Volume 4, Issue 2 Spring 2009
JCC Foundation Board of Directors David B. Goldfarb President
Stephen Krusich Vice President
Dr. Stephanie K. Richmond Secretary
Kevin Cunningham Treasurer
Thomas Vainner Assistant Treasurer
L. Donald Bush John Crist ’66 Richard N. Dodge ’57 Thomas R. Draper ’66 Janice Sweet Fairley Dr. Jane Grover Ronald J. Martoia, Sr. Christina L. Medlar Sheila A. Patterson Dr. Daniel J. Phelan Dr. George E. Potter ’56 Zoe M. Wilcox Lawrence L. Bullen ’49 Director Emeritus
Frank Dick
Director Emeritus
Clyde Mauldin Legal Counsel
Jason H. Valente, CFRE Executive Director
Focused on the future despite challenges of the present In my time here at Jackson Community College, I have been moved by the many stories I have heard of students overcoming difficult odds to go to college and achieve their educational goals. I am reminded daily of the courage, strength and perseverance that so many students show here at the community college. JCC draws students from a wide range of backgrounds, and each person has their own story to tell. In this edition, we will highlight success stories from those who have attended JCC and gone on to success, whether in further education or in their career. Some have overcome health challenges, while others have overcome adversity in their personal lives to accomplish something they would not have thought possible. It is exactly because of stories like these that the JCC Foundation exists. By providing educational support through student scholarships, grant support to various special projects coordinated by our faculty and staff, and institutional help to provide fine facilities like the new Rawal Center for Health Professions and the CP Federal Credit Union Collaboratorium, we help provide resources necessary to ensure success.
Mark Schissler, Sr.
Director of Donor Relations
Kathy Spring ’80
Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations
Debbie Johnson
Senior Office Associate
Address changes: Direct address changes, duplicate copy information or requests to: JCC Foundation 2111 Emmons Road Jackson, MI 49201 Phone 517.787.0244 Fax 517.796.8697 www.jccmi.edu/foundation JCC Today is Jackson Community College’s publication for alumni and friends. It is published twice yearly. On the cover: JCC Today profiles three alumni paths to success: Corwin Holmes, Denise Robinson and Dorothy Tappenden. 2 • J C C
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Looking to the future, in this edition we also explore JCC’s efforts at becoming a more sustainable, environmentally aware institution. Our president has committed to become a climate neutral campus, and several new efforts are underway. While the economic times this year have definitely been challenging, the Foundation continues to focus on these goals. I am pleased to say that we have a record number of donors, and especially new donors, who have contributed this year, thanks in part to a successful phonathon this past fall. We appreciate your support and vote of confidence in JCC and the Foundation. Though there are many questions right now about our nation’s economy, rest assured that
the Foundation Board of Directors and staff are committed to overseeing the organization’s resources with diligence and care. This year, we have cut back on several activities and are channeling our resources to provide student scholarships. The College has seen enrollment increases over the past several years, and many of these students need the extra help that a foundation scholarship provides. This move has also been necessitated because of losses in the stock market, which we keep a close eye on. Through it all, it is the support and generosity of our alumni and friends who continue to provide necessary resources for students. What wonderful new stories are yet to be told by our students in the years to come!
Jason H. Valente, CFRE Executive Director, Jackson Community College Foundation
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King celebration draws 300 Jackson Community College welcomed about 300 guests to the Potter Center on Saturday, Jan. 17 to celebrate the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Annual King Celebration featured this year’s King Medal of Service Award winners Frances Reeves, principal of McCulloch Elementary in Jackson; Ernestine Simmons, retired school teacher who has long been actively involved in the community; and Frank Weathers, community relations liaison with the city of Jackson who is also very involved in the community.
Pictured left to right: Frances Reeves, Frank Weathers and Ernestine Simmons
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Linden Dungy, Jackson native and founder of Immanuel Dental, a family dentistry practice in Farmington, Minn. Dr. Dungy discussed “The Content of Your Character,” referring to the remark by Dr. King in his famous 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech, and how that relates to us today. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Foundation board welcomes new members The Jackson Community College Foundation Board of Directors is pleased to welcome two new board members, Dr. Jane Grover and Zoe M. Wilcox.
Dr. Jane Grover
Dr. Jane Grover is the dental director of the Center for Family Health, a federally qualified health center in Jackson. She is an adjunct faculty member of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and Lutheran Medical Center of New York. Credentialed as a Northeast Regional Dental Examiner, she served four years on the State Board of Dentistry for Michigan. She is a past member (and chair) of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry’s Alumni Board. She has also served on the Dental Medicaid Task Force, the Maternal and Child Oral Health Subcommittee, and the Michigan Health Services Advisory Council. She was appointed to these by then Gov. John Engler. Dr. Grover has been active in organized dentistry, first as a trustee of the Michigan Dental Association, then as a member of the American Dental Association’s Committee on Strategic Planning. She completed five years on the ADA Political Action Committee, serving from 2003-2005 as chair. Currently, she is the first vice president of the ADA. Dr. Grover is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Health Services Management and Policy. After 17 years of private practice, she entered the Community Health Center world. Her special areas of professional interest are pediatric dentistry and in designing partnerships between the public health, private practice, business, educational and faith-based communities. Her previous presentations include the National Primary Oral Health Annual Meeting in 2004, 2005 and 2007 as well as the All Grantee Meeting in 2006 in Washington, D.C. for all community health centers. Dr. Grover serves on the board of the Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History in Jackson and the board of the Allegiance Health Women’s Health Center, previously Passages, in Jackson. She also hosted a weekly cable television show “Housecall” on JTV for 2.5 years.
