Congratulations Class of 2022!

May 10, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Ocelots ready to make their mark in the world

Dr. Glenn Cerny, President of Schoolcraft College, presents a diploma to a happy Schoolcraft College graduate. Also pictured is Stacy Whiddon, Chief Academic Officer.

A beautiful day, a packed house of guests and nearly 300 graduates eager to make their mark in the world marked Schoolcraft College’s 57^th annual Commencement on Saturday, May 7, in the St. Joe’s Mercy Elite Sports Center (ESC) on the main campus.

Saturday’s ceremony was the second at ESC, but the first with guests. Last year’s graduation ceremony was open to students only due to health-related precautions.

This year’s keynote speaker was Marina Shoemaker, the Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion Strategies DEI External Partnerships for General Motors.

The Student Reflection was delivered by Catreese Qualls, whose many accomplishments include 2021/2022 Division III International Vice President, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

Dr. Cerny bestowed Honorary Degrees upon Marina Shoemaker, Michigan Senator Dayna Polehanki, and Chuck Dardas, President and CEO of AlphaUSA.

Joan A. Gebhardt, Chair of the Board of Trustees, bestowed Distinguished Alumni Recognition upon Michael Siegrist, Clerk for Canton Township.

Stacy Whiddon, Chief Academic Officer, presented the Class of 2022. Skills Certificates, Certificates, Associate degrees, and Bachelor of Science degrees all were awarded.

Assisting Dr. Cerny in conferring degrees and certificates were: Dr. Laurie Kattuah-Snyder, Chief Student Services Officer; Dr. Marty Heator, Dean of Students; Dr. Jerome Lavis, Faculty Forum President; and the Schoolcraft College Board of Trustees: Joan A. Gebhardt, Chair; Brian D. Broderick, Secretary; Terry Gilligan, Treasurer; William P. Erwin Jr., Trustee; and Brett M. Gierak, Trustee. Carol M. Strom, Vice Chair, and Dillon E. Breen, Trustee, were unable to attend due to commencement ceremonies of family members.

The Star-Spangled Banner was sung by student Jared Glasel, a member of the graduating class.

Academic Marshals were: David S. Kelser, D.C., Associate Dean of Health Professions; Dr. Michele Kelly, Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Dr. Robert Leadley, Dean of Occupational Programs and Economic Development; and Lori Timmis, Dean of Distance Learning.

Student Marshals were: Erin Bressler, Vice President of Leadership, Phi Theta Kappa; and Temitope Odunleye, international student.

The Processional, Recessional and other selections were performed by the Schoolcraft College Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Paul Michalsen.

Schoolcraft College Facilities, Media, Campus Police, Student Records, Food Operations, President’s Office, Bookstore, Student Ambassadors, Student Activities Office, and Marketing and Communications also contributed to the success of Schoolcraft College’s 57^th Commencement, which can be viewed online.

May 9, 2022 by mlemon

Learnings Can be Applied to Industrial Design and More

Schoolcraft College’s upcoming Digital Sculpting Student Showcase is much more than an event to celebrate outstanding work – it’s also an opportunity to learn more about career opportunities in this exciting and in-demand field.

The Showcase, which is free and open to the public, is scheduled for 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17, in Waterman 205 of the VisTaTech Center on the main campus. A livestream also will be available. (Meeting ID: 872 2812 2371. Passcode: 447770.)

In Southeast Michigan, digital sculpting is most often associated with the automotive industry as professionals use Auto Desk Alias software to manipulate digital objects and surfaces of vehicles. For many years, the process of designing and refining the exterior and interior of a vehicle included a clay model that was painstakingly manipulated, millimeter by millimeter, by skilled artists.

A person giving a presentation using projected images — The Digital Sculpting Student Showcase will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17, in Waterman 205 in the VisTaTech Center on the main campus.

Although clay models are still used by automotive designers on occasion, much of today’s design work is completed digitally to save time and resources. Other high-tech companies use digital sculpting as well for those same reasons.

Schoolcraft College’s Digital Sculpting program is run out of Personal and Professional Learning (PPL). To earn the Digital Sculptor Certificate, students need to complete four levels of classes, with Levels 1 and 3 offered in the Fall schedule and Levels 2 and 4 offered in the Winter schedule. All classes are offered virtually.

