mixing music and technology finding a career you love · mixing music and technology finding a...

Mott Community College Summer 2012 Volume 2 Issue 1

Playing Trombone is Just the Beginning

for Estephanie Ward

Mixing Music and Technology

Finding aCareer

You Love

Respiratory Therapist: “One of the Best Kept Secrets” in Health Care

Learning a Foreign Language

Campus LifeMCC Men’s Basketball Teams Wins Record-Breaking 4th National Championship. See the full story on page 12

MCC Lady Bears Softball Team Clinch Conference Title

MCC Honored in Washington, DC as One of Top Ten Community Colleges in AmericaMott Community College was recently honored at a prestigious event at the National Press Club in Washington, DC as one of the top ten community colleges out of more than 1,200 community colleges in America.

The event was held by the Aspen Institute and featured such prominent participants as U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Dr. Jill Biden (wife of Vice President Joe Biden), former Secretary of Education and Governor Richard Riley and former Michigan Governor John Engler (now President of the Business Roundtable).

MCC President Dick Shaink and MCC Board of Trustees Chair Lenore Croudy represented the college at the event along with MCC Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Amy Fugate and Vice President of Student and Administrative Services Scott Jenkins. “It is a tremendous honor to be selected for this recognition,” stated Dr. Shaink. “For Mott Community College to

be recognized on a national basis from among well over a thousand other community colleges as one of the nation’s very best is great for the college and our community. Everyone should take pride in this honor.”

At the event, John Engler praised Mott College for its “strong workforce development program in one of the most dif�cult economic environments in the country,” while Richard Riley said MCC “really deserves our praise.”

Citing the urgent need to focus on the value and potential of community colleges, Aspen Institute

College Excellence Program Executive Director Josh Wyner said, “We must set the bar much higher than we have in the past. To achieve excellent student outcomes, we need to highlight our country’s success stories and learn from them so that we can keep reaching higher. Recognizing community colleges like Mott Community College sends a message to others that aspire to excellence.”

Former Governor John Engler (R-Michigan) presents a plaque to MCC President Dick Shaink at the National Press Club in Washington, DC honoring Mott College as one of the top ten community college in the nation while former Governor Richard Riley (D-South Carolina) looks on.

The NJCAA District H tournament in Battle Creek saw a strong performance from the Mott Community College softball team culminating with the Lady Bears taking the NJCAA District H Conference Championship. After a 10-inning, 12-11 victory over Alpena Community College to open the tournament, Mott College shutout Cuyahoga Community College of Ohio, 7-0, before beating Macomb Community College in the �nals, 1-0, to claim the tournament title.

Mott College sophomore Ashley Mousseau hit in the only run against Macomb in the bottom of the 7th inning, recording a single to bring in teammate Briana Hicks to secure the win.

Hicks, a Mott sophomore, was the winning pitcher in the championship

game, throwing seven shutout innings with four hits, nine strikeouts and one walk. Mikayla Smith had three hits to lead the Lady Bears at the plate. Brianna Hicks was selected as the MVP of the tournament and Ashley Mousseau and Emily Ockerman were named to the All- Tournament team.

The championship team included Katie Berlin, Briana Hicks, Jamie Howell, Maegan Hyde, Jessica Keeler, Ashley Mousseau, Allie Newman, Emily Ockerman, Mikayla Smith, Madison Sutherland and Jessica Wager under the direction of Head Coach Rod Studaker.

Coach Studaker was backed by assistant coaches Dan Cunningham, Charlie Barden, Mike Denton, Linda Kachelski, Britt Newland and Rachel Martinez.

US Sen. Debbie Stabenow visits MCC FABLABUS Senator Debbie Stabenow became the latest national �gure to visit MCC’s exciting new fabrication laboratory (dubbed the FABLAB). The MCC FABLAB, a dream-come true for inventors of all ages, is a hands-on laboratory that provides the technology and modern fabrication tools to let people build their own creations and products for personal or commercial use. The FABLAB allows a person to essentially take an idea and discover how to turn it into a physical object. FABLABs are also uniquely designed to allow local communities to foster and support innovation that can lead to sustainable solutions for small businesses. A longtime pioneer dedicated to bridging the digital divide in the community, MCC has opened the area’s �rst Digital Fabrication Laboratory in the college’s Regional Technology Center (RTC), located on the college’s main campus in Flint. In the shown photo, MCC President Dick Shaink shows Sen. Stabenow a moving part built at the FABLAB as William Denton (left) and Doug Prehoda look on.

Features

2 Mixing Music and Technology Producers and engineers make recordings sing

3 Playing Trombone is Just the Beginning for Estephanie Ward

4 Finding a Career You Love

6 Coming Down from the Thumb to Learn Respiratory Therapy

7 Respiratory Therapist: “One of the Best Kept Secrets” in Health Care

8 Mott Community College Opens New Law Enforcement Training Academy at MCC Southern Lakes Branch Center in Fenton

10 Student Embraces Bene�ts, Growing Importance of Learning a Foreign Language

12 MCC Men’s Basketball Team Wins Record-Breaking Fourth National Championship

13 Mott Community College Student Clown Troupe formed to entertain and serve Flint and Surrounding Communities

Questions about the Mott Community College programs described in this magazine can be directed to the MCC Admissions Office at (810) 762-0200. Visit the college website at www.mcc.edu for more details about MCC and its more than 100 career programs. Comments or questions about this publication can be directed to the MCC Office of Public Information at (810) 762-0455.

To advertise in CareerFocus, please call (810) 762-0456.

Publisher ........................................................Dr. M. Richard Shaink, President, Mott Community College

Editor ............................................................................Michael Kelly

Staff Writer ..................................Sharon Campbell, Eleanor Shelton

Photography ............................................. Michael Tews, Jared Field

Visit MCC on the web at www.mcc.edu

Mott Community College Board of Trustees

Lenore Croudy, Chair

Dr. John Snell, Vice Chair

Albert Koegel, Treasurer

Sally Shaheen Joseph, Secretary

Pamela M. Faris, Trustee

Michael Freeman, Trustee

Rafael Turner, Trusteee

Mott Community College Executive Cabinet

Dr. M. Richard Shaink, President, Mott Community College

Dr. Amy Fugate, Vice President, Office of Academic Affairs

Larry Gawthrop, Chief Financial Officer

Scott Jenkins, Vice President, Office of Administration and Student Services

Mark Kennedy, Chief Human Resources Officer, Human Resources Department

CareerFocus is published twice a year by Mott Community College, 1401 East Court Street, Flint, MI 48503

All rights reserved. No part of the material printed may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage retrieval system without the permission of the publisher.

© 2012 Mott Community College

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810-762-0200 I www.mcc.edu I Mott Community College CareerFocus I Summer 2012 I 1

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By Eleanor Shelton

Music producers are the creative visionaries behind recorded music. And it’s music engineers who provide the technical

background to make the vision a reality. Sometimes these roles are �lled by one and the same person.

Are producers and engineers always musicians too? Sometimes, sometimes not, but they absolutely need to have an intimate knowledge of both music and technology.

What the pros know“The music technicians I work

with have to be able to translate what they

mean without using mumbo-jumbo or tech

talk. They have to be able to serve as a

conduit between the two worlds,” says Neil Cleary,

a musician living in Boston who works as both

a touring drummer and as a solo singer-songwriter.