Zoe M. Wilcox
Zoe M. Wilcox has had a distinguished career in corporate, non-profit and education leadership roles. In addition to spending 23 years with Consumers Energy, Wilcox served as an administrator at Jackson Community College for five years, and has taught at the secondary level for four years. In her time with Consumers Energy, Wilcox was responsible for the change management and leadership of multimillion dollar projects and for process improvement programs for major departments and divisions. She has provided consulting on community development strategy and economic development, including a published paper by the Michigan State University community development initiative. Wilcox is active in her church and in several non-profit organizations. Currently, she is serving as president of the Michigan Foundation for Education Leadership and is vice-moderator of Lake Michigan Presbytery. In 2005, she served on the JCC Community Advisory Committee. Wilcox served for six years as the president of the Girl Scouts - Irish Hills Council. She also served two terms as an appointee of the State Board of Education on their Library Media Advisory Committee. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Old Dominion University and a Master of Science in Education from Youngstown State University. She and her husband, John, have lived in Jackson since 1976. They have two children and six grandchildren.
Dr. Linden Dungy
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Paths to success Staying focused on goals helps students overcome challenges Going to college presents challenges for every student, requiring time, dedication and commitment. In this issue, we profile three students and the paths they took to attend JCC and continue on to find success in their next steps, in furthering their education and in their careers. Each has a unique story, but each demonstrates that with persistence, it is possible to achieve one’s dreams!
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Corwin Holmes of Jackson is thankful for
the support of family and friends for helping him through his college experience. Holmes works as a mechanical engineer with Consumers Energy in Jackson in the equipment services area. He’s always loved math and science, and wanted to become an engineer from the time he was in seventh grade. Born and raised in Jackson, attending Jackson Community College was a natural choice for him. “I prayed about it and felt that it was in my best interest. For one, it’s close by, almost in my back yard. It was not as far from my family and my church family.” After completing his first two years at JCC, he transferred to the University of Michigan and completed his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, graduating in April 2008. During his years at U-M, he completed an internship for Consumers Energy, and that internship helped open the door to a full-time job when he graduated. Holmes faced the usual challenges that all college students face, keeping up with assignments, managing the stress of deadlines and more. He typically worked as many hours as possible in the summers to earn money for the college. He also won a JCC Foundation scholarship from the George & Barbara Raven Student Aid Fund, intended for students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in engineering, mathematics, physical science or natural science. “It was a good experience attending JCC. I felt like I got an excellent education,” he said. “JCC is an excellent place to start, it’s an excellent stepping stone to help you get where you want to go in life.” Getting a good start is important and can help make things easier down the road. “At times it was a rough road; now I’m ecstatic to be finished!” Holmes said. “There were a lot of late nights and deadlines. At times it was very stressful.” The support of family and his friends from the Church of God in Jackson motivated him through the stressful times. He was involved as a youth leader in his church and took several mission trips during his college years; he loves to travel. “I would say a good support structure is key. Surround yourself with people who will support you, because there will be times when you think you can’t make it,” he said. “I don’t know if I would have made it without my family and church family, that was huge. I didn’t want to let them down.”
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Denise Robinson has faced challenges that others would
have found daunting, but with support of her family and a gentle persistence, she has overcome her own challenges and today works as a nurse helping others.
Robinson first attended Jackson Community College after graduating high school and became a licensed practical nurse. Her stepfather, Herbert Howell, was a faculty member at JCC. After working about a year as an LPN for Mercy Hospital, an auto accident on an icy road one winter’s night in 1977 changed her life forever. Her car skidded and crashed into a tree, giving her severe head injuries which left her in a coma for a month. When she came out of the coma, she was paralyzed on her right side and needed complete rehabilitation to even walk and talk. She lost her memory and can’t remember almost a year of her life; mercifully, she doesn’t remember the accident. With the loving support of her mother, Lola, and stepfather, she began the long road of recovery. When she came home after three months in the hospital, her family installed a pool to help with physical therapy, and Robinson and her mother took walks when possible. After re-learning many life skills, she and her mother enrolled at classes at JCC to help her get back into life, and she acquired enough credits to complete her associate degree in general studies. She still speaks only slightly above a whisper due to her paralyzed vocal cords. “My mom would go with me and take notes for me, just to help me get back out,” Robinson said. It took about four years for her to recover enough to go back to work at Foote in 1981. “Through it all, I never really dealt with depression; it’s like I woke up and this was my life now.” Not only did she recover, but she decided to better herself by enrolling part-time in JCC’s registered nurse program to complete her associate degree in nursing. “I took as many classes as I could while still working. I didn’t want it to take three years, but then I figured in three years, I either would be a registered nurse or I wouldn’t be.” Returning to college was not difficult; it was something she wanted to do. She took a class at a time until she finished. “I thank God my stepdad worked at JCC and that was where I went to College. When I first started going back, the professors were very accepting,” Robinson said. “I had recently gone through the LPN program, so they knew me, and they knew my stepfather, which helped.” Today she is a full-time registered nurse with the inpatient head pain treatment unit at Chelsea Community Hospital, where she’s worked the last 10 years. She also worked for Foote Hospital for 18 years. Her own experience helps her to relate to her patients, helping her to understand what they are going through. “Time does heal, even if you think it never will,” she said.
