Detroit high school students make visit to campus as part of S.T.E.P. program

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Now in its third year, the program invited students to campus to share their capstone portfolio projects in front of Schoolcraft College leadership. 

Ever since launching the Schoolcraft Teacher Education Program three years ago in partnership with Schoolcraft College and Detroit Western International High School, the program has brought high school students to campus for a taste of higher education. 

That was the case again May 30, when several students made the trek from their school in southwest Detroit to Schoolcraft College. This is the third year of the Teach and S.T.E.P. program – a program done in collaboration initiative between Schoolcraft College and the CTE TEACH Pathway at Western International High School.  

Through the program, students can take college courses while still in high school, as well as providing them with hands-on experience in classrooms by working with elementary students. The high school students visited campus recently to tour the college and present their capstone portfolio projects among their fellow students and Schoolcraft leadership. One of those students, Iyania Matteini, said her experience has made her want to attend Schoolcraft College after her senior year next year. Her goal is to attend Eastern Michigan University for her bachelor’s degree and eventually become a teacher. 

Participating in the S.T.E.P. program has been transformational for her. 

“I don’t think I would have gotten these experiences elsewhere,” she said.  

The program is run by College and Beyond instructor Professor Janice Tomlinson and Ryan Masters, a teacher at both Schoolcraft College and Western International High School. Masters’s students have been involved with such organizations as Soar Detroit, a literacy program for children in the city. Students have forged a bond with Schoolcraft College, which also included taking a college class and touring the campus.   

This is a long-standing partnership between Enrollment Services, Chief Student Enrollment Officer Melissa Schultz, Masters and Tomlinson. Now in its third year, the program has seen an increase in student participation. 

Masters said they have begun to expand their reach, including participating in several competitions. He also plans to offer opportunities to teach the students about piloting drones. They have also added a partnership with New City Kids, an after-school organization for children in the city.   

“We have all kinds of great opportunities for them,” Masters said.  

In between the presentations, the students were able to ask questions of Dr. Glenn Cerny, president of Schoolcraft College. He lauded the program and encouraged the students to consider looking at Schoolcraft as their destination after high school. 

“You can test things. You can see what you like, what you don’t like, what you’re interested in, what your passions are,” he said. “That’s what Schoolcraft gives you. 

“It’s always important to know you’re welcome here.” 

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FAN, a Metro Detroit-based nonprofit founded in 2007, has installed Rescue Boxes stocked with free NARCAN at multiple Schoolcraft College locations.

Schoolcraft College and Families Against Narcotics (FAN) have partnered to help make a difference and save lives here on campus.

FAN, a Metro Detroit-based nonprofit founded in 2007, has installed Rescue Boxes stocked with free NARCAN—an easy-to-use nasal spray that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose — at multiple Schoolcraft College locations to make the life-saving drug more accessible.

NARCAN (generic name naloxone) works by binding to the brain’s opioid receptors and displacing or blocking the effects of opioids like heroin, morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl.

Even though the Food and Drug Administration recently approved over-the-counter distribution of NARCAN at pharmacies, the cost of the drug can still be prohibitive for some people. The NARCAN available via the FAN Rescue Boxes at Schoolcraft College is free to students, faculty, staff and the general public.

The Rescue Boxes can be found at the following locations on campus:

  • Trinity Sports Dome lobby near the Reception Desk
  • Physical Education Building main hallway near the AED
  • Vistatech Main Street hallway outside of Henry’s near the AED
  • Vistatech Hallway near the Diponio Room
  • Lower-level Waterman/Student Activities area near the Food Pantry
  • Main hallway of the Manufacturing & Engineer Center near the AED, 13001 Merriman

“Having NARCAN available on campus is just one more step Schoolcraft College is taking to help combat the opioid crisis,” said Lt. Matthew Mayes of the Schoolcraft College Police Department. “These resources are essential to keeping the community safe and we’re proud to offer them on campus to those who need them.”

