Schoolcraft College Will Host Key Conference

May 16, 2022 by Schoolcraft College

Michigan community colleges will focus on students, workforce development

Although commencement ceremonies have concluded and Michigan community colleges, including Schoolcraft College, have sent another group of well-educated and well-trained graduates on their way to pursuing their dreams, the job of developing a strong workforce never stops.

Schoolcraft College, with a rich history of strong academic programs and business partnerships, has long been a leader in educating and training students for key roles in a variety of fields, including manufacturing, engineering and technology, health care, culinary arts, police and fire and many more vital occupations.

With all Michigan community colleges facing a number of challenges, including ones related to enrollment and funding, members of the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA) will be meeting at Schoolcraft College this week, Thursday May 19, and Friday, May 20, to find creative ways to address those challenges with meaningful actions.

VisTaTech Center building — The VisTaTech Center will be the site of this week’s Michigan Community College Association meeting.

“We look forward to providing our great facilities at the VisTaTech Center to be an incubator of great ideas and solutions to the challenges community colleges face,” said Dr. Glenn Cerny, President of Schoolcraft College. “I look forward to the open dialogue and wide range of perspectives as we work together to find even better ways to provide transformational learning opportunities for our students.”

The Michigan Community College Association fosters collaboration, connection, and partnerships among the 28 Michigan public community colleges and their stakeholders.

The MCCA provides strong legislative and public advocacy in Lansing and throughout Michigan, works to improve the image and credibility of community colleges, and advances numerous shared initiatives through the Michigan Center for Student Success, Michigan Colleges Online, Collaborative Programs, and the Michigan New Jobs Training Program.

Members of the MCCA are:

Alpena Community College
Bay College
Delta College
Glen Oaks Community College
Gogebic Community College
Grand Rapids Community College
Henry Ford College
Jackson College
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Kellogg Community College
Kirtland Community College
Lake Michigan College
Lansing Community College
Macomb Community College
Mid Michigan College
Monroe County Community College
Montcalm Community College
Mott Community College
Muskegon Community College
North Central Michigan College
Northwestern Michigan College
Oakland Community College
Schoolcraft College
Southwestern Michigan College
St. Clair County Community College
Washtenaw Community College
Wayne County Community College
West Shore Community College

Learn more information about the Michigan Community College Association.

May 16, 2022 by mlemon

Top three mathematics students honored for their work

The Schoolcraft College Mathematics Department has announced the winners of the Pythagorean Prize, which is an annual award that recognizes the top three mathematics students of the academic year.

Founded by professor emeritus Larry Williams, it’s the department’s biggest prize and is now in its 27th year. To be considered, an applicant must:

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 completed and submitted an application and essay by the deadline date.

Larry Choraszewski, Mathematics Professor

This year’s winners are:

First place: Olivia Hudson, $3,000
Second place: Joseph Rosato, $1,500
Third place: Russell Clark, $1,000

“The Pythagorean Prize recognizes the top three mathematics students of the academic year, their scholarship, and encourages them to consider careers in mathematics, or a mathematics-related field,” said Larry Choraszewski, Professor of Mathematics.

“The Prize receives a tremendous amount of support from administrators, faculty, students, local businesses, and others, and we are so grateful and blessed for that. Time and time again, we see just how much of a positive impact this award has, not only on our students, but on the community as well.

“This is a major reason why I think the Prize has the level of support it continues to have. The students who apply are some of Schoolcraft’s finest. As such, we feel a deep sense of desire to recognize them for their achievements in a special way; hence, the Prize.”

Each of this year’s winners started on an engineering track, and two of them intend to continue that pursuit.

Olivia Hudson, the first-place winner, has a very personal reason for switching to nursing.

“One of the reasons I switched from Engineering to Nursing is because I had a rollover car accident at the beginning of last year,” the native of Novi said. “After the experience in the hospital, being surrounded by all the helpful health care workers and talking to a few family members who are nurses, I decided to pursue nursing.”

Joseph Rosato and Russell Clark — Photo 1

Hudson started at Schoolcraft in the fall of 2019 and anticipates transferring to a four-year school this fall to finish her bachelor’s degree.

Joesph Rosato, the second-place winner, started at Schoolcraft in the fall of 2020. He’s taking pre-requisite classes for electrical engineering.

“My future plans are to study electrical engineering at UM-Dearborn this fall and I intend to get my bachelor’s and my master’s degree either immediately after or several years later depending on circumstances at that time,” he said.

Russell Clark, the third-place winner, started at Schoolcraft in the fall of 2019. He’s working toward an Associate Degree in Engineering and has some big goals in mind.

“My future plans are to first earn my masters in aerospace engineering and proceed forward to SpaceX,” he said, referencing the space technology company founded by Elon Musk.

The prize amounts are made possible, in part, from a bequest from the family of Floyd and Marian Kehrl to the Schoolcraft College Foundation. Additional funds are provided by Academic Services, the Science Division, and by mathematics and other instructors.

All first-place prizewinners are noted on an engraved nameplate on permanent display in the Mathematics Department’s case in the Biomedical Technology Center.