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Dorothy Tappenden was many things; a high school
dropout, an auto parts store manager, and a divorced mother of four girls, before graduating from JCC in 2002. Tappenden returned to school at Jackson Community College in her early 30s to pursue a psychology degree for many reasons -first, to set an example for her children, and second, to apply her intellect in a manner that might serve a greater purpose, and finally, to fulfill her long held, secret dream to obtain a doctorate. Pursuing a doctorate can be a long, rigorous road in the best of circumstances. “Not only did I return to school, but I excelled, much to my surprise. It became clear that psychology was not a field for me, and that I had an aptitude for and great interest in science and teaching,” she said. “I was advised and guided by instructors who took great interest in me and my success during this time. When I graduated in the spring of 2002 it was with honors, and my children watched me present the non-traditional student address at commencement.” She went on to Michigan State University and in the spring of 2005 graduated with honors, earning a Bachelor of Science in zoology with genetics and cell development concentrations. “Again, my entire family watched me walk across the stage,” she said. That fall she entered the MSU biochemistry & molecular biology graduate program, and in the spring of 2006 I was accepted into a dual PhD degree program for biochemistry and toxicology. Within a year’s time she hopes to successfully defend her PhD research thesis and fulfill her long held dream. This has not been an easy endeavor, but it has been such a worthwhile one, she said. “Just because I was in school didn't mean the rest of life stopped; there have always been other commitments to meet; parent teacher conferences, soccer games, family illnesses, joyous and mournful events to juggle,” Tappenden said. “There have been moments of complete frustration; at how difficult some material was to grasp, at the time school took away from my children and my personal life, at the feeling that I really didn’t belong in academia.” Some of the sacrifices she and her family have had to make have been difficult. “There has been a constant concern about finances for the majority of my time in school; my girls have gone without things their peers take for granted and that has been the most bitter choice of this process to have to live with. In the nine years since starting classes at JCC many things have made reaching my goal seem impossible, and I would be lying if I said I never thought about quitting. In fact I've thought about quitting a lot. But, the truth is I want to reach this goal. Not only for me, but for my children as well; there comes a point where there is no other choice than to mercilessly pursue your heart's desire. “JCC was an excellent place to start this odyssey of mine. I wish to thank my instructors, some of whom are now my friends, for everything they did to educate and guide me.”
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Total Commitment to Student Success Jackson Community College is focused on a total commitment to student success (TCS2). Here are some strategies aimed at accomplishing that goal: • Providing valuable financial help to students. Jackson Community College and the JCC Foundation awarded more than a quarter million dollars in scholarships to students for the 2008-09 academic year, $293,900 in scholarships to 326 students. JCC awarded $15,000 in Presidential Scholarships and $53,900 in Recognition of Excellence Scholarships. The JCC Foundation, which oversees privately endowed scholarships from donors, awarded $225,000 in scholarships. • Providing valuable support through both the Foundation Studies program and the Center for Student Success. Foundation Studies supports
each student in the development of skills to adjust to the demands of college and to succeed academically. The Center for Student Success offers free tutoring, career guidance, social work services, English as a Second Language, Special Populations grant funding and more. • Providing quality instruction. JCC continues to encourage instructional quality and development by furthering the use of innovative and interesting approaches in the classroom, and seeking and developing new courses and programs to meet students’ needs in preparing for today’s workplace.
• Providing opportunity for leadership and involvement outside the classroom. JCC offers clubs, student government, sports, the Office of Multicultural Relations and more to help students get involved and feel part of the campus environment, which helps them connect with their own studies. • Providing outstanding service through Student Services. JCC works to provide outstanding service from a student’s first experience with the college through admission, enrollment, registration, financial aid, and ultimately completion of their goal.
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Helping tell the story of Cascades Park. . .
Writing Fellows get to know community Helping to tell the story of the history of Jackson’s Cascades Park, Jackson Community College Writing Fellows were actively involved in an Oral History Project that is part of the Revive the Pride Campaign for the park.
Manor House. These interviews will be put together as part of the project to remain at Ella Sharp Museum and the Jackson Library.
The project involves the former director of the Ella Sharp Museum, Jack Garner and Lynn Loftis, the student Janie Boyle Jackson District Library system, the Cascades Revive the Pride Committee and community volunteers. Several community members graciously came and shared with the Writing Fellows their stories about Cascades Park, said Diana Agy, instructor of the Writing Fellows. These include the former Goddess of the Rainbow, the grandson of the Park’s founder, a Zouave and more. JCC has Jean Laughlin and provided the student Kylie Long filming, the tapes, the interviewers, and they will have each piece professionally edited and presented to the interviewee at a celebratory dinner in May at the Cascades
“This project has Barbara Franklin and been a valuable student Grace Walters opportunity for our students, providing an opportunity for service learning and connection to community,” Agy said.
At right, Charles Prescott talks to student David White about his Zouave uniform. 10 • J C C
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“I really liked (the project),” said student Grace Walters. “I think it gave me a greater appreciation for the park, I got to know Cascades Park very well by hearing stories. I definitely have a greater appreciation for places like parks now.” Writing Fellows are JCC students who are selected to participate in an intensive writing workshop class and receive a scholarship that pays for their class and books. Each Fellow is mentored by a faculty member on campus, and each also spends time tutoring other JCC students.
Men of Merit focuses on success, not challenges, for students involved A group of black male students fighting against the challenges they face are proving that there really is strength in numbers. “I’ve learned that anything is possible; if you believe, you can achieve anything,” said Anton Allen, member of the new JCC student group, Men of Merit. Members came together in Fall 2008 to form the Men of Merit. The group promotes college to Jackson-area youth and provides a support network for its 30 members to succeed in their pursuit of higher education. Members Senator Mark Schauer gather weekly speaks with Men of for a variety Merit Member Anton of activities; Allen after the MLK they meet with Dinner in January. leaders from the community, they go out and speak about college to younger students, or they gather on campus for study and tutoring sessions.
“We are here to help,” said Allen, who’s been attending JCC about two years and is studying business administration. He is a tutor in JCC’s Center for Student Success and has helped both recruit other members and tutored them in math. “We want every student to feel that they can come to college, graduate and be a success.” When student James Palmer graduated from high school, he thought he would get a full-time job in a factory and support himself. However, it wasn’t long before he realized the work world was not what he thought it would be. “The people making real money were the ones with education and who had a skill, and that’s what I wanted to be,” said Palmer, who has been attending JCC part time for about five years. “I didn’t want to be the person working the hardest and being paid the least.” He is working toward his Associate in Arts degree and plans to transfer to continue his bachelor’s degree in the liberal arts, then plans to continue and earn a master’s
degree in business administration. The Men of Merit group has impressed upon him the value of an education. “We have learned that African Americans are a small portion of the total number of college students across the country, about 4 percent, and that’s including traditionally black colleges. I think most just don’t think school is cool,” Palmer said. Amy Leighton, assistant director of the Center for Student Success and Service Learning at JCC, got the idea for the Men of Merit following a conference where they learned about a college in North Carolina with a similar group in which 87 percent of students who participated went on to graduate. Director of JCC’s Office of Multicultural Relations, Lee Hampton is working to help provide leadership to the young men in the group. If you would like information on how to support the Men of Merit, please call the Foundation at 517.787.0244.