“I’m not a very tech-head kind of person,” says Cleary, “and it helps me a lot to know that the person doing the technical work is really on their game. It gives me con�dence so that I can relax and have a better performance.”

What the pros useWith the advent of all the new technology, music recording and production have become more accessible. “It used to be unaffordable to create a CD-quality recording without being in a full studio,” says Bonnie Billups, Jr., owner of Double B Productions in Ann Arbor. “Now you can buy a good computer and software, like Pro Tools for about $5,000 and be in a position to record. Just a few years ago you would have spent $500,000 for the same thing.”

Billups pushes a few buttons on his computer and manipulates one or two bands on the mixing board and suddenly a catchy jingle for a commercial bakery �lls the room. He created this jingle from the composition to the vocals and all the instrumentation. It’s ready to hit the airwaves.

Meet a tech-headJimmy Hunter operates Cazador Recording Studio in Los Angeles. He’s a drummer and studio musician who’s played with the likes of the Doors, The Village People and Cher He’s also a sought-after producer. He’s intimately familiar with

technology beginning way back in 1985 when he decided to learn the drum machine.

“Professional music producers need to have a keenly developed sense of when things are right, and that comes with experience. I hone in on �ve things: timing, pitch, interpretation, conviction and vibe – that thing that tells you, ‘yes, we’re going with that performance.’ Great producers know when those �ve things have come together,” says Hunter.

New York, L.A. or your basement“If God’s given you the gift and you’re going to be a music producer,

then you’re going to be one and nothing will stop you. You can live anywhere, but living in music hubs like L.A., New York or London you will meet a lot of high-caliber musicians,” says Hunter. “The funny thing is that they are mostly from places like Michigan and Kansas where they had basements to practice in and they didn’t have sur�ng and nice weather to distract them.”

If you’re not keen on L.A. or New York, Hunter notes that cities, like Atlanta, Chicago and Orlando, have up and coming music scenes.

Bonnie Billups agrees that big cities aren’t the only place for musicians and producers. “I lived in Los Angeles for six years and I met a lot of musicians who weren’t happy because they thought that the only way to be successful was to be a star,” he says. “There are so many ways to be a musician and be happy. There’s enough business for everyone. Commercials, TV, video, stage productions – they all need music technicians.”

Mixing Music and TechnologyProducers and engineers make recordings sing

Music TechnologyThe jobsThe jobs are anywhere and everywhere. With the advent of affordable music editing and producing computers and software music technicians can work in a large studio in a city or out of their basements in the country.

The educationMost music producers and engineers have at least an associate’s degree and often a bachelor’s degree.

Are you right for the job?

Successful music producers and engineers are:

• Musically talented• Good with technology• Can put performers at ease• Have a vision

The salaryAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary

for a sound engineer technician is $38,110 with the middle 50 percent earning from $25,470 to $56,320. This �eld has a wide range of income. Those just starting out could make less than $10/hour or a lucky few who own their own studios could make $250,000 or more.

CareerCapsule

2 I Summer 2012 I CareerFocus Mott Community College I www.mcc.edu I 810-762-0200

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Playing Trombone is Just the Beginning for

Estephanie WardBy Michael Kelly

When you �rst see Estephanie Ward of Linden, the last musical instrument you’d expect the petite musician to play would

be the trombone. “I’ve been playing trombone since sixth grade, since I was eleven,” she laughed. “Initially, I wanted to play the �ute but I couldn’t make a sound out the �ute so they told me ‘You can play the French horn or the trombone.’ I like trombone, I love it.”

While at Linden High School she played trombone in the marching band. “I still go back and help volunteer for that because I love marching band,” Ward related. But since coming to Mott Community College, her musical horizons have expanded. “I’m in the big band now, the MCC Jazz Band.”

“It’s awesome. I love the Jazz Band,” she explained with enthusiasm. “It’s an adrenaline rush. It’s such an amazing feeling you get when you’re performing with a group of people. We have about �fteen people in the big band and it’s just a lot of fun. We play a lot of Count Basie and Duke Ellington. We like to stick with the Thirties and Forties music that de�ned the big band sound.”

But her work in the Mott Community College Music Technology classes goes far beyond playing the trombone. Her time at MCC has exposed her to the new world of music technology.

“I’m really interested in composing. I want to go into composing for movies, cinematic composition or commercials. The program at MCC

really gave me an opportunity to explore that and see what different technology programs professionals used in the real world. In the Advanced Music Technology class we are actually using computer programs that professionals do use.”

Mott launched new Music Technology courses in Winter 2011. The courses were developed to meet the audio production needs of both Music and Media Arts & Entertainment Technology majors. Courses were developed by assistant professor Dr. Bill Withem.

Ward has even explored career possibilities beyond campus. “We went on a �eld trip to a professional recording studio two weeks ago,” she recalled, “and that was really cool to see a professional setting, to see what a professional set up looked like.”

Having access to the latest technical equipment and software has made the program very rewarding for the young musician. “I love the software that we’re using. It’s really amazing what we can do with the music. It still blows my mind what we can do.”

She has had the opportunity to learn the practical techniques in the �eld. As she relates, “We got to learn how to take out sound; for a commercial you usually hear about thirty seconds of a song, so we had to take a three minute song and cut it down into thirty seconds. We had to learn how to cut it off, put it together, put it so that it didn’t sound all chopped up. It was really cool how we did that. We learned how to speed up music, slow it down, change the pitch without making it sound all electronic. We covered a lot.”

The musical technology program at Mott College has inspired Ward in many ways. “I love the people, my

teachers. Professor Bill Withem is awesome. He’s so funny.”

What’s it been like working with the faculty at Mott College? According to Ward, “Amazing!”

“My theory professor, Dr. Townes Miller, is so cool. Theory was a very different perspective on music, a more clinical approach to it, and she held our hands through it. She was really good at teaching us without being condescending to us. And we had Bill obviously, and Dr. Matthew Packer, who is also really cool; he’s our keyboard teacher. He is really nice.”

Along with good relations with MCC faculty, Ward has had a wonderful experience with her fellow students in the program.

“We’ve had to work a lot with each other,” she explained. “We’ve had to help each other because Music Tech is a completely new program. When we use Logic and Garage Band, they are user friendly programs where you can pretty much navigate yourself around them but with Pro Tools we had to go through it step by step. We had to relearn everything. It was really, really hard because we didn’t know how to use this. So we had to use each other’s input and troubleshoot. It was really awesome working with everyone. We have a pretty good rapport.”

Choosing to come to Mott Community College for her higher education proved an easy choice for Estephanie Ward. Both her mother, Dafne Ward, and her brother, Steven Ward, are attending MCC at the same time.

“Mott College is close to home. It’s cost effective. I like MCC,” Ward relates. “It’s worked for my schedule, especially because I’m paying for

school. I haven’t been completely stressed out about tuition because tuition at MCC is not that crazy. Financial Aid here is really great, so if I need money for classes I can get it. I have a real easy time scheduling for classes and if I need an advisor I can go upstairs and get in. I just �nd that it’s really �exible for me.”

