MOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
CONNECTION
M C C FA C U LT Y & S TA F F M O N T H LY N E W S L E T T E R
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
Around Campus
Service Learning
Students Harvest
New Skills at Local
Educational Farm
Movies Under the
Stars
Southern Lakes
Branch Center
Becomes Satellite
For Medical College
Admissions Test
QUOTE
OF THE MONTH
“Being tolerant does not
mean that I share another
one’s belief. But it does
mean that I acknowledge
another one’s right to
believe, and obey, his
own conscience.”
--- Viktor Frankl
AUGUST 2015
MCC Student Headed to the Ivy League
Student Samantha Pascal found her path to excellence at MCC. She was recently accepted for admission to Coumbia University in New York. The Ivy
League school has offered her a scholarship to study
sustainable development and international law. “I
want to make policies that will help developing
countries stabilize their economies. I want to work
with and for countries, like my homeland of Haiti,
to improve their
own economic conditions
and to become
self-supporting,” she said.
Samantha will
transfer to
Columbia for
the Fall 2015
term to pursue
her dream. She
credits Mott
College with
helping her
identify and lay
the foundation
for that dream.
“I am truly grateful to MCC. Every teacher I had
somehow left an impression on me, they helped me
become who I am now.” She is especially grateful
to the Dean of Student Services and his staff, particularly her counselor Dr. Anglea Reeves, who she
calls “the most amazing person I have ever met!”
The support Samantha received through the TRiOSSS program and Phi Theta Kappa honors society
made her feel part of a community and give her
a second family. TRiO-SSS is a federally funded
program designed to support and encourage those
eligible students heading toward transfer to a four
year institution. As a first generation college student
and recent immigrant interested in pursuing a fouryear degree, Samantha qualified for tutoring help,
financial assistance, cultural enrichment activities
and transfer-related services and support.
Samantha came to the U.S. in 2010 at the age of
17, following an earthquake that destroyed her
home, killed her
mother and left her
seriously injured.
Her father, Genesee
County Sherriff
Deputy Prisnor
Pascal, spent weeks
in Haiti trying to
secure medical help
and fly his daughter
to her new home in
Michigan.
She arrived in Flint
in the middle of her
junior year in high
school barely speaking any English.
Samantha graduated from Grand Blanc High school
in 2011 and started taking classes at Mott College in
Spring semester 2012.
A Political Science class with professor Christine
Stoleicki was the trigger that focused her career
goal on sustainable development. “In class discussions about other countries and governments I
found there was so much that needed to be done in
developing countries. It made me want to go back to
Haiti to make their economy work, to stabilize their
economy,” Samantha said.
The first online only edition of the Connection has the added feature of hyperlinks.
The links will appear as blue text and may include the actual web address or just
the name of the entity or file. Click on the blue links and they will take you to the
entities website or another file for more details.
AC
AROUND
S
PU
M
CA
Chef, Matt Cooper shares with us that student Kenneth O’Dell received a scholarship
from The Honorable Order of the Golden Toque – top 100 chefs in the U.S. – at their annual
convention at Zehnder’s in Frankenmuth on June 26-28. The scholarships are awarded to just
two local culinary arts students and are valued at $2,000 for each student.
John Dempsey reports that his painting students, Casey Carter and Barbara White are exhibiting in this year’s ArtPrize http://www.artprize.org in Grand Rapids, in September- October.
John and students will also be exhibiting their works in the Annual Great Lakes Regional Community College Art Exhibition at the Wayne State University Art Gallery https://www.facebook.
com/events/972818192762515/ July 17 - August 21.
Dr. Belinda Ross, former MCC Social Work instructor has published a new book entitled “Teaching to Transform from the Inside Out.” Her book focuses on the college and university relationships
between students, instructors, administration and the community. “This is an extremely important
relationship as we all work together to provide quality education experiences for the changing
diversified student populations we serve,” said Ross. She is kicked off her book signing tour on
August 1, at the Vera Rison Public Library on Coldwater road.
Rebecca Martz shares that we have two new hires: Janette Cartagena, Financial Aid Specialist
who started June 25 and Chad Brower, Senior Computing Support Technician who started July 1.
Please welcome both to the MCC family.
Workforce Development’s Lorie Dumond reports that Clarence Jennings, Jr. Director of Trio Student Support Services and Special Populations received the Outstanding Post-Secondary Professional Award from the
Michigan Occupational Special Populations Association on May 7, 2015.
Graduation was a family affair this year - Jalen Nunn, TRiO SSS and Flint
Community Scholar, his mom and his sister Tia all graduated from MCC
May 2. In the fall, Jalen will attend the University of Michigan-Flint and
Tia will attend Ferris State University.