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Corporate and Continuing Education courses offered Offering skills to help workers get ahead, JCC has formed a new Corporate and Continuing Education office and begun offering continuing education courses for the community.
Noted speaker on African-American educational issues coming to JCC Jackson Community College will welcome noted speaker and author Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu to the Potter Center April 24, to speak on “Effectively Educating African American Males in the 21st Century.” This event is presented by JCC, Baker College and Spring Arbor University, South Central Michigan Works! and Consumers Energy.
“The College has been growing for the past five or six years, and we recognize a need in the community for these types of continuing education offerings,” said Susan Nielsen, executive director of Corporate and Continuing Education and Workforce Development Initiatives. Course offerings focus on skills necessary in today’s work world, such as languages, job search and interviewing skills, career assessment, customer service, leadership ethics and more. Free public forums are also planned to help people with topics such as GED test information and literacy assistance, preparing for and
navigating the college experience, and exploring high-demand careers to see what areas are growing. Nielsen foresees increasing the number of courses and including more things that lead to certification by Fall 2009, such as American Sign Language and current issues like sustainability and the environment. “We want to focus on working, professional skills,” Nielsen said. “Right now with the economy being the way it is, we want to be sure to provide practical, skill-building classes to help people get ahead.” A course schedule is available online at www.jccmi.edu. For more information, call 517.796.8610.
Kunjufu is an educational consultant who has written approximately 30 books, including “Critical Issues in Educating African American Youth.” He is a graduate of Illinois State University and earned a doctorate from Union Graduate School, and also attended Morgan State University, a historically black institution in Baltimore, Maryland, through an exchange program. He taught for six years at an Africentric school before founding African American Images, Inc., publishers and distributors of African American-focused books. He has spoken at many universities and has been asked to preach in hundreds of church pulpits. Registration for the day will begin at 8:15 a.m. outside the Michael Baughman Theatre, Potter Center. A college and community update will be held from 9-10 a.m., and Kunjufu will deliver the keynote lecture from 10-11:30 a.m. A wrap-up will be held from 11:30 a.m. to noon. This event is free to the public, but tickets are required. Order your free tickets by calling the Potter Center Box Office at 517.796.8600. 12 • J C C
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Susan Nielsen, executive director of JCC's Corporate and Continuing Education and Workforce Development Initiatives speaking at a JCC Project Success Day session.
College beyond the classroom: Student life opportunities continue to grow Many students at JCC would like their college experience to be about more than just hitting the books. Providing a well-rounded student life experience has been a focus of JCC for several years. While the College was previously a commuter campus with few activities to engage students outside the classroom, in 2002, acting on requests from students, the College brought student life into focus with the naming of Steve Bloomfield as the assistant dean of student life. Since that time, numerous new opportunities have arisen, from student government to clubs and groups to individual activities.
“There are a lot of people on campus, with a lot of students hanging out to watch games, and more in campus housing. They are a part of this community; it's not just a commuter campus anymore." — Steve Bloomfield, JCC assistant dean of student life “I think the addition of campus housing and athletics have gone a long way in creating an active life here on campus,” Bloomfield said. “There are a lot of people on campus, with a lot of students hanging out to watch Steve Bloomfield games, and more in campus housing. They are part of this community; it’s not just a commuter campus anymore.” Student government, clubs, organizations and sports provide opportunities for
students to learn important skills that complement their academic work, such as leadership, teamwork, being a good follower, and exercising the practical application of material learned inside the classroom. JCC has seven recognized student groups, such as Drama Club, Men of Merit and the A BIG (Alternative Breaks Interest Group,) as well as intramural sports, special campus activities such as welcome week picnics in Fall and Winter, and club sports like hockey.
is in the process of being re-organized and until a new student government organization is formed, Brinker remains active in campus activities. He would like to start a Toastmasters group on campus, an organization devoted to providing a positive learning environment that enables members to develop effective public speaking and leadership skills, as well as a veterans group to help other former military personnel to connect and share experiences.
“It's all about getting to
“I think there needs to be more involvement, and a better way to promote student involvement,” Brinker said. “I believe a lot of students want to start clubs but don’t know how, or they don’t know what is available.”
know people and work with people, and building friendships." — Doug Brinker, JCC student
Student Doug Brinker is in his third year at JCC and plans to transfer to Eastern Michigan University in the Fall. A veteran who’s returned to college to find a career, he’s been active on campus and the community, and served as Doug Brinker secretary to Student Parliament last year. Student Parliament
Amanda Marzano is in her second year at JCC. She is studying theatre and is active in the Drama Club. “I enjoy that everyone is different but we all accept each other and are all really close,” she said. “A lot of my friends come from Drama Club; if I didn’t join, I don’t think I would have as many friends here at JCC. If someone can find a club or organization that fits them, I think they would be happier and meet more people.” Brinker adds, “It’s all about getting to know people and work with people, and building friendships.”
JCC's Drama Club
Carbon footprint‌ a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation, etc.
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Our society moves fast today. With cell phones, computers and hand-held electronic devices, we can get messages basically anytime. Unfortunately, our faster-than-the-speed-of-light society has sped up another process – climate change. With the emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, the planet is seeing climate changes that used to occur over thousands of years now occur in decades.