That �exibility comes in handy as Ward works at a job anywhere between 20 and 40 hours a week while still being a full-time student.

What are her career plans?

“I’m really thinking of looking into going into audio engineering after taking these computer classes here at MCC. This has opened up an entirely new opportunity for me that I didn’t think I could do with music. I didn’t want to go into performance because that’s not really what I want to do but composing and making music for commercials or movies would de�nitely be something I would want to do.”

Ward recommended Mott College to anyone interested in the �eld. “It’s an excellent program. I’m taking all of my general credits here and it’s been excellent so far. I’m really happy that I went here.”

“I do believe I’m getting a good foundation here to follow music as a career path,” Ward explained. “My teachers have amazing musical background. Through networking with them I’ve been able to go with them to conferences. I went to a Leadership Conference because of my music theory teacher. My classes have been really excellent and I’ll be prepared when I transfer to a university. I’ll be able to take on the course load of that university. I plan to �nish associate’s degree and go on for a bachelor’s degree.”

Playing Trombone is Just Just the Beginning for Just the

is school. I haven’t been completely


Finding a Career You Love“I’m working in a �eld where I look forward to clocking in. I look forward to coming to school.”

– Tim Forte

By Michael Kelly

Career success did not come on the �rst try for Tim Forte, a student in the Automotive Technology program at Mott Community College. But he eventually found

the type of career he was looking for through a chance experience working on his car and through his automotive classes at Mott.

Unlike many of his neighbors, Flint native Tim Forte wasn’t from an automotive family. He was born to a military family and grew up at various places around the country.

Spending a life moving from place to place was dif�cult and Tim Forte found himself drawn into a rough street culture. “Back when I was younger, I strayed off from where I should be and got caught up in some bad things.”

When he �nally returned to his hometown, he still didn’t think of the automotive industry as a career. Graduating from Flint’s Central High School, he went on to study computers at Baker College but found he didn’t enjoy the program.

The computer �eld didn’t �t for Forte. “I just didn’t really like a sit down job,” he related, “I wanted to focus on something to love. One day I had something wrong with my car and I went out and was messing with my car. The joy that it brought me to work on my own car - that’s when I knew that’s what I wanted to do as a career. I found my love.”

It wasn’t a decision he took lightly. He researched the cost of education and the automotive program and found out that Mott College was the best place.

That choice brought him to MCC’s Automotive Technology program. “When I came to Mott College, I found that they take a more personal approach to working with students. If someone needs more help with some aspect they will do more hands-on or one-on-one, which is a lot better. When I had my �rst

class with Mr. Matt Roda, I gained so much knowledge of things I didn’t know. It made me want to learn more.”

At Mott College, Forte found the pathway to the career he wanted. Automotive Technology is an area where you get to use your hands and it requires high level technical knowledge and problem solving ability. Students in the program get the knowledge from instructors that all have real-world experience working in automotive repair shops, but they also get the bene�t of working on shop cars and actual customer cars. Mott has 14 shop cars, including four hybrid vehicles and cars as new as the 2010 Ford Fusion. Students also have plenty of opportunity to work on actual customer cars. As Forte stated, “The learning experience always gives you something new that you actually get to work on. You get actual customer cars that are out on the road, cars that have the real wear and tear on them. On customer cars you experience what you would in the �eld. Sometimes when you �x one thing some other problem will occur, so you get actual experience.”

The program is structured where students work on shop cars during the speci�c content area courses, such as Brakes and Braking

Systems. But once students have demonstrated the appropriate skills, they take the Service Floor I and Service Floor II classes that work just like real automotive service shops. Customers bring in cars with a wide variety of problems and the students diagnose the problems, order the parts and make the repairs like they would on the job, all under the supervision of ASE Master Certi�ed instructors.

At �rst, his family didn’t know what to make of his new passion, but as they saw his love for the new found career they began to support him. “Now anytime I’m around my family, they start to tell me something about their car. Friends and family are always texting me about something about their car. I love it. My family supports me. Because of the knowledge I’ve gained here at Mott College I now have a position as an automotive technician.”

Soon Tim Forte was hired by Walmart to work in their auto repair shop while he continued his studies at MCC. “One of the managers knew I was going to school for Auto Tech. She talked to the manger that was hiring for the automotive position and let him know that I was in school at Mott College so they wouldn’t have to do much training,” Forte said, “It was because of the

work I’d done in the MCC Auto Lab that landed the job.”

Forte found that his schooling and work perfectly reinforced each other. The skills he has learned at Mott College prepared him for the work at Walmart and the opportunity to work in Walmart’s service area makes him want to learn more in his classes. “Even when I’m at Walmart working with the cars,” he said, “it gives me happiness, a personal love for it. It’s like being in the Auto Lab at MCC. It’s fun.”

The Mott College experience has been a good one for Forte.

According to Forte, “Coming in not having a background was intimidating. I thought I’d get in there and they’d talk to me about cars and I wouldn’t know what they were saying. So I asked Mr. Roda, ‘Do you think a person without a background in automotive can make it in an automotive position?’ Mr. Roda told me, ‘Yes, that is why you are here. We’re going to teach you.’”

Forte explained, “When we are in the auto lab the faculty hold us to the industry standards that we would be held to if we were in a shop, from safety rules and regulations to doing repairs according to industry standards. Each class that you take guides you to the next one. So you are prepared before you get there. It’s pretty cool.”

MCC’s faculty has been a strong reason for Forte’s success. “They understand and always take the time to teach you and take the initiative to make sure you are keeping up with the course,” he recalls. “They take an interest in you not just on an educational level; they aren’t just looking at you like a paying student. When I see my instructors they know my name; they know almost everybody in my class by name. The professors at MCC talk to us, joke around us with us and know us on a personal level, unlike other places.”

Forte encourages others interested in the �eld to consider Mott College. “If a person really wants to learn, they can learn at MCC. Mott College


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has the right teaching methods. They give you the knowledge to pass the Michigan Mechanics Certi�cation tests and the knowledge and skills to pass the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certi�ed tests. The MCC faculty will help you study for the tests, help you get to where you need to go. They even help you get jobs.”

But the most important part of Tom Forte’s experience has been the discovery of a love for cars that can carry him into a rewarding career and a happy life.

“It’s like being lost and trying to �nd yourself,” he said, “That’s how it is with your career �eld. Some people go to school over and over again and never �nd what they love. I found the love of something. When I found it I knew instantly that this was what

I should do. Even though when I �rst started to go I was intimidated by people who had more knowledge than me, if it’s something you love you have to �ght for it. I’m able to get out and �x my own car or cars of family or friends. When my classmates get together outside of school and have a car issue we can ask the teacher about it.”

Summing up, Forte stated, “You’ve got to �nd something that you like and something that you struggle with can be your greatest triumph.”

According to the US Department of Labor, the median annual wage of automotive service technicians and mechanics is $35,790. Employment of automotive service technicians and mechanics is expected to grow 17% by 2020 so job opportunities for quali�ed jobseekers should be very good.

Details about a Career in Automotive Technology

The U.S. Department of Labor reports strong job growth in the �eld of automotive service technology. According

to the Department’s job outlook, “The number of jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics is projected to grow faster than average for all occupations over the next decade.”

