Graduate profile: Jess Michael

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After a life that has brought plenty of challenges, Jess Michael found a way to navigate her education and graduate with her associate degree.

Jess Michael still remembers writing her first book that inspired her to become a writer.

She was six.

Titled “Lizzy the Fish,” it was a tale about a fish that was different. It helped set the stage for Michael’s life the next several decades, mimicking her life without her truly understanding it.

“It was very intricate with the ins and outs of friendship. It was really cute and I drew it,” she said. “Pushing through all of that, I think now that I am 34 years old, I look back at it because I was struggling because I wasn’t diagnosed as neurodivergent at that age.”

After a life that has brought plenty of challenges, Michael found a way to navigate her education and graduate. The editor-in-chief of The Schoolcraft Connection, Michael will walk across the state May 3 and receive her associate degree from Schoolcraft College.

Michael has taken a long pathway to get to this moment. A high school dropout, Michael ended up marrying young and having two of her three children in her early 20s. Her then husband found work out of state, so she and her family up and moved to places like Missouri and Oklahoma. When she began thinking about what she wanted to do beside parenting, she thought the military was the right move, but a motorcycle accident left her with an injury that prevented that from happening.

Michael decided it was time to go back to her original passion: writing. However, it had been some time since she was in school, she decided attending college would be the next step. She applied for the Michigan Reconnect and received it, prompting her to enroll at Schoolcraft, her local community college. Without that critical scholarship, she never would have been able to go back to school.

“The fact that my tuition is completely covered is a big relief, because I know that many people in my age group have kids and are married. It’s really hard to navigate working a full-time job or being a full-time parent or both while coming to school,” Michael. “The fact that Reconnect offers that is so relieving and having that resource is incredibly important.”

Michael jumped right into the community college life, taking classes and getting involved with The Schoolcraft Connection, the student newspaper on campus. After serving different roles on the paper’s staff the first year, she became editor-in-chief this past year, leading the newsroom and helping to tell stories all over the campus.

Michael got to know many of the international and neurodivergent students who wanted to get involved at the newspaper. She made it a goal of hers to make sure the Connection was as welcoming as it could be to any student interested in joining the staff.

“I realized I wanted to leave behind after I graduate. A safe place for everyone else, where there is inclusivity and diversity,” she said. “That was very important to me so that everyone felt that they could come and achieve something and have a place that they could always like come to.”

Michael said she plans on pursuing her bachelor’s degree in English after graduation, with her eyes set on the University of Michigan. She plans on attending the Great Lakes Arts,

Cultures, and Environment program up north this summer offered through U of M, taking some courses. It’s her hope one day to own her own publishing company to help independent publishers.

Michael has valued her time at Schoolcraft, which truly helped her realize her full potential and who she is.

“It doesn’t matter your age or where you come from. You will find acceptance and love when you’re with the right people,” she said. “I have been taught by Schoolcraft that you’re not just here to learn academics, you’re here to discover yourself.”

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An international student from Lebanon who is best known for shooting photos and videos for The Schoolcraft Connection student newspaper, Tala will serve as the student speaker at Commencement.

During Schoolcraft College’s 2024 Commencement, audience members could see Tala Wehbe running around with a camera in her hand, taking photos to share online through the Schoolcraft Connection. This year, Wehbe will be in attendance again, but in a much different role: instead of covering the ceremony, Wehbe will be a part of it.

Wehbe, an international student from Lebanon, will serve as the student reflection speaker during the 60th Annual Commencement Ceremony, which takes place May 3 in the TrinityElite Sports Center on the Schoolcraft College campus. There, she plans on sharing her journey growing up in the Middle East before coming to the United States for college.

She spent much of her youth in Saudi Arabia. When looking for a place to attend college, she looked to Michigan, since she had some family here and her older brother was already taking classes in a doctorate program at Central Michigan University. After looking around the metro Detroit area for a place to attend, she learned about Schoolcraft College and enrolled.