Sustainability… meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Helping to curb that change for the future generations, Jackson Community College is moving toward being a “climate neutral” campus, working to reduce or eliminate the emission of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases to battle the harmful impact of global warming. In 2007, Dr. Daniel J. Phelan joined with other college and university presidents across the country in signing the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, a pledge to sharply reduce and eventually eliminate all of the College’s global warming emissions and accelerate the research and educational efforts to equip society to re-stabilize the Earth’s climate. “We want to reduce the carbon footprint of our campus,” Phelan said. “We have undertaken a comprehensive evaluation of what our carbon footprint is, from how many megawatt hours of electricity are currently being consumed on this campus to how do you make use of technologies that are designed to reduce the amount of energies being used.” Sustainability efforts have been incorporated into the College’s Strategic Plan and will be reviewed regularly. The College’s mission statement also contains a commitment to enable learners to develop skills associated with sustainability. In the big picture, sustainable development can be thought of in three tiers – people, planet and profit, sometimes called the “triple bottom line.” People refers to social justice concerns necessary for a sustainable future – providing people access to housing, medical care, food and sanitation, and achieving these in a way that does not harm or exploit others. Planet refers to protecting the Earth’s limited resources for future generations, providing them with clean air, clean water, land to live on and enough productivity to provide food for all. Profit involves the economy – providing people throughout the nation and world the best standard of living that is sustainable, requiring generation of wealth through economic activity. Continued next page
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Heating up discussion on global warming Helping to spearhead efforts on campus, JCC has hired Mark Rabinsky as sustainability coordinator. Rabinsky has helped oversee the emissions inventory process and teaches an introduction to sustainability course for students.
“We are ahead of the curve here at JCC, but that's also not to say that we are anywhere near the end. This whole movement is in its infancy. This is the future.”
— Mark Rabinsky, JCC sustainability coordinator
William Atkinson Hall
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“We are ahead of the curve here at JCC, but that’s also not to say that we are anywhere near the end. This whole movement is in its infancy,” Rabinsky said. “This is the future. We’ve already seen in the Obama administration the focus on green technologies and alternative energy.” The biggest cause of greenhouse gas emissions at JCC by a large margin is the effect of commuting by students and staff. In 2008, JCC’s emissions totaled 16,241 metric tonnes of CO2 , with the largest percentage – 44.4 percent – coming from commuting. The next largest category is use of purchased electricity, accounting for 33.6 percent of the College’s emissions, and heating/cooling systems account for another 16.4 percent – together, these factors account for more than 94 percent. To help lessen these numbers, College officials can suggest car pooling and use of public transportation, installing more efficient lights, using motion sensors to power down areas not in use, shifting to high efficiency boilers and chillers, and purchasing products that earn Energy Star ratings. However, the issue is complex, as car pooling may present safety concerns with people riding together, and installing new equipment can get expensive. In the long run, however, many of these upgrades can pay for themselves in reduced energy bills. Not only will the College do its part to reduce its carbon footprint, it also needs to understand what the jobs of tomorrow will be like in order to educate students as sustainability issues continue to come to the forefront. The introductory
class Rabinsky teaches gives an overview of the issues involved, examining society’s role in living in a sustainable manner, using natural resources like oil conservatively and shifting to alternative energy technology. Professor Syd Thomas enrolled in the first sustainability class and is now working with Rabinsky to engage faculty in incorporating sustainability issues into class work and how to contribute to sustainable growth. “We want to make people aware, to find ways to make change and cut back in their own lives,” Thomas said. “I’ve found that interest is about half and half, some are keenly interested in learning about sustainability and others are hesitant to accept the need for sustainability and issues such as global warming.” One student who is interested in issues regarding sustainability is Buck Castillo of Hillsdale. While he has always been interested in issues relating to sustainability, his interest has been piqued in the past year and a half since several oil wells have gone up within a 20-mile radius of his home, causing concerns about the environment. He is finishing his Associate of Arts at JCC and plans to transfer to the University of Michigan to get a bachelor’s degree in sustainable development. He enrolled in the sustainability class also. “I loved it and I think it should be mandatory for all students,” Castillo said. “We definitely need change. Our energy resources will be depleted before long, and we will destroy our habitat without change. This class would further anyone’s knowledge. “I think people need to realize that this is a dire issue, but unfortunately there’s still a huge debate about whether there is an issue at all. It will take major commitment and sacrifice from the ground floor, a grassroots movement in every person’s life.”
Changes underway Changes are taking place in new campus construction and in exploration of alternative energy sources. In the College’s two new buildings, William Atkinson Hall and Campus View student housing, several sustainable design concepts have been incorporated.
• In Atkinson Hall, the main floor’s library/ computer room has an abundance of natural light coming in through the many windows on the building. Studies have shown natural light to be more conducive to learning. Day-lighting has the added advantage of lowering utility costs by reducing the time overhead lighting needs to be on. The interior doors and some paneling are made of bamboo. Bamboo, which is actually considered a grass, is an environmentally friendly alternative to wood because bamboo grows very quickly, as opposed to trees which take much longer to grow back once they are cut down. There are also waterless urinals in the men’s bathroom which reduces the building’s water use.
Campus View Housing
• Several different green features were used throughout the design of Campus View housing to increase the energy efficiency including high recycled content materials, natural daylight in all occupied spaces, rapidly renewable materials, high performance glass to help reduce solar heat gain, an energy recovery system in the mechanical system, and low-VOC paints (low in Volatile Organic Compounds
which may release toxins into the air), adhesives and sealants for better indoor air quality. Taking a first step toward developing new alternative energy sources, the College in the fall installed a device for measuring wind velocity, an anemometer, on the south side of campus. The College is receiving the device from the Michigan Anemometer Loan Program administered by Michigan State University. It measures airflow with three revolving cups set to catch the wind. It collects continuous wind speed, temperature and direction data. Measurements are monitored via “data plugs” in the device, which will quarterly be sent to MSU, where the data results will be recorded, with a full report sent on the completion of the monitoring period, up to 13 months. The Michigan Anemometer Loan Program was initially established by the Department of Energy’s Midwestern Regional Office with the goal of spurring wind development in the State of Michigan. With the data gained from the anemometer, JCC intends to explore installing a wind turbine to initiate an alternative energy program. President Phelan would like to develop a wind energy generation technician associate degree and certificate program at the College. All of these efforts fit into the Presidents' Climate Commitment and JCC’s promise to being a climate neutral campus.
