October 2014 • Issue Four
Arizona Alumni Event: Join us at the Tempe Center for the Arts in Tempe, AZ on Thursday,
April 16, 2015 from noon to 3 pm to view the exhibit: “Page and Screen” featuring art work
from books to the movie screen. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet new friends,
reconnect with former classmates and share memories. Please visit mcceventsonline.com.
MCC AlumNet
THE
An Informational Network of Alumni From Flint JC, FCC, GCC and CS MCC.
Mott Community College welcomes new president
Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea has been selected by the Mott Community College Board of Trustees to
serve as MCC’s new president. She started at MCC officially on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Dr. Walker-Griffea was the Senior Vice President for Student Services at Montgomery College in
Rockville, Maryland before accepting the MCC president position. She has also worked as vice president for student affairs at Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton, Virginia and prior to that
position, as dean of student development at Houston Community College System – Central College in
Houston. Her achievements include increasing student enrollment, and enhancing retention and graduate rates.
“With 19 years of experience working in a community college environment, Dr. Walker-Griffea possesses the skills needed to build on Mott Community College’s standing as one of the top 10
community colleges in the United States,” said Lenore Croudy, Chair of the MCC Board of Trustees in
a statement. “Her understanding of workforce and economic development, commitment to community
engagement and her ability to work closely with faculty, staff and students to achieve Mott College’s
goals will help our college to continue its 90-plus year tradition of excellence.”
Dr. Walker-Griffea holds a Bachelor’s degree in journalism and broadcasting from Oklahoma State
University, a Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from Virginia State University and a Ph.D. in
Child Development from Texas Woman’s University.
Arriving as the seventh president since MCC became a county-wide community college in 1969, she is also making history as MCC’s
first woman president, as well as the institution’s first African American president.
MCC bids farewell to Dr. Shaink
The entire community was invited to the Retirement Celebration honoring Mott
Community College President Dr. M. Richard Shaink, held at the MCC Event Center
on June 20, 2014. More than 300 people were in
attendance to say farewell to Dr. Shaink and his
wife Sally for 14 years of service to the college
and the community.
The event, designed to honor Dr. Shaink
for his commitment and outreach to the college
community in alignment with MCC’s mission and
strategic goals, was a memorable one. In addition
to presentations from a host of elected officials,
community leaders, staff and students, guests
enjoyed an array of ethnic foods and were enterSally Shaink (left) and Dr. Shaink greet
guests at his retirement celebration
tained by a diverse group of performers.
Dr. Shaink served as MCC’s president for
14 years – the longest period of time than any other president since MCC became a
community college. Recognized as the best community college president/CEO in North
America, he was the recipient of the Association of Community College Trustees Marie
Y. Martin Chief Executive Award in 2010.
The MCC Alumni Association and friends extend best wishes to Dr. Shaink as he
embarks on this new adventure in his life.
Paying tribute to Dr. Shaink are (from left) MCC Board of Trustees Chair Lenore Croudy, The Foundation for MCC President
Lennetta Coney and Joseph Black, Chair of The Foundation for
MCC Board of Directors. MCC Men’s Basketball Coach Steve
Schmidt (at podium) presented the basketball jersey to Dr. Shaink
at the retirement celebration.
MCC
alumni association
Join us in making a difference!
The MCC Alumni Association meets
bi-monthly to strengthen friendships and
associations formed at Flint Junior College, Flint Community College, Genesee
Community College and Mott Community College. Members help promote the
programs at MCC and seek to maintain
and inform interested alumni that continue
to support the institution. Board members
also lend a hand in promoting the importance of post-secondary education with
special emphasis on the MCC experience.
Whether you’ve gone to one class or
graduated with several degrees, the MCC
alumni Association invites you to join us
as we improve the campus, the community and reconnect with friends, faculty and
staff. To join, please call (810) 762-0425
or email us at foundation@mcc.edu.
Alumni Association Board of Directors
John Krupp, CPA, President
John Fontana, Vice President
Grace Glass, Treasurer
Members
Clara Blakely
David Bush
Dan Cady
Marcy Garcia
Jill Gist
Charley McClendon
Vanessa G. Nelson
Michael J. Thorp
Stacey Vanucci
Gennois Wiggins
Lennetta Coney, Ex Officio
Emeritus Members
Betty Lou Campbell
John Chinonis
Dean Haley
Sally Joseph, J.D.
Sixto Olivo
The Honorable Thomas Yeotis
MCC Alumni Association announces
major outreach effort
Officially launched with the highly successful alumni event held in Charlotte, N.C.
on April 16, the MCC Alumni Association Alumni Outreach Plan is well underway. That
inaugural event, where attendees had the chance to take in a Charlotte Knights vs. Gwinnett
Braves baseball game in a luxurious terrace level suite
at the BB&T Ballpark, was well-attended. The Foundation for MCC office received several communiques from
a number of alums who indicated that they thoroughly
enjoyed the event and were interested in future events.
The Alumni Outreach Plan, created to re-establish
contact with Alumni, is an effort designed to enhance
what is offered to alums in terms of programs and activities, with an overarching goal of encouraging alumni to
get involved with their alma mater as well. The Foundation staff is maintaining databases of alumni from the 40s,
50s and 60s, working on events to welcome and recruit
recent graduates to become active alumni, and connecting
with current students before they leave MCC.
Additional outreach events are planned for Chicago
in October and Arizona in April 2015. Future events may be planned for Tennessee as well.
“Most community colleges don’t pursue alumni efforts, so this is fairly novel,” said
Lennetta Coney, The Foundation for MCC President. “We want alumni and friends of MCC
to connect and reconnect with each other. It’s a great way to show your Mott pride, and
the benefits are enormous -- meeting new friends, hearing from old acquaintances, former
classmates and faculty members.”