For more information about the Pythagorean Prize and Ceremony, please contact Professor Larry Choraszewski at [email protected].

May 16, 2022 by mlemon

Students leave with strong professional foundation

The success of Schoolcraft College’s registered apprenticeship program, which connects area businesses with motivated and talented students, was formally recognized recently at the Apprenticeship Achievement Celebration at the VisTaTech Center on the main campus.

In addition to students who completed their apprenticeships and their employers, the event, held April 19, drew a wide range of key leaders from Livonia, Southeast Michigan and beyond.

Dr. Glenn Cerny, President of Schoolcraft College, welcomed those guests, which included Maureen Miller Brosnan, Mayor of the City of Livonia; Haley Stevens, U.S. Representative for Michigan’s 11^th District; and Michelle Richard, Senior Education Advisor to Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Jeff Beier and Kyle Hollis — Jeff Beier, Maya Gage CEO, and Kyle Hollis, Gage Maker.

Members of the Board of Trustees who attended were: Joan A. Gebhardt, Chair; Carol M. Strom, Vice Chair; Brian D. Broderick, Secretary; and Dillon E. Breen, Trustee.

Apprenticeships are a great opportunity for those already passionate about an occupation to “earn while they learn” as they gain important professional experience. Since 2020, 15 Schoolcraft College students have completed their apprenticeship in professional trades or medical assisting.

“It has been an honor and privilege to work with these students and employers over the past few years,” said Pamela Linton, Apprenticeship Coordinator for Schoolcraft College. “And it was incredibly rewarding to recognize their many achievements at the event on April 19, and with such amazing supporters of the College like Mayor Brosnan and Congresswoman Stevens.

“These students now have an established educational and professional foundation, have a number of years’ experience with employers that have invested in them, and have achieved their educational success with little to no student loan debt. That is definitely worth celebrating!”

Apprenticeships at a glance

Topic	What apprenticeships offer
Emphasis	On-the-job training
Usual duration	1 to 4 years
Structure	Focus on mastering specific skills
Mentorship	Individualized training with experienced mentor
Pay	Always paid, wages at or above industry standard at conclusion
Do you earn a credential?	Yes, you get a national credential from the Department of Labor
Do you earn college credit?	Yes, and often complete Schoolcraft College certification(s) also

From the Department of Labor

Linton collaborates with area businesses and the Department of Labor (DOL) to establish apprenticeship programs to meet talent needs. As part of this role, Linton assists employers in creating curriculum related to their occupations, and helps students determine if apprenticeship is the right path for them.

Kelly Victor-Burke, Logan Leinbach, and Barry Burke — Kelly Victor-Burke, majority owner and CEO of Burke Architectural Millwork; Logan Leinbach, the first Woodwork Manufacturing Specialist apprentice; and Barry Burke, owner and President of Burke Architectural Millwork.

“Apprenticeships are challenging and not for the faint of heart,” Linton said. “People who are passionate about a specific career, and who will be committed to both the education and on-the-job training components, are the best candidates. When students express interest in apprenticeships, we are always clear and up front about the demands and the rigor. For those for whom the fit is right, it is an outstanding pathway. ”

Apprenticeships offer opportunities in a wide array of areas, covering almost every student interest. There are currently over 1,200 apprenticeable occupations through the DOL, with more added every year. Currently, Schoolcraft College is proud to have placed over 70 apprentices, representing 20-plus occupations, placed at over 25 area companies. Connections for medical assisting has been particularly successful.

The College also has been at the forefront of collaborating to create new opportunities. One example is student Logan Leinbach, who is the first Woodwork Manufacturing Specialist apprentice.

Hannah Mills and Mary Donahee-Rader — Hannah Mills, Henry Ford Health Medical Assistant, and Mary Donahee-Rader, Director of Schoolcraft College’s Medical Assisting program.

Schoolcraft and Leinbach’s employer, Burke Architectural Millwork in Livonia, helped develop the apprenticeship for the Department of Labor over the course of two years, including working with The Urban Institute in Washington, D.C.

Kelly Victor-Burke, majority owner and CEO of Burke Architectural Millwork, was able to move Leinbach from his CAD apprenticeship into the Woodwork program, which he recently completed. During the event, she recounted the challenging road to get the apprenticeship in place and is thrilled with the final outcome.

The students who completed the apprenticeships and were recognized are:

Blaise Blastos, IHA
Theresa Drafta, Henry Ford Health
Marissa Helbling, Henry Ford Health
Stacey Henry, IHA
Kyle Hollis, Maya Gage
Hina Kahn, IHA
Deanna Leighton, Henry Ford Health
Logan Leinbach, Burke Architectural Millwork
Hannah Mills, Henry Ford Health
Samantha Roe, IHA
Rebekah Spears, Henry Ford Health
Tamara Swift, Henry Ford Health
Marcin Wnuczek, GNS North America

In addition to the companies listed above, several other employers have apprentices in place. These include Clips and Clamps; International Extrusions; and E & E Manufacturing/Globe Tech.

For more information about apprenticeships, please contact Pamela Linton by email at [email protected] or by phone at 734-462-7372.

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.