JCC's anemometer
“I think people need to realize that this is a dire issue, but unfortunately there's still a huge debate about whether there is an issue at all.”
— Buck Castillo, JCC student
Greenhouse Effect -- A general warming effect felt on Earth’s surface, produced by greenhouse gases. These gases allow incoming solar radiation to pass through the Earth's atmosphere, but trap heat by preventing some of the infrared radiation from the Earth’s surface from escaping to outer space. This process occurs naturally and has kept the Earth's temperature about 60 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than it would otherwise be. Current life on Earth could not be sustained without the natural greenhouse effect. However, the greenhouse effect is becoming stronger as a result of human activities, which is causing the warming we have observed over the past century. (Source, Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov) S P R I N G
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C L A S S N O T E S Jackson Community College has educated thousands of nurses in the fields of registered nursing and licensed practical nursing over the years. We followed up with some to find out what they are doing now.
Angil Tarach Class of 1994 Angil Tarach, ’94 graduate of JCC’s registered nursing program, has owned her own senior home care agency, Visiting Angels of Ann Arbor, for seven years. She enrolled at the College at age 25 after having worked for a number of years. She began working as an aide in the nursing home when she was 17, and that was when her love for working with senior citizens began. “I love helping people, and I love helping seniors,” Tarach said. “I’m bothered by the fact that seniors are so disregarded in this country. I’m a big advocate for senior care and senior treatment.” Her experience at JCC was very positive. “I loved it; I was vice president of my class. I worked at the College in the biology lab and was in the Phi Theta Kappa (honor society),” Tarach Angil Tarach said. “I think it’s great to get involved at JCC. I benefitted greatly from that. I was a high school dropout who graduated with a grade point average of 4.0 in nursing.” Tarach is also grateful for the successful career she has had as a nurse. She’s worked as an infection control coordinator for the State of Michigan, did years of home health and hospice work, was a charge nurse and director of nursing. She is currently writing a book about senior care, and she has a blog, angiltarachrn. blogspot.com. “I think JCC is a great school because it’s small and personal. You can find help anywhere,” Tarach said. “It’s more of a homey atmosphere than many universities, and you don’t just feel like a number there.” 18 • J C C
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Melva Wolcott Class of 1980
Ralph Osborn Class of 1932
Today Melva Wolcott is a nurse practitioner working in emergency care. Attaining this position has been nearly a lifelong process.
Ralph Osborn has had an interesting life since graduating from Jackson High School in 1930 and Jackson Junior College in 1932. Ralph had no money to attend college so he began working at Consumers Power Company and received $75 a month. With the money he earned at Consumers, Ralph was able to enroll in the fall of 1931 and finished in 1932. He has great memories of John George Hall and was deeply saddened when he learned that it was destroyed by fire. He recalls that “It had a fireplace in each room and a Ralph Osborn man came around regularly to put coal on the fire. I would wander around until I found an empty room, would lie down in front of the fire, and study!”
Wolcott began her journey at JCC in 1979, earning a certificate as an emergency medical technician. This allowed her to earn money right away. She continued her education at JCC in the radiography program. She earned her associate degree in radiologic technology in 1980. "Initially I worked second shift which meant lots of Melva Wolcott surgical cases and lots of trauma. When Foote East and Foote West combined in 1983, I was chosen to help start the Computed Tomography department. Until that time, we had to transfer anyone needing a CT to Ann Arbor." She pursued her associate degree in nursing through JCC's part-time program. "My passion was emergency and cardiovascular medicine." She graduated in 1992 and immediately went to work in the emergency department. She then continued her studies and has earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Eastern Michigan University, a master's degree in nursing from Michigan State University and is now a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. "Right out of nurse practitioner school I was contacted by the University of Michigan. They were searching for a nurse practitioner with computed tomography and emergency medicine experience. How lucky could I be?" She accepted their offer and worked first in radiology and then with electrophysiology and interventional cardiology services. Wolcott loves working in emergency medicine, and today does contract work with the emergency department at Duane Waters Health Center in Jackson, as well as the emergency department at Battle Creek Health System. She recalls several mentors from the JCC faculty. "Anyone can do what I have done," Wolcott said. "For me, JCC really was the best place to begin."
Ralph went on the road with a jazz band at the age of 19 and met his wife in San Antonio, Texas. After leaving, the couple would travel there frequently to visit. He played cornet with many good bands until he joined the army in 1941. Ralph loves to exercise and enjoys excellent health, which he attributes to “good genes, health food, and running,” a sport he has enjoyed for over 30 years. Ralph has fond memories of Jackson Junior College, and writes an annual Christmas letter to his friends in the alumni office.
David DesNoyer Class of 1970 Karen DesNoyer Class of 1981 Although Dave and Karen DesNoyer didn't meet at JCC, they both have an appreciation of the College and its impact on students' lives and on the community in general. Dave graduated in 1970 and transferred to the University of Michigan where he majored in mechanical
I N engineering. He recently retired from CMS Energy where he built his career in gas transmission and storage. He recalls with great fondness and admiration his mathematics Professor Dick Dodge, who possessed an incredible knowledge of his subject matter. Karen enrolled later in life, pursuing her lifelong dream to attend college. From JCC she transferred to Spring Arbor University where she earned a business degree and worked in environmental and technical services at Consumers Energy. As a first generation college graduate, she was terrified at the thought of going to school. She recalls her first experience was made memorable because of the great care she received from her humanities instructor, Bill Albright. "Professor Albright was my turning point...he worked with me and helped to minimize my fears not only because he believed in my ability, but because he truly cared about my success." She recalls another amazing instructor, Martha Petry, whose humanities class opened new doors for her.
