying to graduate, students should prepare to attend Commencement, which takes place at 1 p.m. May 3 in the TrinityElite Sports Center at the Livonia campus. Students can purchase their caps and gowns during the Schoolcraft College Bookstore’s Grad Fair, which takes place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 23, 2025 and noon to 6 p.m. April 24, 2025.

Students who apply for graduation before April 16 will also have their name included in the commencement booklet.

“Seeing our students walk across the stage and receive recognition for all of their hard work is the hallmark of the work we do at Schoolcraft College,” said Dr. Glenn Cerny, president of Schoolcraft College. “We’re excited at the opportunity to celebrate our students’ achievements later this spring!”

Steps to graduation

  • Meet with an academic advisor to complete a degree audit
  • Log onto Ocelot Access and complete the application for graduation
  • The College’ Records department runs a final audit to ensure program completion
  • Attend the Grad Fair at the Bookstore and prepare to attend Commencement

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Meet Kristin Keyes, who works as a reference librarian in the Bradner Library, shares how she got her start in libraries and who played the biggest role in her career.

Providing access to information has been a passion for Kristin Keyes since she was in college.

Keyes, a reference librarian for Learning Support Services in the Bradner Library, said she originally went to school as an English major, focusing her efforts on writing. After working as a copy editor for the student newspaper at Ohio Northern University, her alma mater, she realized journalism wasn’t her calling, either.

She then looked at the library world and fell in love with it.

“I don’t recall the exact moment it happened, but sometime mid junior year I decided journalism wasn’t for me and started looking at graduate schools for library science,” she said. “From student journalist to public librarian, and now academic librarian, I believe the common denominator has been providing access to information.”

Keyes was influenced by two women educators in her life, both personally and professionally. She said, at an early age, she witnessed the impact her mother, a longtime teacher in Ohio, had on the lives of her students. When it came to her time as a librarian, her practicum supervisor at Indiana University, Professor Frances Wilhoit, gave her all the attention she needed as she learned.

“During the summer of 1991, my practicum site was the Journalism Library on the Bloomington campus,” she said. “I had no previous library experience and Professor Wilhoit was so generous with her time and sharing her expertise during the few months we worked together.”

When it comes to influence, Keyes said one of the quotes she thinks of regularly comes from the famed poet Maya Angelou:

“Information helps you to see that you’re not alone. That there’s somebody in Mississippi and somebody in Tokyo who all have wept, who’ve all longed and lost, who’ve all been happy. So the library helps you to see, not only that you are not alone, but that you’re not really any different from everyone else.”

It’s an exciting time to work in the world of libraries, Keyes said. From the Bradner Library’s academic library to community libraries, the needs have evolved throughout the years, a challenge Keyes looks forward to tackling.

She said she looks forward to seeing how the Bradner Library can evolve to better serve students’ needs.

“In general, as community needs have changed, I think that we’ve definitely seen all libraries, but especially public libraries, evolving in the services they provide their in-person and virtual patrons,” Keyes said. “Bradner Library is in the process of developing plans for what that might look like for us. My favorite resources are the students I work with and my colleagues because I feel like I learn something new from them every day.”

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The event, taking place April 9 at Schoolcraft College’s Manufacturing and Engineering Center in Livonia, will feature more than 20 different employers seeking workers for various positions in the skilled trades.

Schoolcraft College’s Career Mentorship and Placement office will host its first Skilled Trades Job Fair later this spring for those seeking to join the exciting fields of manufacturing and other technical fields.

The fair will take place from 4-7 p.m. April 9 at the College’s Manufacturing and Engineering Center, located at 13001 Merriman Road in Livonia. The event will feature more than 20 different employers seeking workers for various positions in the skilled trades.

Employers that will be at the fair include AlphaUSA, Gil-Mar Manufacturing, Williams International, Roush and more.

“This job fair is the perfect place for students entering the skilled trades to find employment,” said Karen Maxton, the Employment and Internship Coordinator for the College’s Workforce and Economic Development Department. “We’re looking forward to welcoming area employers to our beautiful Manufacturing and Engineering Center and meeting future employees eager to get to work.”

The job fair is free and is open to students, alumni and community members. Attendees are encouraged to bring several copies of their resume to the event and dress appropriately to meet with employers.

The Skilled Trades Job Fair will be the first in a series of industry-specific job fairs hosted by Schoolcraft College’s Career Mentorship and Placement office in collaboration with various campus stakeholders and industry experts. More details on the future job fairs and the industries they will feature will be announced at a later date.

For more information, contact the Career Mentorship and Placement office: [email protected], 734-462-4421.