The instructor for the program is Don Lloyd, a Digital Sculptor at Nissan Design America. He spends most of his time creating and editing the aesthetic surfaces of the interiors and exteriors of Nissan vehicles using Auto Desk Alias software. “Digital sculpting is such a fulfilling career. Taking a sketch and turning it into the shapes that will be driving down the road is fun and challenging,” he said.

“Students for the Digital Sculpting program can include high school graduates looking for a career opportunity, current Schoolcraft College students enrolled in an occupational program, or professionals who need this skill to advance.”
Felicia Bannan, Programming and Promotions Coordinator, Personal and Professional Learning

At the Showcase, Digital Sculpting graduates will share information about their educational journey through the program, images of their 3D sculpted designs, and their career aspirations.

“Potential employers are encouraged to attend as well because this is a great way to recruit new talent,” said Felicia Bannan, Programming and Promotions Coordinator, Personal and Professional Learning. “Students for the Digital Sculpting program can include high school graduates looking for a career opportunity, current Schoolcraft College students enrolled in an occupational program, or professionals who need this skill to advance.”

Student Success Stories

David Torres is just such an example of a professional looking to add skills. He was working as a designer for Rivian, which manufactures electric vehicles and has operations in Plymouth, when he heard about the class. He attended from 2019-2021.

Now relocated to the Rivian design studios in California, Torres puts what he learned into practice each day.

“I work as a physical clay modeler and work closely with designers and CAD modelers on a daily basis,” Torres said. “Taking these courses made me even more aware of what a digital modeler has to achieve in a day. It helps me construct surfaces quicker and simpler just like I would in Alias.

“It helps me do my clay modeling job better, and in turn, helps me understand Alias better. So it’s truly a symbiotic relationship making me a better industrial artist.”

Martin Senger also works in the automotive field. He started in Schoolcraft College’s program in 2017.

“I had been learning traditional CAD modeling when I discovered the Schoolcraft Digital Sculpting program,” he said. “It’s a subset of 3D modeling that I wasn’t aware of – a unique blend of creating concept models and developing CAD data with a focus on producing beautiful surfaces.”

Automotive design mocks in a digital display — Photo 1

Like David Torres, he’s also applying what he learned in his profession.

“I work with Alias to help take ‘A-surface’ design models and apply engineering criteria to create automotive interior and exterior final production parts,” he said. “Digital sculpting with Alias is a unique blend of art and science. This class will provide you with a solid foundation in the requisite skill set for this in-demand career.”

Mary Ryan appreciated the flexibility in the class structure.

“I really enjoyed how detail-oriented each class was,” she said. “(After a move out of state), I was able to continue online and record the class meetings. This was very helpful because as I worked on my assignments, I could go back and review details that maybe I did not catch during the live class.

“This allowed me to grasp much more and create better work. I’m very grateful for Schoolcraft’s flexibility.”

Ryan, who attended classes from the summer of 2020 to the spring of 2022, has a background in knit textile production and soft product design. “I thought this class would be a great addition to my education,” she said. “CAD modeling and 3D printing is becoming a part of more and more industries, so I think Digital Sculpting is a great skill to learn.”

Levels 1 and 3 of Digital Sculpting will be offered in PPL’s Fall 2022 schedule, which will be available online June 20. Registration will open July 20.

May 5, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

SC was a finalist for Outstanding College/Corporate Partnership at the American Association of Community Colleges Awards of Excellence program

two people holding an award — Dr. Glenn Cerny, President of Schoolcraft College, and Dr. Laurie Kattuah-Snyder, Chief Student Services Officer, hold the finalist award for Outstanding College/Corporate Partnership from the American Association of Community Colleges Awards of Excellence program.

Schoolcraft College’s ongoing partnerships and dialogue with area businesses, which help to expand program offerings, inform important curriculum updates and better prepare students to enter the workforce, was recently recognized nationally at the American Association of Community Colleges Awards of Excellence program.

Schoolcraft College was a finalist in Outstanding College/Corporate Partnership and was the only Michigan community college named a finalist in this category.

“By forging strong corporate partnerships on our campus, Schoolcraft College has been able to create more opportunities for our students,” said Dr. Glenn Cerny, President of Schoolcraft College. “These opportunities include internships, apprenticeships and jobs while in school as well as attractive career choices for our students when they graduate.

“Area business and industry have benefited as well as they’ve improved their job pipeline with graduates who are tailor-made for them. It’s a win for our students, a win for our corporate partners, and a win for our community.”