Daughter of Flint Junior College Alum
continues legacy of service
The Foundation for MCC Board Member Teresa
McClelland-Sargent is following in her father’s footsteps. McClelland-Sargent, daughter of Flint Junior
College alumnus Dale McClelland, was recently honored
with the AIG Advisor Group’s Community Leadership
Award for her work with MCC’s Women in Education
(WIE) Program. In addition, the AIG Advisor Group
is making a $1,000 contribution to WIE in honor of
McClelland-Sargent’s great efforts. McClelland-Sargent
serves on the WIE Advisory Committee and Mentor Fellowship Program. AIG (American International Group,
Inc.) is a leading international insurance organization
serving customers in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions, serving commercial, institutional, and individual customers.
Update your email address for the Alumni
Registry by contacting us
at alumassoc@mcc.edu.
Check us out at
facebook.com/MCCAlumniAssociation
Haven’t been to
campus lately?
There is a lot
going on! Take a
look here.
MCC Alums from Women in Education program
succeed, want to give back
Marjorie Saulnier, a busy full-time nursing student working toward her Bachelor’s degree at The University
of Michigan-Flint, takes care of her mother.
Thomasina Terrell, a full-time student majoring in communications at the University of Michigan-Flint,
aspires to join the ranks of motivational speakers. A certified peer recovery coach, she devotes time to mentoring
and supporting recovering addicts.
LaTishia R. Berry, a board certified nurse practitioner in internal medicine with McLaren Medical Group,
is working in the career of her dreams. Serving and caregiving comes natural to her: she was born to be a nurse.
She mentors youth and actively volunteers in the community – giving back is a “no-brainer” for her.
What do these women have in common? They are all proud alumnae of Mott Community College and MCC’s Women in Education (WIE)
initiative. And these alumnae are not resting on their laurels or focusing only on improving their own lives: they’re paying it forward.
Marjorie Saulnier: A Caring Spirit
Women in Education planted a pay-it-forward seed in Marjorie Saulnier.
“They’ve always been caring, compassionate and loving – always pushing you to go beyond the ordinary and
encouraging you to the best you can be,” Saulnier said. “I try to be encouraging and uplifting, sharing the WIE
mission with everybody. I want to focus on women like myself – single parents, who are struggling.”
One of her dreams is to present a free health screening day at her church at some point in the future. “I’m so
thankful that WIE is around,” she said. “It’s been an invaluable experience.”
Thomasina Terrell: The 12 steps
A recovering drug addict, Thomasina Terrell credits WIE with helping her to reinvent herself. In addition to efforts toward “repairing the relationship” with her daughters, she is dedicated
to reaching back to help others on their journey toward recovery and self-improvement. Having
struggled with the “horrors of addiction” for 19 years, Terrell is committed to helping and saving
others from the ravages of addiction.
“This disease is global, and it does not discriminate,” she said. “It touches everybody.”
A proud member of the 12-step recovery program, Terrell practices what she preaches, serving as a
mentor to others.
LaTishia R. Berry: A Servant’s Heart
Berry is encouraged by the example first set by her mother, then followed by WIE program mentors.
She is filled with the spirit of giving back to others.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to pay it forward, and I am thankful for every individual who has
poured into my life over the years,” Berry said. “I was once one of those kids that some would label “atrisk” but God placed caring, concerned, and committed individuals in my life who saw beyond my faults
and developed the gifts that I am now able to share to bless the lives of others.”
Established in 1999 by a group of Flint area women who came together to address the need for non-academic areas of support for women students at MCC, the Women In Education program also provides
personal and professional guidance as well as mentoring. About 50 students apply to the WIE fellowship program on an annual basis, many detailing the challenges of raising children as a single parent;
histories of drug, alcohol and domestic abuse; and limited socio-economic promise due to personal
circumstances. For more information about the program, please contact The Foundation for MCC at
(810) 762-0425.
1401 East Court Street
Flint, Michigan 48503-2089
Office: 810-762-0425
Fax: 810-762-0561
The Foundation Staff
Lennetta Coney, President
Mary Brown, Accounting Specialist
Sharon Campbell, Communications Specialist
Vera Jenkins, Administrative Assistant
Kacey Seay, Women In Education Coordinator
Anoopa Todd, Development/Marketing Specialist
Mary Yarbrough, Development Assistant
2015 Distinguished Alumni Awards
The Foundation for Mott Community College understands the importance of recognizing the outstanding contributions MCC alumni make in
their chosen professions and in service to the community. The Distinguished Alumni Awards Program was established in 2002 for that purpose,
recognizing outstanding individuals for their significant contributions to career achievement and community service – men and women who
have made an impact on students and/or the community. By honoring our former students we hope to inspire today’s student to strive for both
personal and professional success. The Foundation for MCC also recognizes outstanding MCC retirees who contribute to the community and
they are recognized along with the alumni at the Distinguished Alumni Awards program, which is held at MCC in the spring of each year. The
criteria for selection of candidates include the following:
•
•
•
•
Role model – Inspires excellence in others
Outstanding Success – Major contribution to career achievement
Impact – Accomplishments have a long-lasting effect on business/community
Community Service – Visible commitment to well-being of community at large – Flint area, state, nation or the world
If you know of alumni deserving of this recognition, please contact the Foundation for MCC at (810) 762-0425 or submit a Distinguished
Alumni Awards form online at www.mcc.edu/alumni. Nominations for the 2015 awards are due by Monday, December 1, 2014.
MCC
alumni association