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Marking its 20th year, the Multicultural Fair will feature music, dancing, food and more from countries around the world.

A celebration of the world’s cultures is returning to Schoolcraft College this month.

The 20th Annual Multicultural Fair returns to campus March 27 in the Vistatech Center. This international celebration will feature cultural displays from dozens of countries, as well as demonstrations, cuisine and so much more.

The Multicultural Fair, a celebration of the variety of cultures at Schoolcraft College, is a great way to travel the world without having to leave campus. The fair routinely attracts thousands of visitors, from students to community members.

“The Multicultural Fair is one of the signature events we put on each spring,” said Dr. Anna Maheshwari, a member of the Fair’s planning committee and Chair of the College’s English Department. “This event brings together so many wonderful cultures and we’re so excited to share it again with the community.”

Booths representing many countries such as Cambodia, Greece, Iran, Argentina and more will be on hand to share their cultures with visitors. Guests will also be offered a “passport” that can be stamped as visitors make their way through fair visiting country tables.

Performances will include dancers from The Philippines, the Mariachi Jalisco Band, the O’Hare Irish Step Dancers and more.

Several international food demonstrations will also take place in the brand-new Collaborative Learning Studio. Schoolcraft College’s decorated culinary arts student Sous Chefs will showcase foods from around the globe in the lab, including dishes from The Netherlands, Mexico and India.

The Fair is sponsored by the Schoolcraft College International Institute and the Student Activities Office. It is also supported by generous grants from the Liberal Arts and Science Office, as well as the Schoolcraft College Foundation.

The event is free and open to the public. It runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 27 in the DiPonio Room, located inside the renowned Vistatech Center.

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Author and Illustrator Geo Rutherford was a guest at Schoolcraft College March 11 during an event put on by The Center for Experiential Learning highlighting the publishing industry.

Nothing about Geo Rutherford’s path to publishing her book Spooky Lakes was ordinary.

The author and illustrator for Spooky Lakes, a book based on her viral TikTok and Instagram series highlighting fascinating tales of bodies of water across the globe, found success in a way most authors don’t: through their social media account.

“It’s a weird journey. You can’t replicate it very easily, I would say,” said Rutherford, who lives in Wisconsin. “It’s hard to get online and accidently become internet famous and have people reach out to you and then you illustrate a book even though you were really just a high school teacher and you don’t really know how you ended up here in the first place.

“It’s definitely a different approach for the whole thing.”

students reviewing booklet pages in print
Geo Rutherford, author and illustrator of Spooky Lakes, speaks to Schoolcraft College students during a workshop.

Rutherford was a guest at Schoolcraft College March 11 during an event put on by The Center for Experiential Learning. Taking part in a panel discussion on the exciting world of publishing, Rutherford joined several Schoolcraft College faculty members in discussing their experiences in publishing, including Art faculty member Paula Imirzian and English faculty members Brynne Barnes and Kiel Phegley.

Speaking to students in the Kehrl Auditorium inside the Vistatech Center during a panel hosted by Errin Stegich, the director of The Center for Experiential Learning, all four authors made it clear how different the publishing world can be from one author to the next.

Phegley, whose work includes several licensed titles for properties such as Sonic the Hedgehog, said it can take quite a while before an author’s work gets noticed. He spoke about some of his first attempts at getting published, which included flying to the East Coast for a meeting that just didn’t pan out.

“I flew to New Jersey to try to sell this book I had been writing in grad school and when I got there, I realized it was not you meeting with many people: they matched you with one person,” he said. “I sat across from the one person and I said, ‘Here’s the book I wrote, here’s my query letter,’ and she said, “Yeah, this isn’t really my thing.’ “I thought, ‘God in heaven, what am I doing here?’”

It wasn’t until Kegley returned to Michigan that he found a match for someone to publish with. A lunch with a local representative got him rolling and eventually led to a deal.

In addition to participating in a panel discussion, Rutherford also hosted a workshop in Imirzian’s illustration course.

Her book, Spooky Lakes, came out in 2024. It highlights the mysterious bodies of water throughout the world and the wonders that lie beneath the waves. The book stems from her viral online series “Spooky Lake Month,” a short-form video series highlighting a mysterious lake in under three minutes.

Rutherford plans on writing two additional books in her series that will come out in the coming years. She understands trends come and go and is just excited at the ride she’s on when it comes to publishing her series.

“I just see everything as an opportunity and I’ve been just I’m open for to just taking moments and opportunities where they come,” Rutherford said.

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This year’s conference will feature student presenters focusing on this year’s theme: Bridging Disciplines, Building Futures.