One example of a strong college/corporate partnership is Schoolcraft College’s relationship with Trinity Health Michigan. The College welcomed the Livonia Medical Center to campus in the spring of 2021. This facility provides a wide range of options to the community, including primary and specialty care physician services, urgent care, surgery center, clinical lab, radiology and physical rehabilitation services.

It’s also literally within walking distance of the new Health Sciences Center (HSC), a 110,800-square-foot facility that’s home to eight disciplines:

Emergency Medical Technology
Health Information Technology
Medical Assisting
Medical Imaging
Nursing
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Pharmacy Technology
Surgical Services

The HSC was “officially” opened at a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday, April 27.

“We look forward to building on our success in the coming years and continuing to serve our students, businesses partners and our community at the highest level,” Dr. Cerny said.

Learn more information about the American Association of Community Colleges Awards of Excellence program.

May 2, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

He played at Mott CC and Detroit Mercy, coached at Wayne State

EJ Haralson Jr. is the new men’s basketball coach at Schoolcraft College.

Schoolcraft College has hired EJ Haralson Jr., a veteran former assistant head coach and interim head coach at Wayne State University, as its new men’s basketball coach. His start date is effective July 1, 2022.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome EJ Haralson Jr. to our staff,” said Cali Crawford, Director of Athletics. “He brings a wealth of experience and deep-rooted connections in the Metro area, and checks off every single box that we were looking for to lead our men’s basketball program.”

Haralson Jr. had served at Wayne State since 2003. In addition to his coaching and recruiting duties, Haralson Jr.’s responsibilities also included serving as the team’s academic coach. His success in that role included increasing the overall team GPA by 0.64 over the past four years and maintaining a team GPA over 3.0 each semester for the past three years.

He played two seasons at Mott Community College (1994-96) before transferring to the University of Detroit Mercy (1996-98).

“I’m so excited to get the opportunity to meet young men with a passion for basketball, and it’s my job to get them to understand the other things that come with that,” Haralson Jr. said. “The Michigan Community College Athletic Association is a competitive league; I played in this league and I’ve recruited players out of this league. I know Schoolcraft has had success in the past, so it’s exciting.”

He’s looking forward to meeting with the returning players.

“Whenever there’s a transition of coaches, there needs to be a time and space for the players to understand who I am and for me to understand what they’re going through and create a situation that’s comfortable for everyone, but competitive at the same time,” Haralson Jr. said. “So that’s the first thing – getting to know the returning players.”

EJ Haralson Jr. holding a basketball — EJ Haralson Jr. previously served as a coach at Wayne State University.

Haralson Jr. earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from the University of Detroit Mercy and a Master of Arts in Education from Wayne State. He’s working on his Doctor of Philosophy in Education at Wayne State.

“Coach Haralson will bring integrity, enthusiasm and work ethic necessary to build and sustain a successful program both on and off the court,” Crawford said. “The future is extremely bright for men’s basketball and I look forward to working with him.”

May 2, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Schoolcraft College’s 57^th annual Commencement, scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, in the St. Joe’s Mercy Elite Sports Center (ESC) on the main campus, will be open to a new era.

That’s because this will be the first Commencement at ESC that will welcome guests. Last year’s graduation ceremony was open to students only due to health-related precautions.

“We’re pleased to welcome guests to this year’s Commencement,” said Dr. Glenn Cerny, President of Schoolcraft College. “Graduates share with us how important the support from family members and friends has been during their journey, so it’s our privilege to once again have their guests here in person to share in their great day.”

This year’s keynote speaker is Marina Shoemaker, the Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion Strategies DEI External Partnerships for General Motors.

“It’s our honor to have such a distinguished speaker,” Dr. Cerny said. “Marina has been a great friend to Schoolcraft College over the years, willingly lending her expertise to important initiatives, including helping incorporate a DEI component into our STARS DEI leadership program and serving as a co-chair of our Foundation’s Vision 2025 campaign.”

More than 900 applications for graduation were received by Student Records, with nearly 400 students signed up to participate in Commencement.

Skills Certificates, Certificates, Associate degrees, Bachelor of Science degrees and Post-Associate degrees will be awarded. In addition, the College will confer Honorary Degrees and recognize a Distinguished Alumni during Commencement.

The Student Reflection will be delivered by Catreese Qualls, whose many accomplishments and contributions to Schoolcraft College include:

2021/2022 Division III International Vice President, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Michigan All-Academic Team Silver Scholar
Coca-Cola Scholar
STARS DEI mentor
Oberndorf Scholar
Kehrl Communications Arts Scholar

Ozzy the ocelot mascot — You can meet Ozzy, the new Schoolcraft College mascot, at Commencement.