The Rescue Boxes are accessible when the College is open, and anybody who would like to get free NARCAN can visit one of the locations.

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Dr. Colleen Pilgrim is currently on a three-week research trip to Cambodia as a part of several Overseas Faculty Development Seminars with The Council for American Overseas Research Centers.

To promote global curriculum in the classroom, Schoolcraft College full-time professor Dr. Colleen Pilgrim has packed her bags and traveled across the globe to study the challenges facing the people of Cambodia and southeast Asia.

Pilgrim is currently on a three-week research trip to Cambodia as a part of several Overseas Faculty Development Seminars with The Council for American Overseas Research Centers. Pilgrim, a Psychology professor, will study political and climate change in the southeastern Asian nation, through the end of the month.

“My current travel is a developmental seminar through CAORC and their partners the Center for Kmer Studies and the Inya Institute,” Pilgrim said. “Our group of fifteen faculty members from across the United States will attend lectures, meetings with media professionals, civil society and environmental organizations, and site visits across Cambodia. We will explore Cambodia’s culture, history, and natural habitats with visits to the capital city of Phnom Penh, Battambang, Siem Reip, Ankor Wat, and the Tonle Sap Lake.”

The trip was originally planned for spring of 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the military coup in Myanmar. Pilgrim is traveling with other educators from community colleges and minority-serving institutions.

The seminar focuses on politics and climate change in Southeast Asia and will allow Pilgrim to better understand the challenges faced by local communities, leaders, and politicians. Spending time in the country, she said, will help educate her on the current conditions across the globe and give her more knowledge to bring back to the College to share with her students.

“The Myanmar and Cambodian people have suffered trauma from war and conflict, and environmental disasters, and it has the potential to worsen because of climate change,” Pilgrim said. “My participation in the seminar will allow me to better understand the global prevalence of mental health issues and how economic, political, social, cultural, and other environmental factors impact well-being.”

This is the most-recent academic trip for Pilgrim, who has also traveled to Colombia, eastern Europe, Turkey, and Indonesia for research.

As the lone psychologist on the research trip, Pilgrim said she’s looking forward to working with other researchers from different disciplines and different institutions across the United States.

Her travels will also support the educational works of the Schoolcraft College International Institute, where she serves as editor of their newsletter.

“My experiences this summer in Cambodia allow me to better educate myself on current conditions across the globe and address those issues in my classroom and across campus in our curriculum. A major aim of the seminar is to better understand ‘To what extent can Cambodia’s and Myanmar’s civil society mobilize against these challenges, and by what means?’” she said. “Information will be infused into my classroom curriculum as well as initiatives with other colleagues and the Schoolcraft College International Institute.”

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Matt Cooper, the Recreation Facilities Manager at the Schoolcraft College Fitness Center, reflects on the meaning of Jewish American Heritage Month.

Having a month dedicated to Jewish heritage is a meaningful addition to the calendar for Matt Cooper.

Cooper, the Recreation Facilities Manager for the Schoolcraft College Fitness Center, said National Jewish American Heritage Month is a wonderful way to recognize the contributions of Jewish Americans throughout the nation’s history.

“It’s a good feeling to be recognized in a positive way on a national level like that. It brings the history, culture, accomplishments and most importantly, the existence, of the Jewish people to the forefront of people’s minds, if only for a short time,” he said. “It also helps negate the many harmful stereotypes and biases associated with Jews. I think what minority populations ultimately want is to be acknowledged and accepted, and as a religious minority, Jewish people are no exception.”

National Jewish American Heritage Month began in 2006 with a declaration by then-President George W. Bush. Since then, the month has been observed across the country, marking the contributions of Jewish people to the United States.

Having the month to recognize Jewish heritage helps recognize the contributions of an important group. Growing up in a diverse community, Cooper said they did not think twice about the differences between his neighbors and himself. That changed when he went to college and realized that’s not always the case.