Even in today’s challenging economic times, the �eld of automotive repair continues to be bright. A recent Wall Street Journal article included auto repair in its “Five Businesses to Start in a Bad Economy”, stating that, “with gas prices high and the economy weak, people are liable to hang onto their cars, rather than trading them in for a new model every three or four years, creating lots of opportunity for automotive repair.”

MCC offers an Associate’s Degree in Applied Sciences (Automotive Technology), which requires

completion of 70 credit hours, 53 of which are directly Auto Tech classes. MCC also offers a Certi�cate in Automotive Underbody Repair, which requires completion of 31 credit hours.

The Associate Degree in Automotive Technology at Mott Community College provides a comprehensive program of advanced studies in automobile maintenance and repair. The program prepares a person for a variety of occupations in the automotive industry. It emphasizes skills to help the person function successfully in the world of work including exposure to new technology as it evolves so that the skills necessary to become comfortable with change are developed. A key component emphasized is the ability to be self-directed and learn skills that enable technicians to learn on their own throughout their careers. The values evidenced throughout the curriculum include

the dignity of work and pride in a job well done, caring instruction, enthusiasm toward the work, and professionalism in the work manner in which it is accomplished.

MCC is the only college in Genesee County to be NATEF certi�ed in all 8 ASE areas. MCC also covers all of the standards and tasks needed to successfully pass any of the 8 ASE Auto Repair certi�cation tests. MCC also offers its automotive classes during the day and in the evening to accommodate everyone’s busy schedule.

Program Goals:• Certification by the State of

Michigan in a multiple automotive specialty areas.

• Skills to achieve certification by the NATEF/ASE.

• Gaining the skills and knowledge to function successfully as a professional.

• Motivation and skills to be an effective self-directed learner.

• Mastering the skills of learning how to learn in order to grow professionally.

A graduate with this degree may be employed as a:• Service Writer• Line Technician• Technical Report Writer• Ground Technician• Proving Ground Technician• Fleet Manager

Auto Repair Specialist in any or all the following areas:• Brakes• Steering and Suspension Systems• Automatic Transmissions• Manual Transmissions• Electrical Circuits• Engine Performance• Engine Repair• Heating, Ventilation and Air

Conditioning

Helping to Pay for College with the American Opportunity Tax CreditAlthough many students at Mott Community College (or other colleges for that matter) qualify for �nancial aid and grants, there are always a large number of students who will pay for their tuition and other educational expenses with cash. Those people should be aware of the American Opportunity Tax Credit.

Under the American Opportunity Tax Credit, students can received up to $2,500 in tax credits each year when they �le and, if not liable for any taxes, can receive up to $1,000 as a cash refund if no taxes are owed. This credit is available for the �rst four years of postsecondary undergraduate education.

While $2,500 may not go very far at most colleges, with the low tuition rates at MCC, that tax credit would cover a large portion of any student’s education expenses.

The full credit is available to individuals whose modi�ed adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less, or $160,000 or less for married couples �ling a joint return. The credit is phased out for taxpayers with incomes above these levels.

Along with reimbursing out-of-pocket tuition payments, the credit can be applied to required course material, such a textbooks. Students must be taking at least 6 credit hours during a semester to receive this tax credit.

For more information, check with your tax advisor or go to http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=211309,00.html


Coming Down from the Thumb to Learn Respiratory TherapyBy Michael Kelly

Working at a small hospital up in Michigan’s Thumb area and living in the tiny unincorporated community of Deford (located

15 miles north of Marlette), Brenda McComb hadn’t planned on coming back to school at 40 and taking her classes in the City of Flint.

She had been working for years at Hill and Dales General Hospital in Cass City and had been providing Respiratory Therapy (RT) service to patients under the direction of a licensed superior when a new policy required her to earn her own RT license.

“My boss wanted everybody in the department to be credentialed,” Brenda McComb related, “So I went back to school.”

Research on available RT programs brought her to Mott Community College, even though it meant a daily drive of over an hour each way. “One of the things I have to worry about up there is watching for deer and occasionally a farmer’s cow getting out,” McComb remembered. “One morning coming in I almost hit a horse.”

But when she reached Mott College, “I never had any problems. I always came in early and I was usually

in studying for whatever we were doing, getting prepared.”

“I didn’t have to worry about going back to school at 40 years old although at the time I was pretty nervous,” she said, “I was surprised at the various age groups in my classes: that’s what surprised me the most. I always thought I’d be the oldest person in class. I was delighted when I wasn’t.”

The MCC program turned out to be a perfect �t for the mother of two.

“The instructors -- David Panzlau and Kathy Gurin -- are absolutely awesome!” McComb said with enthusiasm. “They take the time anytime you have questions. They are always there willing to help you.”

Not that the work was easy. “Dave and Kathy weren’t there to give you the answers; they made you work for them. They made you research it if you had dif�culties in areas. They were always there, before class, every morning when I came even before we started class. They wanted to �nd out what questions I had. They are great instructors.”

McComb’s appreciation went beyond simply the level of commitment her professors brought to their work. “The RT program at Mott College program was very well set up. We knew what was expected of us. There were no secrets about what you needed to do to complete it.”

It wasn’t just the instructors and curriculum that made Mott College such a successful place for Brenda McComb. Her fellow students were also an important part of her education.

“I thought we had a great class,” McComb recalled with a smile. “Even though there were different age groups, we got along very well. Most of us still keep in contact now even after we’ve graduated and moved on to jobs. We still text each other and say, hey, there’s a job opening here or there. We get together. We have a lot of friends. It was a good class.”

But one shouldn’t understate the challenge Brenda McComb faced. “Actually going to school, doing it full-time, working full-time, taking care of two children, running the house and my husband’s a truck driver out on the road so I was doing all of it,” she explained, “I just had the mindset that I can do this. I want this. I have a goal set. It was a challenge. Then I thought about how it looks from my kids’ standpoint; they can see how hard I’m working for this.”

“Both of my kids told me, ‘I’m really proud of you, Mama.’ My husband went around telling everybody. People would say, ‘You should see your husband, he just smiles every time he talks about you going to college and getting your degree.’ It felt good.”

The graduation ceremony was a high point for her. “It was very emotional. I think I bawled through most of it. It didn’t feel real at the time. You’re sitting there and see all these people and just feel like I know I did this. I made it. It’s like a surreal feeling. I have my diploma hanging on my wall at home and my daughter walks by and she’ll stand there and just look at it and then she’ll look at me. She’s like, ‘Yep, I can do that too.’”

Of course, as in most health service �elds, graduation with a degree still leaves the challenge of state licensing tests.

“Oh yes, we had to do state boards,” McComb explained. “We had three of

them that we had to go through in order to get our license.”

But her preparation at MCC had left her prepared for the challenge of state licensing. “Very much so. In our last few months, we had simulations, old tests for the respiratory license, different levels, and different simulators. The RT professors were always available in class and we could go in and stay after to practice as much as we wanted. So we pretty much had an idea of what the state test was going to be like.”

“In fact, when we got to the state test some of the stuff was a little bit easier than what David and Kathy were giving us. I didn’t have any problems, I think everybody was pretty well prepared and knew what to expect. If you didn’t take the time to learn, it was your own fault, because MCC staff was always available for us.”