Ozzy, the new Schoolcraft College mascot, will make its official debut and will be available for photos, including in a new 360-degree photo booth where users can instantly share their photos. (Maximum of four people in the photo booth.)

Traditional photo booths also will be available. Students can upload their photos on their social channels and use the hashtags #OcelotPride and #OcelotGrad.

Doors open at 12 p.m. Students are asked to arrive by 1 p.m.

A livestream will be available.

May 2, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Short-handed staff produces excellent work

The Schoolcraft Connection student newspaper continues to add to its well-deserved reputation for excellence following outstanding performances in two key contests.

First, the Schoolcraft Connection won seven awards from the 2021 College Better Newspaper contest presented by the Michigan Press Association (MPA). The Connection competed in Division III: Two-year college publications or newspapers publishing less than weekly.

Members of the Arkansas Press Association reviewed 568 entries submitted by 16 Michigan college newspapers. Over the past nine years, the Schoolcraft Connection has won 95 awards total in this contest.

“It is more important than ever to recognize and encourage good, impactful journalism,” said Joanne Williams, associate professor of journalism and mass communication at Olivet College and Michigan College Press Association president. “That is what our college newspapers are doing, and with support and recognition from contests and professionals in the field, that will continue. Our experienced faculty and advisors will see to it as well,”

The following students received awards for their work in 2021:

1st place for Feature Story: Madison Ling
2nd place for Feature Story: Ben Bolstrom
2nd place for Editorial: Schoolcraft Connection Staff
3rd place for Feature Story: Matthew Fular and Madison Ling
3rd place for Sports News/Features: Matthew Fular
3rd place for Column Review or Sports Blog: Matt Karbownik
3rd place for Overall Best Newspaper in Division III: Schoolcraft Connection Staff

SC Connection Staff — Front row, left to right: Armando Saucedo (Multimedia Editor), Sasha Spearman (Design Intern), Vae O’Neil (Arts and Entertainment Editor), Jordan Weston (Staff Writer).
Back row, left to right: Alexander Hawthorne (Staff Writer), Ben Bolstrum (Editor-in-Chief), Matthew Kern (Managing Editor), Matt Karbownik (Layout and Design Editor).

Awards from the MCCPA

The staff followed that outstanding performance with an additional 14 awards from the Michigan Community College Press Association (MCCPA), making it a total of 21 awards for the 2021-22 academic year.

Here is a look at the Connection’s totals for the last 10 years in both yearly competitions:

MCCPA 10-year total (2012-2022): 147
MPA 9-year total (2012-2021): 95
MCCPA and MPBA combined total (2012-2022): 242

Students who received awards in the MCCPA contest:

1st place for Sports Feature Story: Ben Bolstrom
1st place for News Photo: Armando Saucedo
1st place for Feature Photo: Claire Smith
1st place for Inside Page Design: Matt Karbownik
2nd place for Front Page Design: Matt Karbownik
3rd place for Feature Story: Matthew Fular
3rd place for Personality Profile: Vae O’Neil
3rd place for Inside Page Design: Matt Karbownik
3rd place for Video Production: Armando Saucedo
3rd Place General Excellence: SC Connection Staff
Honorable Mention for Column Serious: Matthew Kern
Honorable Mention for Critical Review: Vae O’Neil
Honorable Mention for Sports News Photo: Claire Smith
Honorable Mention for Video Production: Jordan Weston

“This is a remarkable achievement for these students as they did this with only five senior editors out of the possible 10 positions on staff,” said Rena Laverty, Student Activities Technician, College Photographer and Connection Adviser. “We’re now looking for new editors to join us for the 2022-23 year. Any students interested in writing, photography, videography or design can contact us.

“All majors are welcome and encouraged. Editors are compensated up to $1,100 per semester for Fall and Winter.”

For more information, call 734-462-4422 or email [email protected].

April 25, 2022 by mlemon

Renovation, expansion will transform Culinary Arts, PPL and community programs

The Schoolcraft College Foundation has made a multi-year $1 million grant commitment to support the expansion and renovation of the College’s VisTaTech Center, with the goal of providing more experiential learning space for Schoolcraft’s renowned Culinary Arts program and the addition of a new high-tech demonstration space that provides unique opportunities for academic, professional development, and community-based education programs.