Understanding and celebrating the differences between people is crucial to higher education, whether it’s a large university or a smaller community college.

“Having basic knowledge and understanding about other races, religions, beliefs, and experiences that differ from yours leads to increased tolerance and empathy towards others both on campus and in the community,” he said. “I wish more people understood that you can still stay true to your own beliefs while respecting and acknowledging the beliefs of others.”

Like many other cultures, Cooper said his Jewish heritage stems from family influence. He said many of the traditional gatherings happened at his grandparents’ house.

“They were the true leaders of our family, the storytellers and the all-knowing source of information for our family history,” he said. “I always admired their ability to look at an old photo and tell me everything about that particular day, who was there, and what they were doing.”

The feeling of family has connected for a long time for Cooper: he said one of his favorite quotes comes from his mother: “Be kind, smile, and make a difference.”

“That was my mom’s favorite quote, and we even had it inscribed on her headstone when she passed away,” Cooper said. “I like to think that I get a lot of my best qualities from her!”

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Students enrolling in the program have the opportunity to earn college credit and get a head start on college at Schoolcraft College.

It’s never too early to get college started. A returning program at Schoolcraft College will help new college students jump start.

Schoolcraft College has brought back its highly successful summer bridge program this year, this time offering three different sessions for students to get ahead on their collegiate careers. The Step Ahead with Schoolcraft College program gives students planning to enroll in a Michigan college or university in the fall a chance to earn college credit and receive a free Chromebook.

By enrolling, students will take College and Beyond 102, a two-credit course designed to help clarify education and career direction for new students. Students will also participate in math and English workshops, as well as engage in career exploration activities. The program is free.

“After such a successful first year of the Summer Bridge program, we’re excited to have the opportunity to expand it to three sessions this year,” said Jennie Rokakis, Learning Support Services Coordinator. “This program is perfect for first-time students to give college a chance and prepare for their next academic journey.”

Registration is currently open for the three sessions, which run the following times:

  • July 8-July 19, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in person
  • July 29-Aug. 9, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in person
  • July 29-Aug. 9, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m online

Participants will receive a free Chromebook, a transportation stipend, lunch during the program and will be eligible to receive awards toward the Fall semester at Schoolcraft College.

As part of the bridge program, students will meet with an academic success coach and utilize Learning Support Services such as tutoring to strengthen their academics in English and Mathematics. In addition, students will have the opportunity to become familiar with additional campus resources such as advising, student employment, student life with the student activities office, Hinkle Student Resource Center and more. 

To qualify, students must have a GED, high school diploma or a certificate of completion. They must also be taking their first college-level math or English course at a Michigan college or university in the fall. Those who have taken both college level math and English courses (level 100 or above) are ineligible to participate.

Registration is currently open. Those interested can visit Students can go to schoolcraft.edu/StepAhead for more program information and to fill out the interest form. 

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With Commencement this week, Schoolcraft College is showcasing the stories of several students walking during the upcoming ceremony. The next student is Madisyn Brooks, who is graduating with an Associate in Applied Science Degree.

Madisyn Brooks found her passion for video graphics almost by accident.

During her first semester, Brooks decided one of her classes wasn’t for her and began looking for a replacement. When searching the catalog, she found a CGT class taking place at the same time as her previous course and signed up.

She never looked back. Come Saturday, Brooks will walk across the stage at Schoolcraft College’s 59th Annual Commencement Ceremony with her Associate of Applied Science, ready to join the workforce and lead to her ultimate goal: becoming a film director. Brooks said she realized getting to work will get her ahead to try to meet that challenge.

“Being here, I realized I had all of the skills that I need,” she said. “People don’t care if you have a master’s degree in it. They care if you know how to do it.”

Brooks came to Schoolcraft College after spending her childhood as a homeschool student. Growing up in communities such as Redford Township and Westland, her biggest social outlets with people her own age were through church. She would do her schoolwork in a variety of locations, between her home, her grandparents’ home and her parents’ places of employment.