Dave and Karen DesNoyer
They have been married 13 years, and together have three children, all of whom are college graduates who have gone on to accomplish marvelous things in their careers. Both agree that their love of education helps them to appreciate culture as they travel. The couple enjoys their vacation home on Lake Huron year ‘round. In addition, they appreciate art; enjoy reading, gardening, and exploring large cities.
M E M O R I A M
Alumni Passings Albert H. Mathein
November 12, 2008 Class of 1934 Albert H. Mathein of Jackson passed away Nov. 12, 2008, at the age of 94. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 62 years, Margaret Dalton Mathein; his daughter, Ann Mathein Haehnle; and his brother, James Mathein. He is survived by his sons, Dr. Edward A. (Jeanine) Mathein '61 of Jackson, Stephen J. (Eileen) Mathein of Costa Mesa, Calif., Mark C. (Sherry) Mathein of Jackson; daughter, Albert Mathein Ellen A. (Michael) Ewing of Jerome; 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Born in Jackson, his family moved to Mishawaka, Ind. and resided there until he was 12 years old. He met the love of his life, Margaret Dalton, when his family moved back to Jackson, where he graduated from St. Mary High School. He also completed his associate degree from Jackson Community College in 1934. A lifelong Notre Dame fan, Al retired from Clark Equipment after 41 years of service. He was a member of the men's choir at St. Mary Catholic Church, an usher for many years at Queen of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church, a life member of the Elks Lodge #113, the FFF Club, the Carioca Dance Club, and the Geritol Golf League at Hankerd Hills, where he got his coveted hole-in-one.
Alumni Passings
September 2008 - February 2009 Estus Craft ’33 Max E. Brail ‘65 Leonard Crandall ’33 Margaret K. Tucker ‘72 Albert H. Mathein ‘34 John W. Kiszka ‘75 Bernard Toland ‘34 Terri L. Ogle ‘75 Barbara C. Walz ‘41 John R. DesNoyer ‘77 Phoebe L. Goven ‘46 Paula E. Morano ‘83 Clark R. Honig ‘48 H.A. Sherwin ‘85 Dale Reed ‘52 Ruth A. Wright ‘86 William Zimmer ‘52 Marilyn J. Williamson ‘89 Barbara Madison ‘54 We make every attempt Myong-II Chug ‘55 to ensure that this list Leonard L. Harrington ‘61 is complete. If we've Donna M. Dryer ‘64
missed a name and you can help to make our records more complete, please call Debbie Johnson in the Alumni Relations Office at 517.787.0244. If you would like us to publish an obituary, please send to the JCC Foundation or submit to JohnsonDeborah01@ jccmi.edu
Planned giving: A legacy for the future
Jackson Community College Foundation recently received a bequest of $25,000 from the estate of a family we were unaware had named the College in their will. We appreciated the gift immensely, and it will certainly help us accomplish the mission of the College. The JCC Foundation encourages our valued friends and donors to let us know when they include Foundation in their estate plans. Not only can we express our appreciation, but we can make sure you are kept up to date with new developments at the College and Foundation. Part of the JCC Foundation’s commitment is to recognize those who include the College in their estate plans, assist them in defining how their gift will be used and implementing their plan when the time comes. If you would like to talk with someone personally about your giving plans, contact Mark Schissler, JCC Foundation director of donor relations, 517.787.0244. S P R I N G 2 0 0 9 • 19
C L A S S
N O T E S
JCC transfer
feels at home at U of M
Monica Rasmussen Class of 2008 JCC’s George E. Potter Student of the Year for 2008, Monica Rasmussen, is now featured by the University of Michigan on its Community College Transfer Web Portal http://commcoll.umich.edu. Rasmussen attended JCC for two years and was very active on campus, serving as president of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, Drama Club, Student Parliament, and serving as a tutor with the Center for Student Success. She transferred to the University of Michigan to work toward becoming an English teacher. “JCC has given me the opportunity to really shine and to prove what I am worth,” she said after receiving the Student of the Year Award. While at first she was unsure about transferring to Michigan, she has been pleased with her experience and, while rocky at first, received wonderful assistance and now sees U of M as “her” school.
Monica Rasmussen speaking at JCC Commencement, May 2008. 20 • J C C
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Thank you, Miss Lindberg A reflection contributed by Delores Gray Norton '53 Speaking in class was very difficult for me all through school. While at JCC, I was still very shy and Miss Lindberg asked me what I planned to do after college. When she found out I intended to be a teacher, she asked me to stop by her office sometime soon. She told me that in order to graduate from college with a teaching degree I would need to take a speech class. She was concerned about Delores Gray Norton me trying to give speeches in the big classes at Eastern Michigan University where I planned to go. She had a suggestion for me. She was going to teach speech during the summer and she assured me it would be a much smaller class and it would fulfill my speech requirement. It sounded like a winner for me so I signed up for her class. She was right, it was a small class, only 12 of us in the class, but I felt there were two strikes against me on the first day of class. I was the only girl in the class and also the youngest person. The other 11 were veterans of the Korean war and to make matters worse, Miss Lindberg told us how she intended to grade us. If we were not prepared, we would receive an “E” for that speech. There would not be a second chance. The second strike against me was that our grade for the course would be figured by the comments of each of our classmates in written form. Our speech would not only be graded on delivery but how interesting it was to the other members of the class. Now, it was panic time because the guys could tell war stories that would be interesting to each other. However I graded them would not make a difference in their grade. What could I talk about that would interest them? I worked a long time preparing my convincing speech. I was called upon the first day of that week. “I cannot give my speech today,” I replied.