The over $6 million, 15,000-square-foot project, referred to as “VisTaTech 2.0,” includes an addition of 10,000 square feet and renovation of 5,000 square feet. The Foundation is proud to be the first funder to step up to support this exciting, student-centric initiative.

Layout map for the new center — This image shows the renovations and additions that will create “VisTaTech 2.0.”

This funding maximizes the impact of the Foundation. “I believe it goes to the heart of the Schoolcraft Foundation’s purpose,” said Schoolcraft College President Glenn Cerny. “Donors will be able to see first-hand how their contributions truly impact creating high-end educational facilities that will enhance our mission of providing transformational experiences to our students, businesses, and the community-at-large.”

Schoolcraft’s students, faculty and members of the community have come to rely on the superior facilities and services of the College, and VisTaTech 2.0 is a further step toward improving the quality and expanding the capacity of the campus infrastructure and services.

Besides expanding the existing Culinary department’s American Harvest Restaurant, the new space will include an additional Culinary classroom and new innovative space that can be used as a demonstration kitchen, multipurpose lab and high-tech educational theater. As part of the renovation, spaces will be reworked to increase effectiveness of space utilization and offer a more welcoming space for students and community guests. This includes an expanded Café retail space and Brewpub to accommodate the increasing demands for those services.

“This investment is an opportunity to support the forward-thinking vision for students and the community served by Schoolcraft College,” said Lois McEntyre, President, Schoolcraft Foundation Board of Governors. “This is the largest single grant commitment made through our Vision 2025 Campaign and a way for the College to leverage this support for future investments.”

The project will start this summer and is expected to be complete by fall 2023. For information, contact the Schoolcraft Foundation office at 734-462-4455.

April 25, 2022 by mlemon

It recognizes a key battle between Mexico and France

Cinco de Mayo is one of the more familiar, yet perhaps one of the less understood, holidays. It is not, for example, the same as Independence Day in the United States. Nor is Cinco de Mayo widely celebrated in Mexico. Fortunately, Schoolcraft College has an expert who can set the record straight.

Dr. Zach Morales, Instructor of History and College & Beyond, teaches History 153: Contemporary America, a survey of U.S. history within the last 100 years. Dr. Morales also serves as an Academic Advisor for the Center for Latino/a Studies at Wayne State University.

Dr. Morales graciously provided the following story on Cinco de Mayo:

Cinco de Mayo commemorates a battle between Mexico and France in 1862 in the City of Puebla, Mexico. It is often confused with the remembrance of Mexican independence from Spain (September 16), but both holidays celebrate freedom and democracy.

Battle scene in Puebla, Mexico — Cinco de Mayo commemorates a battle between Mexico and France in 1862 in the City of Puebla, Mexico.

The origins of the Battle of Puebla can be traced to a civil war in Mexico called the Reform War (1857-1860). The newly elected Liberal party had passed a series of reforms beginning in 1855 that separated church and state, reduced church land holdings, limited military political power, and enacted other progressive ideas, including instituting Mexico’s first bill of rights.

Upset with the reforms, the Conservative party, who favored keeping a central government that privileged the elite, led a coup d’état that took over Mexico City and ousted the Liberal party. The civil war lasted three years with both sides borrowing money from Spain, Great Britain and France. When the Liberal party emerged victorious, the European powers expected the new government to pay the debt owed by both factions. Mexico, instead, suspended all foreign debt payments for two years.

In December 1861, the European powers invaded the city of Veracruz and captured several more cities on the road to Mexico City to demand compensation. Great Britain and Spain came to an agreement with Mexican officials over their debt and left the campaign. However, Emperor Napoleon III of France intended to increase his empire by conquering Mexico and sent more French soldiers. Napoleon III was also interested in supporting the Confederate States of America, and controlling Mexico would be an advantageous strategic position.

Against all expectations, on May 5, 1862, Mexico defeated the better-equipped and larger French army. It took three weeks for the news of the Mexican victory to reach Spanish-language newspapers in California, where a celebration was held. As mentioned before, there was a Mexican civil war over democratic ideals followed by a European invasion. But Mexico’s army representing freedom and democracy had won a battle against the renowned French monarchy!

The following year, Mexico was still at war with France, and the U.S. Civil War continued. To raise wartime morale, Spanish-speaking grassroots organizations in California organized the first Cinco de Mayo celebrations to support Mexico and the Union army. The annual celebration continued afterward, and, to this day, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated all across the United States and is sparsely celebrated in Mexico, except for the City of Puebla, where the battle occurred.