Growing up, they’d drive by Schoolcraft College, with her parents casually mentioning it would be a great place for her to attend school when Brooks got older. Little did they know that not only would she attend Schoolcraft, but she’d become a student that found ways to get involved.

“It’s where I’ve met most of my best friends. A lot of my people are from here and I met here. And I know all those friendships are lifelong friendships,” Brooks said. “I would be an entirely different person if I hadn’t become involved.”

While she got involved with groups such as The Schoolcraft Connection newspaper and the Student Ambassador program, Brooks is mostly known for her work in the College’s Film Club. She remembers attending her first meeting, realizing she believed the organization could run a little more efficiently. She remained long enough to eventually become a co-president, turning it into one of Schoolcraft’s most front-facing student organizations.

She credits Jeremy Salo, the CGT Department Head, with helping her embrace her passion. Brooks said she’s taken several classes with Salo and felt he knew how to make sure his students were prepared.

“I really love that program so much,” she said.

After graduating, Brooks will expand on her work: she currently works for a video production company in Plymouth, and plans on doing more at work and finding projects that will help lead her to her personal goal of becoming a director.

She credits Schoolcraft College with giving her the skills she needs. While she originally planned on transferring to a four-year institution, Brooks said she learned the basics here and can go out and get the real-world experience needed to meet her goals.

“I found so many opportunities here. I don’t have to go on. Everything’s connected,” she said. “Everything from Schoolcraft has gotten me to where I am in my life.”

Schoolcraft College’s 59th Annual Commencement Ceremony takes place at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4, in the TrinityElite Sports Center on the Livonia campus. Those who cannot attend in-person are invited to watch the livestream of the Ceremony on the event web page.

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With Commencement this week, Schoolcraft College is showcasing the stories of several students walking during the upcoming ceremony. The next student is Melissa Converse, who is graduating with an Associate in Arts Degree.

Melissa Converse’s journey to Schoolcraft College is not the way most students arrive here.

Now in her 40s, she grew up in northern Indiana and got married right out of high school. Her and her husband ended up having two children and moved across Indiana before his work finally led him to metro Detroit.

As the got older, Converse made the realization of who she really was: she was gay. She knew her life needed to change to better reflect who she was, a difficult navigation to maneuver.

“I knew that I was living somewhat of a lie. I wasn’t living to my potential,” she said. “I knew I was a gay woman.”

After a whirlwind few years, Converse will join hundreds of other graduates Saturday in receiving their degree. She will receive an Associate of Arts degree, as well as serve as a student marshal during the Commencement Ceremony.

Melissa Converse with her wife, Leanne, and her sons, Titus and Cael.
Melissa Converse with her wife, Leanne, and her sons, Titus and Cael.

After her and her husband separated, they’ve remained good friends and parents to their children, which was their main priority. But now, as Converse began a new chapter in her life’s journey, she realized she needed education she always wanted.

Her inspiration also came from her father, who had died around the same time as her husband and her separated. His story kept her going and she wanted to do what she could to honor his memory.

“He didn’t get to do everything he wanted to do. He was never fully the person that he wanted to be,” Converse said. “He never went on those challenges, he never went for those goals. And that broke my heart.”

After looking at some programs, she began working in the real estate business. That business led her to meet her wife, Leanne, and the couple took a trip out west with some friends. While playing Frisbee in Lake Tahoe, Converse went to catch the disc but landed awkwardly, damaging the ACL in her knee.

Stuck at home, Converse fought feelings of depression. Another friend of hers, realizing Converse’s situation, came to her home and told her about the Michigan Reconnect program, believing it would be a good fit.

Living in Livonia, Schoolcraft College became Converse’s next destination. She initially enrolled strictly in the Distance Learning program, fearful of her age being an issue fitting in on campus.

“I was nervous,” she said. “I already felt weird being so old. So online classes were my foot in the door.”