Cindy Sanders repor
ts that MCC was recen
tly awarded the “Top
nity Team” by the loc
Commual chapter of the Ameri
can Cancer Society. M
one of only three tea
ott was
ms to receive this aw
ard. Last year raising
“Making Strides Again
$8
,60
0 for the
st Breast Cancer Walk
.” This year’s walk is
for October 10, 2015
sc
he
. MCC is seeking to
duled
improve on last year’
raising at least $10,0
s donations by
00. We need your supp
ort. Please participate
ing with the Mott Co
by walkmmunity College tea
m or donate to someon
walking. They will als
e
who is
o have a booth at the
student Fall Rally on
30, and help staff or
September
students register. To
make the process mo
register or donate at:
re streamline
http://makingstrides.a
csevents.org/site/Page
gename=MSABC_CY1
Server?pa5_FindAnEvent.
English instructor, Wendy Byard,
published book author, and creative
writer authored two human interest
articles for On The Town Magazine
http://onthetownlimited.com/. The
first article was on Col. Kriste Kibbey-Etue http://issue.com/280812/
docs/ott_vol5_no3_web/12, the first
female director of the Michigan State
police. The entire issue is devoted
to women and their achievements
and inspiration to other women. In
next issue look for articles on Camp
Copneconic’s http://campcopneconic.
org/about-us/100years/ 100 year anniversary, and Camp Quality, a camp
devoted to children battling cancer.
ADEA Peer Leadership Group:
Deborah Jaruzel, MCC Dental Assisting
faculty member, attended the 2015
American Dental Education Association
(ADEA), Allied Dental Faculty Leadership Development Program on June 3 - 6
in Austin, Texas. There was an extensive
selection process making the leadership
program “Invitation Only.” Jaruzel was
nominated to attend by Dr. Denise Polk,
Dental Assisting Coordinator.
Carole Brew, Merri Jones, Deborah Jaruzel, Joanna Allaire,
Colleen Brickle, Carmel Ann Weingart, Jen Dumdei, Angie Maida.
MCC Connection • Page 2
Service Learning Students
harvest new skills at local
educational farm
Twenty-one students from Heather Sisto’s Spring ENG 101
class completed three hours of community service at Harvesting Earth Educational Farm in Beecher. The organic farm is
owned by Jacky and Dora King. The Service Learning opportunity was connected to research projects on overcoming local
food deserts, organic vs. GMO foods, food waste and repurposing of vacant land. Students learned how to plant tomatoes,
pulled weeds, hauled soil, piled wood and learned the overall
history and workings of the hoop houses.
Sisto also completed a semester (January-June) of volunteering
weekly at the Whaley Children’s Center for the EMI programs
sponsored by Flint Public Schools. She led storytelling and
poetry sessions with the elementary students and read The
Watsons go to Birmingham, followed by discussion circles,
with the secondary students.
Health and Wealth Community Event ~ August 26,
2015 ~10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. MCC Workforce Education Center (parking lot) ... Fifth Third Financial
Empowerment Mobile (E-Bus); Metro Community
Development & Financial Opportunity will provide free
credit reports; The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW)
will provide free utilities assistance; Mobile Dentist
will provide free mobile dental screenings for children; Hamilton Community Health Network, Edward
Jones, MCC, UM-Flint, Ferris State University, GCHD
Healthy Start, Storytelling, and Free Haircuts for kids
are all part of this event. Free and open to the public.
For further details call 810-396-8163.
MCC is a sponsor of
Movies Under the Stars
in downtown Flint this
summer. The movie series
is a program offered by
the Flint non-profit group
Communities First, Inc.
whose mission is to
promote and provide
an improved quality
of life for residents.
These family-friendly movies will
be viewed on a 25 foot screen, in downtown Flint behind City Hall on the back lawn following the Second Friday Artwalks
on August 14, and September 11. Attendees are asked to bring their own
lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the movie. Free Popcorn and snacks will
be provided.
There will also be featured pre-party activities that align with the movies
and offer the community a chance to come together for fun games and activities. Festivities begin at 7:30 pm and the movies begin at dusk. Please
check the Communities First, Inc. website at www.communitiesfirstinc.org
for details about weather related cancellations.
August 14 Epic
– Live Animals from For-Mar Nature Preserve
and Arboretum, and Science Fun with UM-Flint Chem Club
September 11 Pursuit of Happiness
– Bounce
Houses, Dance Party, Three-legged Race, Minute to Win It Games
Southern Lakes Branch
Center becomes Satellite for
Medical College Admissions
Test (MCAT)
Mott Community College’s
Southern
Lakes Branch
Center is
becoming a
Satellite Test
Center for
administering
the Medical
College Admissions Test
(MCAT). The
MCAT Exam
is required for students seeking admission to medical schools throughout
the United States and Canada. MCAT is scheduled to start August 5, from
8:00am-3:30pm with space for only 25 participants per test date. This project is sanctioned by the American Association of Medical College (AAMC)
through a partnership with Prometric, a test development company. Mott
will provide up to 14 different test dates on an annual basis.
MCC Connection • Page 3