For a more thorough history, I recommend reading “El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition” (2012) by David Hayes Bautista.

April 18, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Part of program will discuss small-modular reactors

Jesse Deer In Water, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and a leader in CRAFT: Citizen Resistance at Fermi Two, will be the guest speaker as the Schoolcraft College International Institute’s Focus Series presents “Dangers of FERMI: The Day We Almost Lost Detroit” on Thursday, April 21.

CRAFT is a grassroots, Indigenous-led environmental activism group focused on protecting the Great Lakes. The Fermi 2 Power Plant, on the shore of Lake Erie in Newport, Michigan, supplies 20 percent of the power generated by DTE Energy.

A key focus of Jesse Deer In Water’s presentation will be the dangers of small-modular reactors, sometimes called “breeder” reactors because they produce more fuel than they consume. This is the same type of reactor that was used in Fermi 1, which suffered a partial meltdown in October of 1966 that prompted more scrutiny of the safety of nuclear power plants. Fermi 1 was permanently shut down in 1972.

“Fermi 1 had a small-modular reactor, which is the same technology that’s being pushed as new and a safe technology,” Jesse Deer In Water said. “That’s a total misconception. I’ll explain how small-modular reactors are potentially more dangerous because the fuel is enriched to a higher level, which means more heat and more waste. Plus, these plants themselves are smaller and less stable, which can lead to more problems if there’s a meltdown.”

The Fermi 1 plant had a partial meltdown in 1966.

“We’ll also talk about the solutions and what it’s going to take to replace facilities like Fermi 2 and to prevent small-module reactors from coming to our cities.”

Jesse Deer In Water, who lives in Redford, works both from the bottom up and the top down to build coalitions and understanding across the area, state and country.

“The burden of proof is on us as citizens, even though we have much less resources compared with energy companies and commissions,” he said. “We have to take things into our own hands because there’s no accountability.”

Watch a video interview with Jesse Deer In Water.

The presentation will be held from 2:30-3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 21. You can join the Zoom meeting here. The Meeting ID is 870 6670 0492.

The event is sponsored by the Department of Sociology, the Native American Student Organization, and the Student Activities Office.

April 18, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Free weights, weight machines, cardio machines and more are available

Like many of the members who work out there, the Schoolcraft College Fitness Center has grown stronger over the years. This year, the facility is celebrating 10 years of use and service to Schoolcraft College students, faculty and staff, as well as community members. From humble beginnings, it’s become a key gathering place and unifying location for the entire Schoolcraft College community.

Patty Donohue-Ebach, Director, Recreation Services, has been with the Fitness Center, which opened on January 31, 2012, basically since Day 1. Before her current role, Donohue-Ebach was an adjunct instructor at the College in the Physical Education Department (now Movement Science).

“The Fitness Center is a great place to work out and a great place to be,” she said. “We have a culture here that is welcoming to all. We pride ourselves on being a place that is safe, fun and supportive for all of our members and guests.”

fitness center staff — Full-time staff of the Fitness Center are (left to right): Walt Stecko, Business Office Manager; Patty Donohue-Ebach, Director, Recreation Services; and Matt Cooper, Recreation Facilities Manager.

The Fitness Center is in the Physical Education building on campus and was built within a completely redesigned and updated former Auxiliary Gym, which was underutilized. The main workout floor is nearly 11,000 square feet and has over 110 pieces of cardio and weight equipment, providing an array of options.

“I give a lot of credit to Dr. Glenn Cerny, the College’s President, with having the vision that this space could serve a higher purpose for the campus community and beyond,” Donohue-Ebach said. “Fitness and recreation centers have existed on college campuses for a long time, but in the last 20 years or so they have really become a selling point for prospective students and a ‘must have’ amenity.”

How to join

The Schoolcraft Fitness Center is open to all credit students, faculty/staff, alumni and the community as well as a variety of other college partners and their employees.

Credit students, faculty and staff are free; other memberships range from $15/month to $25/month.

To join, come to the Fitness Center to fill out their membership enrollment form to start the process. For more information, call 734-462-4348 or email [email protected].

Fitness Center hours are:

Monday – Thursday: 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Recreation opportunities

In addition to the workout facilities, a number of drop-in recreation programs are available through the Fitness Center along with access to the 1/7-mile track in the St. Joe’s Mercy Elite Sports Center. All Fitness Center members, Schoolcraft employees and members of the community may participate in any of these programs.