One of her classes was an English course, which reignited her passion for writing. Originally she planned to enhance her real estate business, but she rediscovered creative writing. She began exploring more options in writing, eventually doing a Service Learning project involving area schoolchildren and writing, as well working with her mentor, Dr. Brett Griffiths, on The MacGuffin, Schoolcraft College’s renowned literary magazine.

As she’s gotten more comfortable on campus, Converse has become a bit of a parental figure to her fellow students who are younger than her.

“It was a little unnerving at first,” Converse said. “But they see me across campus and they want to tell me about their day, they want to tell me about their schoolwork. And I love it!

“These students, they have been a part of me deciding my path.”

Her next stop? The University of Michigan, where Converse wants to earn her bachelor’s degree and eventually her master’s degree in English. She’d like to make her return to Schoolcraft College as an instructor, wanting to give back to an institution that’s given her so much.

Even though it won’t transfer, Converse said it was important to her to earn a 4.0 GPA. She said she wanted to utilize the Michigan Reconnect funding and make the best use of what that money is for.

“If I’m using the state’s money to go to school, I want to do right by them,” she said. “So, if I ever get the chance to shake Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s hand, I know that I can do it with a clear conscience that I did not waste the state’s money.”

Schoolcraft College’s 59th Annual Commencement Ceremony takes place at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4, in the TrinityElite Sports Center on the Livonia campus. Those who cannot attend in-person are invited to watch the livestream of the Ceremony on the event web page.

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With Commencement this week, Schoolcraft College is showcasing the stories of several students walking during the upcoming ceremony. The next student is Homayra Adiba, who is graduating with an Associate in Fine Arts Degree.

Homayra Adiba had established herself well as a young adult in her native Bangladesh. She became an illustrious photographer, with her work being showcased around the world.

But then a calling came that changed her life forever: after 14 years of her family trying to immigrate to the United States, the invitation finally came.

So to support her family, she opted to travel with them to a new home, settling in metro Detroit and beginning a new life in a new place. It was a major culture shock.

“I had to pick up retail jobs, 2-3 jobs at a time. I was just working to support my family,” she said. “And that has been my life. I needed an out for that. I did not see any light at the end of the tunnel.”

That light has become Schoolcraft College. After hearing about the Michigan Reconnect program – a state initiative that pays for college for those eligible who are 21 or older – she applied and was approved. Living in Westland, she discovered Schoolcraft College had a stellar reputation for the arts, so she enrolled.

Given most of her schooling overseas did not transfer, Adiba essentially started over, enrolling in fine arts courses. After several years of study, she’ll walk the stage Saturday and receive an Associate of Fine Arts degree, as well as deliver the student reflection during the ceremony.

The president of the Phi Theta Kappa Omicron Iota Chapter, Adiba also became a co-founder of the WeConnect mentorship program, which aims to assist Michigan Reconnect students at Schoolcraft College find their footing. She’s proud of events she’s brought to campus and her work on the policy surrounding the use of AI. She also spent time working at The Schoolcraft Connection student newspaper.

She’s even found a way to leave a piece of herself her on campus. She sculpted a pair of art pieces that rest across campus: “Flag of All Nation” is outside the Liberal Arts building and “A Letter to My Father” can be found between the Health Sciences Center and the Biomedical Technology Center. The latter sculpture is a tribute to her father, who died in recent years.

Homayra Adiba helps install her sculpture, “A Letter to my Father” on campus back in 2022.
person standing by bay of water
Iqbal Ahmed, Homayra Adiba’s father. Ahmed has served as a major inspiration for his daughter.

“He had to give up his dreams to raise me and so I think he understood the pain of giving up your dreams,” Adiba said. “He never stopped encouraging me.”

Adiba attributes her time at Schoolcraft to several instructors and advisors, including Student Activities Director Todd Stowell. The advisor to PTK, Adiba said Stowell was always helpful whenever she needed assistance.

“You call somebody who will actually listen to you. For me, it’s my advisor Todd,” she said. “It was genuinely an open-door policy.”