“It was just so easy to get in contact with the International student office. It was so easy to send over my paperwork,” she said. “They will make sure you are not dealing with this alone.”

Since arriving on campus, Wehbe has worked to hone her skills behind the camera and in the graphics lab. She will graduate May 3 with a degree focused on Computer Graphics Technology.

She’s regularly seen at events all across campus, taking photos and video to produce for newspaper. She’s also spent plenty of time in the labs in the Jeffress Center, taking her CGT courses and learning all she could.

It’s a field she’s become incredibly passionate about, and wants to find a way to utilize it in her career. Lebanon and Saudi helped ignite Wehbe’s passion for the field, but she came to the U.S. for more advance opportunities for further development her skills and pursue her goals.

“Film and multimedia has always been my dream, but it has been such a farfetched dream to the point where I never really considered doing it as a career,” she said.

After spending time at Schoolcraft, Wehbe is headed to Eastern Michigan University, where she plans on finishing her bachelor’s degree before heading back to the Middle East. Her dream is to work in the sports field, creating 3-D graphics for teams and other uses.

Wehbe has truly embraced living in metro Detroit since arriving, enjoying all the region has to offer. She’s loved exploring the state, learning about its culture and feeling connected to this. Her time at Schoolcraft College has never felt like a chore, but more like a welcoming place that’s given her a place to feel herself.

“I I don’t wanna say it felt like a second home, but it it really did. It was it was very warm and welcoming,” Wehbe said. “I’ve I not once was like, ‘Oh, I gotta go to school.’ Maybe it was, ‘Ugh, I gotta go to that class,’ but always after class, I I always just go to the Connection office, and just go around campus. It’s a it’s a very welcoming place.”

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Emily Bauman will accomplish a major goal this year after taking classes over the course of a few decades: she will walk the stage and earn an associate degree here at Schoolcraft College.

Emily Bauman wanted to spend her time at Schoolcraft College focusing on being a student. Going into classes being several decades older than many of her fellow students, Bauman did everything she could to fully emerge herself in academia. From participating in the STEAM@Schoolcraft conference to completing her Honors’ capstone program, she wanted to have the full experience.

“When I’m in school here, I’m feeling like I’m a kid, but I’m not,” she said. “And so, it’s balancing the feeling of ‘I’m learning, I’m just like you–we’re in this at the same time’ all the while knowing that when they look at me, they’re seeing their mom!”

Bauman grew up in upstate New York, where she graduated from high school. After living in several spots across the country, Bauman and her family found their home in metro Detroit. She had taken classes at several institutions but never completed her degree. After growing her and her husband’s family and having life happen, Bauman made the decision to jump into politics. She threw her name into local elections, eventually landing a seat on the Westland City Council, where she currently serves.

Given her current position, she decided on taking several political science classes at Schoolcraft, which also led her to the Schoolcraft Scholars Honors Program, as one of those political science classes was Honors-only.

While she was initially hesitant to join the Honor’s program, she decided to jump in and found it incredibly rewarding. Her capstone project is one she plans on continuing after her time at Schoolcraft college as she now sits on the newly-formed Westland Arts Foundation board. For their first project, they plan to install eagle sculptures all throughout Westland to help raise awareness of the arts in the western Wayne County community.

After finding out from an advisor that several of the courses she took at other colleges wouldn’t transfer, Bauman made sure she took classes that could travel with her when pursuing a bachelor’s degree. “I wanted to take classes that had a focus, meaning that all the classes I took are transferable. Every single one of them was on the Michigan Transfer Agreement, every single one,” she said. “So, I know that I can transfer out, transfer into another school and they will accept them all.”

Bauman said she’s proud of her accomplishments while at Schoolcraft and embraced being a student. While she’s unsure of her exact next steps, she’s thinking about potentially enrolling at Wayne State University to earn a bachelor’s degree to aid her in the political world.