Most are free for members of the Fitness Center or if you are a student or faculty/staff at the College. Otherwise, a small drop in fee is charged. The recreation programs include drop-in swim (run by Personal and Professional Learning, PPL), drop-in basketball, drop-in volleyball, pickleball, racquetball and wallyball.

To help provide members with a quick and easy way to access information about the Fitness Center, the team recently launched a new online information page, which also can be accessed through a QR code.

Donohue-Ebach’s full-time colleagues are Matt Cooper, Recreation Facilities Manager, responsible for day-to-day operations, among other responsibilities; and Walt Stecko, Business Office Manager, who manages financial and scheduling matters, again among other responsibilities.

“We’re also supported by great on-call staff, student employees and personal trainers,” Donohue-Ebach said. “We need that entire team to make all three of these facilities go!”

A look back

Someone who predates Donohue-Ebach’s history with Schoolcraft College – by quite a bit, actually – is Jack Washka, Professor Emeritus. Professor Washka started at Schoolcraft College in 1967, which was just six years after the College was established and three years before the gym was built.

During those early days, physical education classes and athletic events and practices were held in a variety of off-campus locations, including the Northville Community Center, Livonia Stevenson High School and the now-closed Northville Regional Psychiatric Hospital to name just a few. The weight room was on the top level of the PE building and was rather cramped.

Professor Washka is pleased to see the progress made and that the College has a first-rate fitness facility.

“Certainly the Fitness Center helps develop cardiovascular fitness, strength conditioning and the activity has great benefits as a stress-reliever,” he said. “But something I’ve noticed recently, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, is that the Fitness Center provides a place to gather and get people together. It builds a great community in addition to building a healthy body.”

old photo of a fitness center — Schoolcraft College’s fitness facilities were somewhat limited before the Fitness Center opened on January 31, 2012.

Old photo of person on bikes — Schoolcraft College’s fitness facilities were somewhat limited before the Fitness Center opened on January 31, 2012.

A look ahead

While 10 years is certainly a significant milestone for the Fitness Center, Donohue-Ebach is just as focused at looking ahead.

“We have some exciting changes coming to the workout floor in the next year,” she said. “We continue to grow and be responsive to customer and member needs in the area of fitness and exercise. We offer more choices now than ever before because people like to get fit in different ways. For some it’s playing basketball, volleyball or swimming or running or walking on an indoor track instead of on a treadmill. We want to provide all these amenities to continue to excel as a full-service fitness center.”

April 18, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Supporting youth sports events brings visitors to campus

Schoolcraft College, recognizing its role to be a positive force in the community and support activities for young people, will open its sports facilities for two exciting events this spring and summer.

First, this weekend, the St. Joe’s Mercy Elite Sports Center (ESC), the St. Joe’s Sports Dome and the main gym in the Physical Education building will be sites of the “Mizuno Motor City Madness” volleyball tournament.

Then later this summer, the St. Joe’s Sports Dome and the College’s soccer field will be host to the “Special Olympics Unified Cup 2022 presented by Toyota” soccer event.

Sports Center front of building — Photo 1

“We are extremely pleased and proud to welcome these hard-working athletes and their dedicated families and friends to our campus to compete in our outstanding sports and recreation facilities,” said Dr. Glenn Cerny, President of Schoolcraft College. “In addition to providing transformative educational opportunities, we also want to be a good neighbor and actively support positive events in Livonia and Metro Detroit.”

Mizuno Motor City Madness will be this Saturday and Sunday, April 23 and 24. More than 500 teams, from ages 12-under to 18-under, from around the country and Canada are expected. The event is presented by Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy, which calls the ESC its home in the western suburbs.

The 75,000-square-foot facility has been a hub of activity for students, community members and youth sports since opening in October 2020. The ESC includes eight volleyball courts; a 1/7-mile track; a practice field for the Michigan Wolves Soccer Club; brand-new classrooms and equipment for Schoolcraft College’s Movement Science program; the MercyElite sports performance and training center; and the Elite Market & Smoothie Bar.

The volleyball courts also can be configured for pickleball, an increasingly popular sport that many community and Fitness Center members play regularly, especially during the winter.