Looking back, McComb is emphatic: “The MCC program brought it all together. Now I know why I’m doing what I’m doing. I really like having those three initials after my name. I’m very proud of those. I worked really hard. I made sure that when they made my name tag that they included them; RRT – Registered Respiratory Therapist.”

“I would recommend Mott College,” McComb stated. “I’m trying to get my daughter to come to MCC. I really like the way Mott College is set up. Everything is available for you. I would recommend Mott College to anybody.”


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Respiratory Therapist: “One of the Best Kept Secrets” in Health CareBy Michael Kelly

Like many people, Flint native Chaunce Reid wasn’t sure what he wanted to do when he arrived at Mott Community College after graduating from high school.

“I started looking at Graphic Design and then Drafting because I draw well. Finally my mother, who’s a nurse, told me that Respiratory Therapy (RT) was one of the best kept secrets in the health �eld. “

“I decided to try Mott College because I knew it was a good school,” he said. “I knew some people who graduated from MCC and had careers. Someone at my church went through this program. He told me, ‘You should do it, it’s a good program. You’ll learn a lot and, if you want to transition, they have a fast track to Nursing from RT.’ So I could branch off and go even higher.”

Reid had already been working as a Certi�ed Nurse’s Aide at Briarwood Nursing Home in Flint and found the Respiratory Therapy program at Mott College was a perfect �t.

“It suited me. I found my niche,” he recalled. “The camaraderie; we had a special class and instructors. You become like family. You get to know your preceptors at clinical sites [a preceptor is a professional Respiratory Therapist who trains students in a health care facility]; you still keep in touch with them. “

After graduation, Reid soon found a permanent post as an RT at Lapeer Regional Medical Center in rural Lapeer County. How did a man from the heart of Flint �nd life out in a small city surrounded by farms?

“I really thought I’d be at McLaren or Hurley but I got out there and the people enjoy me,” Chaunce said with a laugh, “I think I’m not what they typically see. I think for them it’s like a breath of fresh air, something different. My background is pleasant for them. I get to know my coworkers. They’re great. We have great staff and our department

is really tight knit. Kind of reminds me of our class.”

But a good relation with his coworkers is not what Chaunce Reid is all about. His real focus is on the job.

“We’re important up there. We have to be present at all crises. Respiratory is number 1 before everything; you’ve got to keep that airway open or everything else won’t go without that.”

Reid knows that his training at MCC prepared him for the demands of his daily work. “The transition from the class to the real world is amazing. You can’t make mistakes in the �eld. I asked questions in class because I didn’t ever want to be in the �eld and not know what to do. Now I’m in a situation and I’m being the person making the moves and having to be the quick thinker and know what to do and what to recommend. “

“The program at MCC prepared me. One hundred percent of our class passed the state licensing test. We all were very well prepared.”

“There’s stuff you know from the book -- and you have to know that stuff --but everything doesn’t move by the book in the real world and you have to adapt. Sometimes you have to react and have to make decisions. Our MCC professors David Panzlau and Kathy Gurin and our preceptors really honed in and drilled in on that and I think that’s why we were ready for that.”

Reid remembered the intensity of his class work. “They would throw a scenario at you. You have a work scenario and simulations. They’ll ask you, ‘What if this is not available? What do you do?’ They throw so many scenarios at you that you have to think and then you can draw back on those scenarios. Even sometimes now I think back to David and Kathy saying that certain things that work. They may not be traditional methods, but they work. If something’s not available you improvise and you have to apply it in a setting as you have to. We’ve gotten so many different scenarios of what could happen if this patient

does this, or they go unconscious or they get irate or you notice something. There are little cues that you key in on. We are able to pick apart a situation. The more that you do it and the more they throw it at you, the more it becomes second nature to you.”

Reid draws on lessons from more than just his RT faculty. “All my teachers had prepared me. I can remember professors Ali Hekmati and Bobby Sage teaching and Dr. Bobby Jordan in those Biology and Anatomy and Physiology classes. I �ash back sometimes to school scenarios while I’m at work. The faculty at MCC is top notch.”

“At Mott College, you have great academics and advisors and they try to steer you in the direction of your interest.”

“My experience is that Mott College is one of the best places you can be because they don’t treat you like a university would -- like a can in an assembly line. When I had trouble, the staff cared. They cared because they saw the frustration. They wanted to reach out. Do you need extra help? There’s a tutor here. Do you want to stay after with me? When you have an extended hand or hand on your shoulder that says we’re going to get you through this, we’re not going to let you give up.“

The way Reid was treated by MCC faculty has in�uenced how he works with his patients. “That’s why I take that attitude with patients. Nobody

gave up on me, nobody wrote me off. Everything clicked because of the dedication of staff and constant vigilance that they have. I was very blessed for the path that I came down here at Mott College.”

Chaunce Reid was in the same class with Brenda McComb and had nothing but praise for her. “Brenda was like the glue for that class. She was so outgoing and anything we needed- she had it, she brought it: ink for the printers, paper, extra power points, pencils, she made sure that things ran smoothly. She’s a leader you know. You often don’t �nd leaders like that; she’s motivated. She’ll talk with you; she’ll try to help where she can. She was like the mom, she really held it together. Even when the weather was bad she would be here, the �rst one here, and sometimes the last one to leave. She’s probably one of the best therapists I’ve ever seen in my life. I would trust her with my life, no question.”

In the �nal analysis, Chaunce Reid loves his work and remains grateful to the college that brought him there. “Mott College gave me a career that I love. Mott College gave me an opportunity to earn a lot more money. The word is out in the hospitals; if you’re a student that graduated from Mott College as a respiratory therapist, you know your stuff.”

“Mott College is the cream of the crop for a lot of things and I’m proud to be an MCC graduate.”


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From Community College to Law School: Massachusetts Public Defender’s journey began at MCC

Mott Community College Opens New Law Enforcement Training Academy at MCC Southern Lakes Branch Center in Fenton

By Sharon Campbell

Whether it’s patrolling a neighborhood to keep residents safe, gathering facts and collecting evidence for

criminal cases, or protecting people in harm’s way, a law enforcement of�cer’s career centers around protecting and serving communities.

Mott Community College is offering an excellent educational opportunity for individuals interested in pursuing careers in law enforcement at the new Law

Enforcement Regional Training Academy (LERTA), providing a 15-week, intensive training program for anyone interested in law enforcement, who meet the minimum quali�cations.

Operating under the direction of Chief Theresa Stephens-Lock, Director of the MCC Department of Public Safety, LERTA meets the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) training requirements and prepares students for taking the Law Enforcement Licensing Examination.

Located at the MCC Southern Lakes Branch Center in Fenton,

the LERTA will hold two sessions each year to coincide with the Fall and Winter Semesters at MCC. The Academy’s �rst 15-week class will start on September 4, 2012. Mark D. Heidel is the Training Director of the Law Enforcement Regional Training Academy at MCC. For more information about the LERTA, call Mark Heidel at (810) 232-2654.

“Our goal is to help those considering a career in law enforcement to realize their dreams,” Chief Lock said. “There are several law enforcement academies across the state of Michigan, and MCC is extremely proud to be one of the locations selected to provide this great training opportunity.”