Despite the age gap between her and her fellow classmates, she said she never let it get in the way of learning and growing. It’s a piece of advice she’d give to anyone looking to go back to school.

While she would encourage getting a higher education degree or certificate before the big responsibilities of life set in, she adds, “my biggest thing for anybody is: don’t let age stop you no matter what age you are. If you are really wanting to accomplish a goal, go for it. Don’t let age or someone else telling you don’t have the experience or perhaps you don’t need it, stop you,” she said. Pave your own path forward. Set that goal and persevere!”

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After graduating from Schoolcraft College, Maggie Jagielski plans to attend Wayne State University in the fall, with the hope of graduating with her bachelor’s degree next year.

Maggie Jagielski was eager to begin her college career. So eager that she began it in high school.

Jagielski, a Livonia Franklin High School graduate, began looking at places to attend college during her time there. After doing some searching and realizing she had some open hours, she discovered dual enrollment and asked a counselor about opportunity. She was told it was an option for her and she enrolled. Even before earning her high school diploma, Jagielski had already completed four college courses.

“I don’t think I would have been as eager to do it if my senior schedule at Franklin was more extreme, but knowing that I had like three or three hours of my day, I was like, “Oh, I might as well be earning college credits,’” she said. “I said, ‘if I can save money this way, I’m going to.’”

That drive gave her a head start when she began as a student at Schoolcraft College two years ago. Today, she’s preparing to walk the stage at the College’s 60th Annual Commencement taking place May 3, where Jagielski will serve as a student marshal escorting her class.

As a first-generation college student, Jagielski searched all around for scholarships to help pay for school. She eventually became a Schoolcraft College Foundation Scholar, which covered a large amount of her college costs and led her to meeting some wonderful people through the Foundation. Learning about the Michigan Transfer Agreement and being able to make sure her credits would properly be applied to a bachelor’s degree coming out of Schoolcraft College was also an important factor when Jagielski was looking at colleges.

A true passion early on for Jagielski was finding out about the Schoolcraft Honors Scholars Program. After learning about it in high school, Jagielski reached out to Errin Stegich-Moloney, the program’s director. She remembers Stegich-Moloney being caught off-guard after hearing from a high school student, but believed that showed her dedication early.

“I was sitting in my high school library and Errin was like, ‘Oh, are you at work right now?’ And I say, ‘I’m at school.’ and she said, ‘Where did you go to school?’ And I said, ‘I’m in high school.’ And she goes, ‘What? You know you have to wait until you’re in college to do this, right?’” Jagielski said. “That was a very funny moment and that definitely kicked off mine and Aaron’s relationship.”

Since enrolling, Jagielski spent plenty of time getting involved with the Honors program, including on her capstone project, which saw her and a classmate assisting a senior citizen. Her academic career has also led her to being a semifinalist for the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, one of the most prestigious scholarships given to two-year college students in the country.

Her dedication and actions to enroll in college classes early will also give her a head start in the fall when she begins classes at Wayne State University: between her dual enrollment and heavy course load, Jagielski plans to graduate with her bachelor’s degree in business administration in just three years. And one of the best parts for her? She’ll still be taking several classes on Schoolcraft College’s campus through Wayne State’s satellite offerings in the Jeffress Center.

Her time here at Schoolcraft has set her up well to begin the journey of her ultimate goal: working in the automotive industry, seeking to become the next Mary Barra.

While her journey won’t take her far from the Livonia campus, she acknowledges it just won’t be the same.

“I’m going to miss all of the connections I built with the staff and faculty here,” she said. “Schoolcraft is the second home to me, and it’s gonna be really sad to not be able to like, just walk into Erinn’s office whenever I please.”

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Elvis Veliu has found academic success at Schoolcraft College, earning several awards and graduating with honors.

Elvis Veliu’s path to commencement has been anything but ordinary.

After high school, life took him in several directions – helping family, trying out different educational paths, and navigating the challenges of COVID – before he found his true academic calling at Schoolcraft College.