Schoolcraft College students will showcase the best ways to make a difference in their communities during the STEAM@Schoolcraft conference later this month.

This year’s event will feature student presenters focusing on this year’s theme: Bridging Disciplines, Building Futures. Students submitted proposals to present during the event, scheduled for March 21. The selected presenters will utilize the concepts of STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics – and demonstrate how the disciplines build on each other to have a societal and lasting impact. The annual student-led conference is a collaborative effort sponsored by the Center for Experiential Learning, Liberal Arts, and the Learning Support Services department.

Formerly known as STEAMz, the conference underwent a rebranding effort led by students in Christina Stansell-Weaver’s COMA 215: Introduction to Public Relations Fall 2024 class. In the spirit of being a student-led conference, Emily Bauman, Taylor Campbell, Sophia Jackson, Alexis Jaros, Katie Metovski, and Kelli Thorn collaborated to select the new STEAM@Schoolcraft name and this year’s theme.

Back for an encore, the STEAM@Schoolcraft Fellows panel will also highlight several students’ experiences as Schoolcraft Scholars and their plans post-graduation. Fellows participating include students Kaleb Aethyr, Maggie Jagielski and Sienna Lee. This panel will be moderated by Dr. Glenn Cerny, president of Schoolcraft College.

“STEAM@Schoolcraft is a wonderful experience for both our exhibitors and our guests each year,” said Stansell-Weaver, who serves as Communication Arts Faculty and STEAM@Schoolcraft Faculty Chair. “We’re excited to see what our students have to present and appreciate how this conference brings the campus community together.”

Along with Stansell-Weaver, Elizabeth Kenney, Director of Libraries & Learning Support Services, and Errin Stegich, Manager of the Center for Experiential Learning, co-lead this effort. This annual event is a successful cross-functional collective of faculty, staff, and leadership that facilitates this student-centered conference.

Scholarships and awards for the conference are made possible by the Center for Experiential Learning, Mellon Foundation University of Michigan Transfer Bridges, The Garritano Family Fund, The Schoolcraft College Foundation, Schoolcraft College President’s Award, Chief Academic Officer, and the Liberal Arts and Sciences Department.

The conference takes place 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 21 in the McDowell Student Center at Schoolcraft College. Register to attend the conference here. Registration is free and open to all students, staff, faculty and community members. Seating is limited and registration is required.

More information can be found at on the STEAM website.

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The partnership between Schoolcraft College and Wayne State University provides students with a seamless pathway to transfer up to three years’ worth of credits from Schoolcraft toward a bachelor’s degree.

The brand-new Michigan Community College Guarantee opens a whole new pathway for Schoolcraft College students seeking to transfer to Wayne State University for their bachelor’s degree.

The partnership between Schoolcraft College and Wayne State University provides students with a seamless pathway to transfer up to three years’ worth of credits from Schoolcraft toward a bachelor’s degree. This collaboration not only offers significant cost savings but also includes the added benefit of the Community College Guarantee, making it an even more attractive option. Students can save both time and money while benefiting from dedicated support and advising to help them achieve their academic and career goals. Add the fact that students can also take several Wayne State University classes right on Schoolcraft College’s campus makes this partnership between the two institutions more valuable than ever.

Students not receiving a Pell Grant taking 15 credits/semester their first two years can have their tuition and fees – which total more than $5,200/year at current rates – completely covered by the state under the new Community College Guarantee. That program covers in-district tuition and fees for recent high school graduates at their local community college.

Once students complete an associate degree or their Michigan Transfer Agreement endorsement, several Wayne State programs allow students to continue taking courses at Schoolcraft College before transferring. If students can remain at Schoolcraft College, they can continue applying the Community College Guarantee, allowing them to remain taking classes under the program.

“Never has there been a better time for students seeking a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University through the transfer pathway via Schoolcraft College. With the funds from the State of Michigan available at various points during their academic career, our students are truly set up for success,” said Lisa Brooker, Director of Financial Aid for Schoolcraft College. “With our strong partnership, students can even take Wayne State classes right here on our campus.”

Once students transfer to Wayne State, they can apply for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, which provides up to $5,500 towards tuition. Furthermore, students may be eligible for a Wayne State merit scholarship, which can further improve affordability. Overall, non-Pell Grant students can save more than $21,000 over four years by taking advantage of the transfer pathway to Wayne State.

Students eligible for Pell Grants can save even more: students can receive refunds from their Pell Grant during each of their first two semesters while they earn an associate degree, as well as an additional $1,000 as a part of the Community College Guarantee. Some types of aid, including Pell Grants, will only pay for courses in a student’s current academic program. The Community College Guarantee will allow students to take other courses that will transfer and apply toward a bachelor’s degree.