To be eligible for consideration, candidates must meet one of the following requirements:

• Be employed by a Michigan law enforcement agency that wishes to hire and train the candidate to become a police of�cer

• Hold a two- or four-year college degree from an accredited college or university

• Be a registered criminal justice student at MCC and be eligible for graduation upon the LERTA completion. MCC’s Criminal Justice program provides students with the option of earning an Associate’s in Applied Science degree or

By Sharon Campbell

For Daryl Lowe, it was an easy choice: going to law school to pursue his dream of becoming an attorney was a given.

“I wanted to be a lawyer since I was 15,” said Lowe, who graduated with his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Massachusetts School of Law at Dartmouth last May, 2012.

Lowe, 26, is also a “Morehouse man.” He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the prestigious, historically black institution, Morehouse College (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s alma mater), graduating from Morehouse in May 2009.

But before Law School and Morehouse, there was Mott Community College. Lowe credits his beginnings at MCC with the academic success and personal achievements he enjoys today.

“An Associate’s Degree is a wonderful thing,” Lowe said. “It lays the foundation for you to accomplish great things. My A.D.

is the most important degree I have. It laid the foundation for everything.”

Lowe studied criminal justice at MCC and graduated in 2006, but there were a few bumps in the road on the way to obtaining that �rst degree. When he was 18, his adoptive parents, Gary and Karen Felton, moved from Ann Arbor to Grand Blanc and from Grand Blanc, to Kingston Jamaica. His father had served as Genesee County Commander of the Salvation Army and his mom was pastor of a church in the Beecher area.

“They were nervous for me,” Lowe recalled. “I hadn’t been a good high school student.”

An MCC administrator serving on a community board with his father at that time suggested that Lowe try Mott Community College, so they visited the campus.

“I always knew I wanted to be a lawyer, so I chose the Criminal Justice program,” said Lowe. “But it was all new to me. That �rst semester was rough. I didn’t

know things had to be turned in on time. I didn’t know that “TR” was Thursday in the schedule booklet, so I went to a class (that was scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday) only on Tuesday, once a week.”

Enter Dr. Avon Burns, Coordinator and Professor of MCC’s Criminal Justice program.

Lowe had heard about Dr. Burns, and wanted to meet her. He stopped by her of�ce one day after class. She admonished him for being late to class, he recalled. “She said, ‘You were late for my class. I expect you

to sit in the front row from now on.’”

Lowe added, “That was my introduction to Criminal Justice and she has been an in�uence in my life ever since.”

A mentor and one of Daryl Lowe’s most ardent supporters, Dr. Burns assumed a role as a surrogate parent in those days, when his parents moved to Jamaica to start a church there.

“She really looked after me,” Lowe re�ected. “That was a de�ning moment for me.”

With Dr. Burns’ encouragement, Lowe decided to take on an active, leadership role while a student at MCC. He served as president of the Law Enforcement Resource Network, or the LERN Club, MCC’s criminal justice student organization. The LERN Club promotes leadership development with structured learning experiences beyond the classroom for its student members, focusing on leadership development, fundraising, community service, tours and travel. Under Lowe’s


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a Certi�cate of Achievement in criminal justice. MCC Criminal Justice students may earn up to 15 credit hours toward their Criminal Justice Associate’s degree for attending and completing the Academy.

Military candidates, who have prior military law enforcement training and experience, may seek enrollment and a waiver of college requirements from the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, if speci�c requirements have been met.

Financial assistance may be available for eligible participants. In addition, information about �nancial aid will be available at the LERTA

orientation sessions. Registration is required for participation in the orientation sessions.

No walk-ins will be accepted. You can register to attend one of the orientation sessions at http:// www.mcc.edu/lerta/lerta_info.php. For additional details, please visit www.lerta.mcc.edu.

Mott Community College Opens New Law Enforcement Training Academy at MCC Southern Lakes Branch Center in Fenton

leadership, the group travelled to Baltimore to attend the annual National Criminal Justice Symposium where LERN was chosen as club of the year. While there, he asked Dr. Burns for a recommendation letter to attend Morehouse. He was accepted, and decided to major in philosophy.

“I had heard that Philosophy students tend to score higher on the LSAT,” Lowe said. “That’s why I chose this major. I don’t test well on standardized tests.”

Initially, he didn’t get into any of the law schools where he had applied.

“I was rejected by 13 schools,” Lowe said.

But he never gave up. He admitted that hard work and persistence played a major role in the academic and career success that was to come, but maintained that unwavering support from his parents, from mentors and a faith in God were the real keys to his success.

Retired Flint District Court Judge Ramona Roberts also helped to shape Lowe’s law school experience and achievements. “She was very in�uential in my acceptance into Law School and has been in my life since Mott Community College,” he said.

“All of this speaks well to determination and the faith I had in God,” Lowe added. “God has a plan for everything. I had the help of God and everyone else. You should always acknowledge that you have had help along the way. Have faith in God, and doors will open.”

Lowe has had the opportunity to actually practice law while still in law school, “under a state of Massachusetts statute that allows students who have good moral character and academics to work as a public defender representing indigent clients,” he explained. “It’s non-paid but it’s been a great experience.”

While Lowe is learning the ropes in the courtroom, performing every stage of the legal process from drafting motions to arguing in court, he stated: “I don’t want to do this forever.”

He has discovered, �rsthand, that African Americans remain largely underrepresented in the legal �eld, according to a report by the American Bar Association, and that’s been disconcerting for him.

“Since I’ve been practicing law out here, I have not seen one black attorney or a black judge in the area,” he said.

“I’ve had clients look at me, and they’re surprised when they see me, and in a suit,” he continued. “They’re thinking, ‘this should be the other way around.’

Lowe’s ultimate career goal is to teach pre-law/criminal justice to students; and he feels obligated to “give back.”

“I didn’t get into this �eld to make a lot of money; that wasn’t what motivated me,” Lowe said. “I would like to teach pre-law at the undergrad level to students of color who may not have the tools to succeed. I want to show them what they need to do.”

“I had help along the way, and I come back to MCC every year as a guest lecturer in Dr. Burns’ classes,” Lowe added. “This is how I give back. I do it because it’s the right thing to do.”

“And I want everyone to know that Dr. Burns is one of the greatest professors at MCC!”

Avon Burns is proud of Daryl Lowe — excited to see his dreams coming true, but also appreciative of his willingness to return to MCC every year to share his academic and professional journey with students.

“The Mott Community College Criminal Justice program has graduated numerous students,

who by all accounts are successful professionals today,” Dr. Burns said. “These professionals work in numerous capacities throughout the criminal justice and human service systems. In the criminal justice program at MCC, we don’t often have the opportunity to have some of these successful criminal justice graduates return. However, Daryl Lowe is the exception. Mr. Lowe makes the opportunity to return to Mott each year to speak to current students as a means to inspire and motivate them to set high academic and professional goals.”

Avon Burns had an opportunity to join Lowe’s adoptive parents and his biological mother, Mary Lowe, attending what Dr. Burns described as “a momentous occasion” for his family and friends in attendance: the University of Massachusetts School of Law at Dartmouth graduation ceremony on May 26, 2012.