With her time at Schoolcraft College ending, Adiba now heads to the University of Michigan where she’ll study anthropology. She plans to combine her art background with the research aspect of an anthropology degree to do research-based artwork.

Adiba credits a lot of things to her success at Schoolcraft College. From the Reconnect scholarship to her classmates to her advisors, she’s a firm believer that nothing she’s accomplished has been a one-person job.

“I’m a very team-oriented person. I believe that everything I’ve ever done, it’s not a solo thing,” she said. “There’s nothing called self-made. And that’s what I believe. “If I can do it in Bangladesh, I can do it 10 times here in America.”

Schoolcraft College’s 59th Annual Commencement Ceremony takes place at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4, in the TrinityElite Sports Center on the Livonia campus. Those who cannot attend in-person are invited to watch the livestream of the Ceremony on the event web page.

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With Commencement this week, Schoolcraft College is showcasing the stories of several students walking during the upcoming ceremony. The next student is Icecis McCrimmon, who is graduating with an Associate in General Studies Degree.

Icecis McCrimmon loved Schoolcraft College so much, she came back.

After graduating from high school, she discovered the world-renowned Culinary Arts program at the College and signed up for it. She said she and her father loved to cook together, so enrolling in culinary was a logistical next step for her.

But she discovered something within herself while in the Vistatech Center kitchens during classes: a love for more than just cooking. It was a love of helping others with mental health challenges.

“I got interested in psychology because mental health is very, very important to me,” she said. “I feel like a lot of things that a lot of men and women and children go through get swept under the rug.”’

So even though she had already completed a Culinary Arts program, she re-enrolled.

Now, McCrimmon will add another Schoolcraft College credential to her collection this weekend, receiving an Associate in General Studies Degree at the 59th Annual Commencement Ceremony. She plans to enroll in the fall at the University of Michigan-Dearborn to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

A graduate of University Prep Academy in Detroit, McCrimmon has spent plenty of time getting experience. She works with children with autism through an organization in Plymouth, a job she’s fallen in love with since starting several months ago.

It’s helped her identify what she wants to spend her career doing: that’s helping people, especially those in minority communities that don’t have access to such resources.

She’s faced plenty of challenges during her time on campus, including passing Business Math, something she considers one of her biggest accomplishments. She said she would stay after class for help for as much as 30 minutes, going over the work to better understand it.

“I couldn’t be able to do this without my teachers,” McCrimmon said. “The teachers are amazing here. “

Her mother also played a big role in her life, supporting her with a lot of emotional help throughout her journey and helping McCrimmon become who she is today.

Despite working six days a week between two jobs – McCrimmon also works as a delivery driver for Jimmy John’s on the weekends – she still finds time to spend on campus, a place she’s fallen in love with. Even with the busy schedule, she’s even found time to enroll in a few Personal & Professional Learning classes such as aerobics.

“I love Schoolcraft. You have so many things to do here,” McCrimmon said. “I spend a lot of time on the campus. I love it here. I recommend Schoolcraft to everybody. Schoolcraft is great.”

She recommends students considering Schoolcraft not be afraid to ask questions and really understand what campus can offer its students. It’s that quality that brought her back.

“Keep a positive mindset and don’t be afraid to ask for help,” she said. “We have a lot of resources here for everything. Mental health, crisis, addiction. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and ask for help.”

Schoolcraft College’s 59th Annual Commencement Ceremony takes place at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4, in the TrinityElite Sports Center on the Livonia campus. Those who cannot attend in-person are invited to watch the livestream of the Ceremony on the event web page.

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With Commencement this week, Schoolcraft College is showcasing the stories of several students walking during the upcoming ceremony. The next student is Kathryn Wenske, who is graduating with an Associate in Science Degree.

This week’s Commencement Ceremony at Schoolcraft College is going to look very different for Kathryn Wenske than it did for her high school graduation.