From there, students can utilize the Community College Guarantee and Michigan Achievement Scholarship for their third and four years.

“We have valued our partnership with Schoolcraft College over the years. Having students take classes in Livonia and making it as easy as possible to transfer to earn their bachelor’s degree is an important relationship between our two institutions,” said Charles Cotton III, Ed.D., Vice Provost of Enrollment Management for Wayne State. “We look forward to seeing students explore their options with these new opportunities and continue their education here at Wayne State University.”

For more information on the Schoolcraft-Wayne State partnership and transfer opportunities, visit https://wayne.edu/transfer/community-college/schoolcraft.

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Students can now visit the Career Mentorship and Placement office at Schoolcraft College to get an advantage in reaching their career goals.

Looking for an advantage when it comes to achieving career goals? Schoolcraft College has a new office to help.

Students can now visit the Career Mentorship and Placement office at Schoolcraft College to get an advantage in reaching their career goals. The new Career Mentorship and Placement office opened last summer in the Jeffress Center, With the aim of helping students meet lifelong economic goals, the office provides individualized support for resumes, cover letters, interview prep, mentorship, and job placement.

This office has the following services available for students:

By appointment support: Current students, past students, and alumni can meet with the Career Success Navigator for support with their resume, cover letters, interview prep, and job search strategies.

Drop-in career support: This is a brand-new initiative where student mentors provide current students support with getting started on a resume, cover letter, interview prep, and crafting their LinkedIn profile. Career Success Mentors are trained every semester to be aware of career success tips and strategies.

Internship preparation: Students at the Livonia campus seeking internship can make an appointment to gain support and guidance through the process, including resume, cover letter review, interview tips, guidance on workplace best practices, and referrals to resources.

Industry-specific speaker series and events: The office hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including industry– specific job fairs, networking events, speaker series, and collaborative seminars available to all students.

Professional mentorship program: The College2Career Professional Mentorship Program is an inaugural program at Schoolcraft College that pairs students aspiring to enter various career fields with campus leadership, staff and faculty to receive personalized mentorship towards their goals. Mentors are highly- experienced professionals who work at Schoolcraft College in various offices.

Job board access: Employers and students have access and connections with each other through the college’s college central network job board. This job board allows employers to post openings on the college’s portal to gain interest from students.

Additional programs and services will be announced throughout the upcoming year.

“We are beyond excited to continue tried-and-true career programming while launching exciting new ventures in the Career Mentorship and Placement office,” said Sharon Christian, Director of Workforce Mentorship and Placement. “Our office is strategically positioned to focus on our students’ ‘meeting their personal economic goal’s and we look forward to making ongoing efforts to help students succeed.”

The office is generally open from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Specific services may have varied hours. Contact the Career Mentorship and Placement office at [email protected] or visit schoolcraft.edu/careeradvantage.

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Sgt. Kevin Edmonds, a member of the Schoolcraft College Police Department, has been with the department since 2014.

To celebrate Black History Month, Schoolcraft College will highlight the stories of Black students, faculty, staff and administrators and what Black History Month means to them. Check back every week this month for stories on the Black experience here at Schoolcraft College.

Sgt. Kevin Edmonds is proof that it is never too late to accomplish your dreams.

A member of the Schoolcraft College Police Department since 2014, Edmonds took the long road to earning his higher education degrees. He completed his bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University in 2022, 24 years after first starting college. That experience reflects the similar path his mother took: following a divorce when Edmonds was 12, his mother went back to school and earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in her 40s.

“Little did I know I would follow my mother’s education path,” he said. “I completed my bachelor’s degree after almost 24 years in 2022, taking a class here and there.”

Throughout his adult life, Edmonds has followed an artistic quote that helps him guide his path: “Erase yesterday, draw today, and sketch tomorrow.” He’s worked to be the best person he can be to defy the stereotypes drawn by society as an African-American man, as well as husband and father. When not spending time interacting with students and the Schoolcraft College community as a police sergeant, Edmonds can be found enjoying hobbies such as golf, fishing, hunting and traveling.

Like his mother when he was growing up, Edmonds wasn’t content with just his bachelor’s degree. Edmonds recently graduated with his master’s degree from Liberty University this past fall, earning a graduate credential at 60.

“Following my mother’s lead, I learned the meaning of never say never, and that you’re never too old to pursue your dreams and goals,” he said. “I hope my educational journey inspires other young people to never give up!”