She added, “Daryl Lowe has de�nitely continued the LERN Club motto of “Guiding the future toward a stronger tomorrow.”


Student Embraces Bene�ts, Growing Importance of Learning a Foreign LanguageBy Sharon Campbell

MCC honors student Jesse Counelis has a list of reasons why he’s studying Spanish.

Spanish is the second most

frequently spoken language in the United States and is the native language of over 358 million people. Across the globe, only Chinese has more native speakers than Spanish. Learning Spanish keeps a person in touch and current with a growing, vital culture. It can open doors to employment in a variety of occupations, and learning Spanish (or any foreign language) can help break down cultural and language barriers in society. The career bene�ts of being able to bridge English/Spanish language difference are obvious.

“I’ve heard that America is projected to be the number one Spanish-speaking country in the near future,” said Counelis, 26, of Davison, who has successfully completed three Spanish courses at MCC -- Elementary Spanish, Elementary Spanish II and Intermediate Spanish. “The important thing about language is this: a barrier that may have been there goes away.”

Selected as Mott College’s “Top Foreign Education Student,” Jesse Counelis has achieved a pro�ciency level in Spanish affording him an opportunity to work as a tutor,

assisting students with Spanish at the MCC Foreign Language Laboratory.

Teaching and helping others is a skill that comes naturally for him.

“I love tutoring,” Counelis said. “If I could make a living just tutoring, I’d do it. I love it.”

Counelis has met with counselors who have indicated that employers are always seeking people who can speak Spanish.

He has chosen Spanish for a minor while pursuing a degree in social work. He plans to pursue a career as a social worker and transfer to the University of Michigan-Flint to complete his bachelor’s degree in that �eld.

“I have close friends going into social work, and it’s the kind of thing I like anyway,” Counelis said. “I like helping people and people tend to look to me for help.”

“I think I’ve always had natural intuition for listening to and dealing with people,” Counelis added. “In terms of social work, I think I’ll be good at it. Instinctively, I feel I’m cut out for it.”

Learning a foreign language isn’t easy – it takes a lot of time,

practice, and using a variety of learning resources — but Counelis believes the bene�ts far outweigh any challenges that may come with learning the language. “As I force myself to try to speak more Spanish, I �nd that I actually get better at it,” Counelis said. “At �rst, I could hardly say much of anything.”

Xenia Prince-Mojica, a native of Panama, is studying Respiratory Therapy at MCC. Prince-Mojica admits to having dif�culty with her English and looks to Counelis for help, but it’s a mutually rewarding working relationship between the tutor and the student.

“My English is not so good and he helps me with the English,” Prince-Mojica said. “I help him with the Spanish.”

Having an opportunity to practice with Prince-Mojica since Spanish is her native tongue is very helpful, Counelis said, but being a little adventurous doesn’t hurt when it comes to exploring the study of a foreign language. “You have to try to say things even though there is a chance that you may sound or look silly. The only way to learn is to put yourself out there,” Counelis said.

“I have a sense of adventure,” Counelis said. “I always go for it, in spite of any self-doubt I may have.”

A high school dropout, Counelis comes from humble beginnings. Raised by a cousin, he grew up in a tough inner city neighborhood in Flint. He credits his cousin and an aunt with guiding him on a path toward a brighter future.

“I played bass in a band for several years after dropping out of school,” he said. “We hosted a jam night at a local club.”

After the economy crashed, the music gigs started dropping off. “I had hoped to make a living playing music. I got tired of being broke, and not being able to support myself, so I decided I should go to college,” Counelis explkained.

He chose Mott Community College.

In addition to working as a tutor at MCC, Counelis participated in the inaugural group of Mott Campus Clowns, a clown troupe formed in 2011, comprised of Mott Community College honor students taking a service learning course entitled Social Diversity and Civic Engagement. As a course requirement, the students enrolled in that class developed various clown skills that include juggling,

“The important thing about language is this: a barrier that may have been there goes away.”


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puppetry, pocket magic, making balloon animals and face painting in order to complete weekends of community service. The group makes goodwill appearances at non-pro�t agencies, schools, hospitals, nursing homes and a variety of community events.

Service learning, a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction, focuses on critical thinking as well as personal and civic responsibility. Service learning programs often involve students in activities that address local needs while developing their academic skills and commitment to the communities they serve. All of the appearances of the Mott Campus Clowns are supervised by Dr. Brian Ivory, Coordinator of the Mott Community College Honors Program [see the article on the Mott Campus Clowns on page 13].

Ivory, (also known as Bubby the Clown), who oversees the Mott Campus Clowns, is a 1987 graduate of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. He “un-retired” from clowning to train the Mott Campus Clowns.

Ivory observed Counelis (aka Messy the Clown) as he worked on the

steering committee of the Mott Campus Clowns in 2011, planning and participating in activities and events for the group.

“Jesse brought a ‘can do’ spirit to the clown troupe,” Ivory said. “He was excited for each new adventure with the Mott Campus Clowns. I will always remember, waiting for “Messy” after a snowy December parade in Lansing. He called from a cell phone to say, ‘I’m lost, cold and hungry but I’m having a great time.’ That was the kind of spirit he brought to serving as a clown.”

Counelis will don his clown wardrobe again, joining the Mott Campus Clowns at the Michigan Special Olympics Michigan games this summer.

Counelis is passionate about wanting to “give back” in his home state. “I don’t want to leave Michigan,” he said. “I love Michigan. I think if you have something to offer here, you should stay here. I am someone who was helped, and I want to help someone else. I feel like this: if the area is suffering, people shouldn’t just leave and let it fester. They should try to do something about it.”

“I believe my instincts allow me to read people,” he said. “I can tell if someone is upset or having an off-day. I take it as a challenge to win people over. Working with people is what makes me happy.”

When it comes to learning a language, practice, practice, practice is the best advice for anyone wanting to master a foreign language. Counelis credits Carol Bueno-O’Donnell, the recently retired coordinator of the Foreign Language department at MCC, with encouraging him and for “being an amazing teacher.”

“She selected me to sit on the committee to hire the current head of the language department,” Counelis continued. “I wrote her a goodbye letter in Spanish when she retired, telling her thank-you and that she was my favorite teacher.”

Learning Spanish, or any foreign language, has its challenges, but varying learning experiences is perhaps the best advice Counelis had to give – with foreign language, or life, in general.

“It’s a ton of work to learn a language, but don’t be afraid or intimidated by it,” he said. “Just enjoy the experience.”

The Value of a Foreign LanguageBy Michael KellyAside from Spanish, Mott Community College also offers students the opportunity to learn Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese and Russian along with classes in English as a Second Language.

What is the value of learning a foreign language?

If the world’s population totaled 100 people, the distribution would be

as follows: 56 Asian, 21 European, 9 African, 8 South American and only 6 North American (including the residents of the United States, Canada and Mexico, which would also include people whose native language was Spanish or French).

Across the planet more than 320 million people speak English, but did you know that 358 million speak Spanish, 189 million Bengali, 182 million Hindi and 885 million Mandarin Chinese? More students in China take English as a second

language than there are English-speaking people in the entire world.