A student who was homeschooled her whole life, Wenske donned a cap and gown and walked across her Dearborn Heights home’s driveway when she graduated. It was a vision, she said, inspired by her mother.

She and her brother graduated at the same time, and her mother knew it had to be special.

“We rented out a giant tent, made a makeshift stage and podium, had all of our friends and family in the garage and my sister was ‘the speaker,’ who was balling her eyes out for no reason,” Wenske said. “My younger brother and I were the graduates. It’s literally just the two of us, on a stage, next to my sister in the middle of the driveway.”

group in regalia

This time around, it will have a completely different feel for Wenske: there will be plenty more people in attendance, except one very meaningful one: Wenske’s mother, who died last year.

The motivation of what her mother, a Schoolcraft College alumna, would want for her helped Wenske push through difficult times while in school. Saturday, she’ll walk across the stage at the TrinityElite Sports Center and be recognized for receiving an Associate of Science.

“She would want to be in the front row. I think she would absolutely be proud of how I’ve spent my time at Schoolcraft and my mother is who’s kept me going,” Wenske said. “There was no way I was going to give up.”

Wenske has long been a face well associated with Schoolcraft College. From her time as Editor-in-Chief of the student newspaper, The Schoolcraft Connection, to serving as a Student Ambassador to being a member of Phi Theta Kappa and working as a tutor at the Learning Center, Wenske might be one of the most recognizable student faces on campus.

There’s a reason for that: going from a homeschool environment to a larger community college, Wenske said she was always trying to find her place. Schoolcraft College gave her that sense of belonging.

It’s something she discussed in her transfer essay when she applied at the University of Michigan: when asked about a community she is part of, she said Schoolcraft College.  

“I feel like I can actively contribute. And I think that is a beautiful thing,” she said. “It’s very easy to get to know everyone on this campus.”

Wenske plans to double major in mathematics and the Philosophy, Politics and Economics program. While she has been incredibly active at Schoolcraft, Wenske said she plans to take a step back and focus more on her studies.

“I’m getting all my campus involvement out of my system so when I go to U-M, I can just be a student,” she said. “I told myself I’m only going to do the honors society. I really want to be a student.”

Once she completes her bachelor’s degree, she hopes to continue and earn a law degree.

When it comes time to walk on Saturday, Wenske said she’ll have plenty to think about, but her mom will be the first thing on her mind. She plans on decorating her cap as a tribute to her, a celebration of everything her mom did.

“She always wanted us to pursue what interested us,” Wenske said. “Even if she was suffering in pain, she never tried to display it, because she never wanted us to stop what we were doing for her.

“I think she’d be very, very proud and excited for me.”

Schoolcraft College’s 59th Annual Commencement Ceremony takes place at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4, in the TrinityElite Sports Center on the Livonia campus. Those who cannot attend in-person are invited to watch the livestream of the Ceremony on the event web page.

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With Commencement this week, Schoolcraft College is showcasing the stories of several students walking during the upcoming ceremony. The first student is Zahraa Alrafish, who is graduating with an Associate in General Studies Degree.

Zahraa Alrafish is ready to begin helping the community one person at a time.

She found the world needs more people that want to help with the problems in her community. That’s why she plans to head to Wayne State University after she graduates from Schoolcraft College to pursue degrees in social work.

“We need more people that care, we need more people that have heart,” Alrafish said. “That is who I am and that is why I chose social work. I want to wake up every day and know I’m helping out at least one individual in this world.”

A graduate of Western International High School in Detroit, Alrafish is the first woman in her family to attend college. That has kept her pushing forward, knowing how much support she had received to make the leap to college.

“I think the thing is with my family, they always wanted the best for me and they always pushed for me to get an education and to pursue a higher degree,” she said. “My motivation was to make them proud because of how much they sacrificed for me.”

Alrafish comes from a family of immigrants: while she was born here in the United States, her family immigrated to the U.S. from Iraq. After she was born, her family did spend some time back in Iraq, allowing her to see a different world than the one she was born in. It’s an experience, she said, she that was worthwhile to spend time in her family’s native home.