Unified Cup coming this summer

Schoolcraft College will welcome the Special Olympics Unified Cup 2022 presented by Toyota starting Sunday, July 31. A total of 24 teams from around the world, ages 16-21, are expected to compete. This event will show the world how the power of sport builds and shapes a diverse community that unites and empowers people of all abilities, from all backgrounds. Teams include athletes with and without intellectual disabilities playing together.

“We encourage everyone to come to our beautiful campus, learn more about what Schoolcraft College offers and enjoy these great events,” Dr. Cerny said.

multiple volleyball court games going on — Photo 3

April 11, 2022 by mlemon

There are fewer than 80 Certified Master Chefs in the world

Schoolcraft College is on its way to having two members of its faculty become Certified Master Chefs® (CMC) as both Chef Paul Grosz and Chef Drew Sayes advanced out of Segment 1 of the recent American Culinary Federation’s (ACF) CMC exams.

The exams were held March 18-21 in the American Harvest restaurant in the VisTaTech Center on the main campus of Schoolcraft College. Segment 2 will be held later this year.

Chef Grosz and Chef Sayes — Chef Paul Grosz (left) and Chef Drew Sayes are each full-time instructors.

A CMC is considered the highest level of the profession, and demonstrates mastery of culinary competence and expertise through education, experience, knowledge and skills consistent with the master chef level. The exam was first commissioned and offered in 1981.

There are fewer than 80 Certified Master Chefs in the world, with Brian Beland, Schoolcraft College’s Department Chair of Culinary Arts, among those to hold this distinguished ranking. In addition, faculty member Joseph Decker is a Certified Master Pastry Chef® (CMPC).

Chef Grosz serves as full-time instructor and currently teaches classes associated with the American Harvest lunch service. He is co-proprietor and Chef of Cuisine Restaurant. Chef Sayes, a 2003 Oakland Community College graduate, has been a full-time instructor since January.

“We are extremely happy for the excellent results by Chef Grosz and Chef Sayes in Segment 1 of the CMC exams,” Chef Beland said. “We wish them the very best on Segment 2 and have every confidence they will do well.”

To apply for the exam, candidates must already be a Certified Executive Chef or Certified Culinary Educator, provide a letter of recommendation from current CMCs or CMPCs, and have completed education courses on sanitation and food safety, management, cost management and wine.

Chef Drew Sayes goes through one of the four modules in the Certified Master Chefs exam.

The exam modules included:

Freestyle Cuisine
Healthy Cooking
Global Cuisines
Pastry and Baking

Both Chef Grosz and Chef Sayes shared feelings of relief after the grueling exam wrapped up.

“When (it was over), I felt a bit of relieve and accomplishment, but only for a short time knowing that Segment 2 is not far behind,” Chef Grosz said. “The work is not done. We’ll take a short break, then start practicing for an excruciating next part of the exam.”

Chef Sayes echoed those thoughts.

“When the exam concluded, I was relieved and exhausted,” he said. “I was also slightly disappointed that it ended. I was gaining a lot of momentum and confidence going through each discipline; I wanted to continue and carry that into the next segment.”

Chef Grosz — In addition to teaching, Chef Paul Grosz is co-proprietor and Chef of Cuisine Restaurant.

Despite the intense pressure, each Chef felt the exam went well.

“It was the most intense experience I’ve had in my career,” Chef Sayes said. “It was challenging to adjust my mindset each day and mentally preparing for the next discipline. Lack of sleep caused by constantly thinking about what’s next also made it difficult to focus on the task at hand. Through all of that, it was a great experience and I ended up having a lot of fun throughout the process.”

Added Chef Grosz: “I feel the CMC exam went very well. What I enjoyed mostly out of it was the adrenaline during the cooking time period while we were being judged on every move we made. Cooking at the highest level in a time limited situation while experts in the field were scrutinizing everything you did was very nerve-wracking.”

Each is looking forward to the next phase of the exam.

“There’s still a lot of work to do,” Chef Sayes said. “Luckily, I’m able to take the summer and prepare. I’m looking forward to the next challenge.”

Chef Grosz also emphasized how learning never stops, taking the American Master Chefs’ Order’s motto of “Forever the Student” to heart.

“This has been 30 years in the making for myself because as a chef we continue to always learn,” he said. “Taking this exam has made me a better person, a better chef and ultimately a better instructor. I just want to thank everyone for all their support as we continue this journey. My family, Schoolcraft, my fellow instructors and the staff at Cuisine. Without their support, this would not be possible.”

Learn more about Schoolcraft College’s Culinary Arts program.