A few years ago the Kiplinger Report stated: “Demand for linguists is soaring as technology sweeps up more data from the Internet, telephones, etc. Especially needy...law enforcement and spy agencies. The shortage is hampering intelligence gathering and crime prosecution. Arabic, Persian-Farsi, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Pashto and Uzbek speakers are scarcest. Students and schools, take note.”

As educator Joe Caroll, chairman of the North Carolina Alliance for Language Learning, wrote, “Learning a foreign language teaches you that there are often several ways to express a concept or an idea. In the business world, it gives you an incredible edge in being able to communicate directly with your customer. It creates a relationship you could never achieve through an interpreter.”


MCC Men’s Basketball Team Wins Record-Breaking Fourth National ChampionshipBy Michael Kelly

The Mott Community College Bears, and their Coach Steve Schmidt, are used to shattering records and making history. This year, they did it again.

Making their eighth appearance at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II (NJCAA) Men’s Basketball Championship in Danville, Illinois, the Bears claimed a record fourth National Championship title, defeating the Community College of Rhode Island 70-60 in a contest where the Bears led from start to �nish. MCC now holds more national championships than any other NJCAA Division II men’s basketball program. The Bears, who were ranked the number one seed going into the tournament, ended the season with

a 35-1 record. Coach Steve Schmidt was named NJCAA Division II Coach of the Tournament and MCC Sophomore Guard John Taylor was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player. MCC’s Sophomore Guard Darryl Marshall and Freshman Guard Ralph Eason were both named to the All-Tournament Team. In 2008, the MCC Men’s Basketball Team made basketball history when they were crowned national champions for a third time, having won national championships in 2003, 2007 and 2008. At that time, MCC became the �rst community college to win three National Junior College Athletic Association Division II national titles, and the �rst to win back to back championships since 1993.

Since 2001, the MCC Bears have won four national championships, played in seven national �nals and eight national “�nal four” games.

The 2012 Championship was the culmination of a powerhouse seasons that saw Mott Community College start the season ranked #1 in the nation, a ranking the team kept for most of the year.

The National Championship team included Korry Billups, Walter Davis, Ralph Eason, Eugene Gipson, Robert Littlejohn, Darryl Marshall, Chavis Mattison, Jacob Perry, Kortez Ross, Anthony Sisson, Shaquille Smith, John Taylor and Jon Trawick. “We are excited to bring this National Championship back to Flint,” Coach Schmidt said. “This team did a great job of representing Mott College throughout the year. I would like to thank all of our fans for their support. We genuinely have a special program that is a privilege for me to be part of. We have tremendous support from our entire college staff and unbelievable support from our community. The Mott Bears are proud to be National Champions!”

Mott College basketball has drawn over�ow crowds to its games at the Ballenger Field House on MCC’s main campus at 1401 E. Court Street in Flint and local observers describe it as one of the best sports values in the area. Game tickets cost only $5 with refreshments like hot dogs and popcorn at similarly low prices. Find the game schedule of both the men’s and women’s basketball teams at www.mcc.edu (click Search MCC for “basketball schedule”) and make a plan to become part of one of our area’s �nest sports traditions.

Coach Steve Schmidt: The Winningest Coach in MCC History

It takes a winner to be a winner, and no one has done it better than Steve Schmidt. In 21 seasons as head coach at Mott,

Schmidt has compiled a record of success that is unparalleled at the college level. He is the winningest active coach in the nation at the NJCAA level, the winner of four National Championships (2003, 2007, 2008 and 2012) and a member of the NJCAA Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2010) and the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame (2006). His career coaching record at Mott is 573-124 and his record at the National Tournament is 27-4, the all-time best record in the tournament’s history. In addition to the four national titles, Schmidt’s teams have won

14 conference, nine state and eight regional titles. He has been named National Coach of the Year four times and has coached 16 players who have been recognized as NJCAA All-Americans. Schmidt wins off the court as well. Throughout his career, Mott’s program has set the standard for student-athlete accountability. Schmidt’s no-excuse approach to athletics is founded upon the principle that to be a student-athlete is a privilege, one that requires all players to represent Mott Community College to the best of their ability. In 2009, in honor of his many achievements at Mott Community College, the gym at Ballenger Field House was named The Steve Schmidt Gymnasium.

The Schmidt File• Winningest coach in MCC

history• Coaching record: 573-124

(.822)• Holds record for winning

percentage in national tournament play 27-4 (.871)

• MCCAA Eastern Conference Championships (14): 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999,

2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

• MCCAA State Championships (9): 1995, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

• District/Regional Championships (8): 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012.

• National Championships (4): 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2012.

• National Runner-ups (3): 2001, 2004, and 2011.

• National 3rd place �nish (1): 2002.

• Final Four appearances (8): 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012.

• A member of the NJCAA Hall of Fame

• A member of the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame


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Mott Community College Student Clown Troupeformed to entertain and serve Flint and Surrounding Communities

Dr. Brian Ivory doesn’t mind when students in his class clown around some times: it’s a course requirement.

Ivory, Coordinator of the Honors Program at Mott Community

College, oversees the Mott Campus Clowns, a newly-formed clown troupe comprised of MCC honor students enrolled in the Social Diversity and Civic Engagement course he teaches.

As a course requirement, students enrolled in the class must develop various clown skills, including juggling, puppetry, pocket magic, face painting and making balloon animals and then complete weekends of community service appearances, all as part of the service hours required in the course.

Service learning, de�ned as a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community

service with course content and re�ection, focuses on critical thinking as well as personal and civic responsibility. Service learning programs often involve students in activities that address local needs while developing their academic skills and commitment to the communities they serve. Service learning has had a positive impact on student learning outcomes, civic engagement, and college retention rates, according to the American Association of Community Colleges, which has been promoting the value of service learning to the 1,200 degree-granting institutions in the U.S. since 1994. MCC is among nearly 60 percent of the community colleges in the nation offering service learning in their curricular programs.

All of the appearances of the Mott Campus Clowns are supervised by Ivory (aka Bubby the Clown). Ivory is a 1987 graduate of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey

Clown College. In 2011, he “un-retired” from clowning to train the Mott Campus Clowns for goodwill appearances at non-pro�t agencies, schools, hospitals, nursing homes and community events.

Ivory knows that clowning is not just about entertainment: the silly antics, weird clothes, wild hair, and painted smiles on the faces can warm the hearts of all who encounter the clown troupe. The MCC group’s motto is “Our hearts are bigger than our shoes.”

The clown troupe has already introduced themselves to the Genesee County area, spreading cheer at various events and venues in the area including the Special Olympics, elementary schools, rescue shelters and retirement communities.

The Mott Campus Clowns have appeared on NBC-TV 25’s morning news program and was featured in articles that appeared in

the View weekly newspapers. During the last semester, the Mott Campus Clowns chose service instead of taking a typical Spring Break trip by completing a weeklong Alternative Spring Break in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The troupe made goodwill appearances at various locations throughout the City of Brotherly Love. According to Break Away: The Alternative Break Connection, a non-pro�t organization that promotes alternative break programs that inspire college students toward lifelong active service, the Mott Campus Clowns are the �rst group of college students in the U.S. to complete a curriculum-based Alternative Break involving service learning through clowning. According to Proferssor Ivory, “This coming fall the Mott Campus Clowns will be introducing a Bully Prevention Program for K-3 students.”


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