She arrived at Schoolcraft College as a Detroit Promise scholar. After hearing good things from her fellow high school graduates, she decided to head to Schoolcraft after finding how simple it was to enroll and get set up to attend classes.

While here, she got involved with campus, joining the Film Club and even launching her own nonprofit: Arab Women United, which aims to cultivate safe environments for women and strives to bring equal opportunity and stand against injustice.

Alrafish credits a lot of the support she received at Schoolcraft to Catreese Bell-Qualls, the College’s Equity and Engagement Program Coordinator.

“She really supported me, she made sure I had all of the resources that I needed,” she said. “She always pushed me to do more and she always pushed me to do the best that I can while always being kind to others.”

Her experience has been one to remember at Schoolcraft College. Alrafish said it’s important to take it all in, because your time at Schoolcraft happens only once.

“Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way and make the most out of every class, make the most out of every assignment,” Alrafish said. “I believe that Schoolcraft is such an amazing community of people here who will support you. You just need to find the right crowd and really involve yourself in the right room of people.”

Schoolcraft College’s 59th Annual Commencement Ceremony takes place at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4, in the TrinityElite Sports Center on the Livonia campus. Those who cannot attend in-person are invited to watch the livestream of the Ceremony on the event web page.

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The Chief Student Services Officer at Schoolcraft College reflects on her heritage during the annual month dedicated to Arab American history.  

Having a month dedicated to Arab American history is something that resonates with Dr. Laurie Kattuah-Snyder.

The Chief Student Services Officer for Schoolcraft College said it really wasn’t until recently she began being more open about her experiences as an Arab American.

“I’m excited to see there is a month dedicated to showcase the beauty, complexities, culture, and history of Arab Americans,” she said. “For most of my life, I avoided sharing my heritage with non-Arabs, and thanks to President Joe Biden, he issued a proclamation for Arab American Heritage Month back in April 2021.”

Celebrating Arab American history resonates strongly with Kattuah-Snyder, especially this year’s theme, “Celebrating Arab American Resilience and Diversity.” It makes her think of her father, who went to great lengths to make a better life for his family.

Laurie Kattuah-Snyder
Dr. Laurie Kattuah-Snyder, Chief Student Services Officer at Schoolcraft College

“After the 1947-48 war, my father was the first in his family to leave Palestine and immigrate to the US to make a better life for himself. He lived in Detroit with a distant relative and worked different jobs to save money for himself and to send back to his family,” she said. “He used to tell us the funny, and the sad, stories of his journey to become a U.S. citizen. He persisted in reaching his goal of becoming a U.S. citizen and became a successful small business owner, homeowner, husband, and father of six children.”

The monthlong observance of Arab American History Month is a relatively new one. It has been an idea since the 1990s, eventually making it way to Congress via a resolution introduced by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. A proclamation was published by the United States Department of State in 2021 as well. Biden published a letter in 2021 recognizing April as Arab American Heritage Month.

Having such a month is incredibly important, Kattuah-Snyder said, especially in educational spheres. Learning about new ways of life different from one’s own helps to better educate others on other cultures.

“Education is the great equalizer in all communities. Exposure to learning new and different things leads to awareness and sensitivity to new and different people and cultures,” Kattuah-Snyder said. “I grew up in a community that didn’t provide that exposure, and as such, my Arab American family were considered a minority and were treated with cautious curiosity by our neighbors and kids in school.”

Her father is a resonating figure in her life: Kattuah-Snyder said she consistently thinks about a line he would always share about doing your best, something she’s carried with her during her whole life.

“My father spoke to us in parables, so life lessons were sandwiched between his funny and not-so-funny lines. “In his attempt to teach me about careers, he said, ‘I don’t care if you become the president, or a janitor. Remember to be the best darn president or the best darn janitor you can be.’”