“That gave me the opportunity to kind of just like think about what I was gonna do and I knew that school was something that I wanted to come back to and finish a degree,” he said. “I felt I could actually get work in and it was something that I was interested in doing. And so I came back to Schoolcraft.”

Not only will Veliu walk and receive his associate degree during Saturday’s 60th Annual Commencement here at Schoolcraft College, he’ll do so as a student marshal, escorting his class into the TrinityElite Sports Center.

Veliu’s family came to the United States when he was a child. Born of Albanian parents while they were in Turkey, his parents decided since they were going to the U.S. to give their newborn son the most American name they could think of. No name was more American to them than Elvis.

His parents looked for work, finding it in various locations before they had enough money to open their own restaurant, a place that Veliu spent plenty of time at. While there, he ended up taking his ServSafe certification at Schoolcraft, which got him acquainted with the campus. So when it came time for him to go to school, he enrolled.

Originally thinking about going into teaching or law due to his love of philosophy, Veliu eventually found a love of physics. He will graduate Saturday with his degree focusing on science, with plans to attend the University of Michigan to earn a bachelor’s degree.

During his time on campus, Veliu found plenty of ways to stay involved: in addition to participating in the Honors Scholars program and serving as the Phi Theta Kappa Omicron Iota Chapter president, he also got involved with other projects, including one that resulted in the publishing of a student success manual entitled, “The Forest of Knowledge: A Reflective Guide to Student Success,” which aims to help college students first attempt to discover their values and set achievable goals for themselves. It’s a project that made himself and several of his classmates published authors.

He has also earned several awards, including the Campus Compact Student Leadership Award, given to just six undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate inspiring leadership qualities through civic and community engagement.

Once he completes his college education, his ultimate goal is to earn a graduate degree and join higher education doing research. “I can’t see myself doing anything else. I have a lot of passions, but I know that eventually I’m going to work in the realm of education,” he said. His best advice for those looking to attend Schoolcraft College? Get involved and make the college experience. “Get out there, go out and help other people, because that’s what because that’s what we’re here to do – to come here and the best we can, and do as much as we can for one another,” Veliu said. “I think that’s the best way to go about life.”

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To recognize Arab American Heritage Month, we’re highlighting Hadiya Altimimi, a student studying psychology here at Schoolcraft College.

Hadiya Altimimi remembers feeling the impact putting on a hijab for the first time.

The Schoolcraft College student studying psychology said putting on the head covering — which is typically worn by Muslim women — did not lead to a major impact early on as a child, but attitudes changed as she got older.

“It didn’t start from the beginning; it started more during my teen years,” she said. “People judged me and expected me to act a certain way based off my hijab and clothing.”

Altimimi is just one of many students, faculty and staff at Schoolcraft College observing Arab American Heritage Month, which takes place throughout April. First observed nationally in 2021, the month celebrates Arab American heritage and culture, as well as the contributions made by Arab Americans.

Some of the cultural impacts her culture have made on Altimimi include one that takes place the evening before a wedding: henna parties, a celebration to honor the man and woman getting married the next day.

“I’d have to say that my favorite tradition would have to be the henna parties that the ladies do right before a bride is to be married,” she said. “It’s s a women-only gathering and they do traditional dances with close people.”

These types of events showcase the best of Arab American culture, Altimimi said, which includes the incredible social scene and commitment to looking after one another that exists in the community.

“One culture aspect that is very important to me as well as other Arabs keeping this culture alive would have to be connections,” she said. “Most Arabs love to share, connect, socialize. Whether that’s giving a neighbor a plate of your food from dinner or moving something destructive out of the road.”

Schoolcraft College invites all to attend an event to celebrate Arab American Heritage Month. Come learn about the Arabic Language, alphabet, calligraphy, craft and more from Presenter Professor Raed Khalil. The event takes place from 2:30 – 4 p.m. April 28 in Room 200 of the Liberal Arts Building.

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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.