She said, “Are you telling me that you are not prepared?” “I am ready, but my speech is not appropriate today, so I am asking for a chance to postpone it until later this week.” “You know the rule. You do your speech today or take an 'E'. Speeches cannot be postponed.” With no way out, I stood up in front of the class to give my speech. As we sat in a basement room with no windows, I tried to convince the professor and 11 men that it would be much nicer to be holding class at the picnic tables in the beautiful gardens behind John George Hall while a thunderstorm was raging outside. The other speech that I remember so well was the demonstration. My mother has a unique way of cutting circular layer cakes. I asked Miss Lindberg if my speech could be last on the first day of the week as I was to bring cake as part of my demonstration. On hearing my plan, she agreed. I started my speech by showing several ways of cutting a cake by using the chalkboard. I opened my basket to take out the cake I had made and proceeded to cut it. One of the fellows left the room and quickly returned with ice cream that the professor had provided. What a fun speech class it turned out to be. I did receive an “A” for the class and years later a teaching degree. At the age of 51, I became a public speaker and really enjoyed it. I have had a wonderful time entertaining people and have given all of my speech earnings to charity. One year, I was the speaker at 22 Lenten breakfasts and lunches. Speaking has been a real learning experience and has opened doors for me that I would never have dreamed of opening. For example, I was certified by the state of Michigan to speak at LPN seminars when nurses received in-service training credits by listening to me. WOW! Miss Lindberg would be so pleased and shocked. Thank you Miss Lindberg and thank you JCC.
JCC students travel to Galveston, Texas Helping with continued cleanup and rebuilding in the wake of Hurricane Ike’s wrath in September 2008, a group of JCC students served the Galveston, Texas community over their spring break in March. JCC students who are part of the Alternative Breaks Interest Group, A BIG, traveled to Galveston, Texas, to help with the continued cleanup after Hurricane Ike hit the area in September 2008. A BIG is an effort by college and universities across the country to involve students in service during their school breaks. This is Johan Williams the second service trip for JCC students; last summer, a group traveled to New Orleans to help with the continued efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. “I love to help people, and I thought this would be a great opportunity to go and help people,” said freshman Jenna Shellberg of Michigan Center. Shellberg and friend, Allen Linnabary, saw some information for the group at orientation last Fall and thought it sounded interesting. Shellberg is now treasurer for the group, and Linnabary takes meeting notes. “Neither of us were good in leadership roles, so being part of this group has helped to break us out of our shell more,” Linnabary said. Group members have been raising funds for the trip, and more is planned. Those interested in donating to this effort may contact the JCC Foundation at 517.787.0244. Left to Right: Sheldon Dottery, Sandy DiCesare, Don (the man A BIG were helping), Kayla Suddeth, Rachel Krutch, Jenna Shellberg, Jessie (the Americorps volunteer who worked with A BIG for the week), Johan Williams and kneeling left to right: Marshawn Goodloe, John Taylor.
Teaching offers a rewarding life Jackson Junior College alumnus and former JCC Professor Bob Whiting ‘30 has fond memories of a wonderful life enjoying his passion for birds and wildlife.
Traveling took him near and far. As a professor Whiting frequently took his classes out-of-doors to get a firsthand look at the world around them. He traveled to Ella Sharp Park to look at how trees grew, took classes to Ohio to collect trilobite fossils, to Isle Royale and many locales. “If I had the chance to get out-ofdoors, I did,” he said. “I enjoyed trying to do a good job, I always just wanted to do a good job teaching.”
Bob Whiting
Whiting was a student in the second class ever to enter Jackson Junior College in 1929, and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in geology and biology. In 1945, he started teaching at Jackson Junior College, where he shared his knowledge with students until his retirement in 1975. An avid bird lover, he taught ornithology for years at the College, with some students enjoying it so much they took the class twice! He then took a position with the Michigan Audubon Society, and finally retired at age 88. Today he and his wife, Marie, reside at Vista Grande Villa in Jackson. Now in his late 90s, he recalls fond memories of travel, teaching and his fascination for the world around him. He’s traveled to many countries throughout the world, recalling stories of a pride of lions in Africa coming up to his car or visiting near the southern tip of South America where the local natives wore no clothes.
He’s been rewarded in the years since by many of his students coming back to share how much his teaching meant to them. “One man came back and told me that he had never been that interested in school, but when he took my class, he went to the library to do more research on his own, and his family was shocked!” Whiting said. While taking classes at the University of Michigan Biological Station he connected with a famous ornithologist, whom he invited to come to Jackson to lecture. From this connection grew a local wildlife lecture and film series, and the local chapter of the Audubon Society, which he led for 50 years. He’s also been active in both the state and national Audubon Society. Things will come full-circle this summer when the national display from the Audubon Society will be hosted at Ella Sharp Museum. “One of the rewarding things about teaching is that people will come back and tell you you’ve done a good job,” Whiting said. “The College has been an important part of my life.” S P R I N G
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R H RL OE LT LI C OS F JHCOC N O A T
D O N O R S
Ready, set, Cross Country
The Jackson Community College women’s and men’s cross country top runners finished the season strong in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Division I National Championship held in November in South Carolina.
For the women, Alexandria Blair finished the 5K in 58th place with a time of 20:08, and Brittany Boucher finished 80th with a time of 20:42. There were 246 women running overall. For the men, Dan Styles finished the 8K in 110th place with a time of 27:48. There were 253 men running overall. This will be Blair’s and Boucher’s last season with the Jets, and several members of the men’s team are sophomores and will be leaving, so coach Brian Olsen immediately started planning for next season.
Volleyball
JCC’s women’s volleyball team clinched a district tournament berth in just their second season! Women’s volleyball finished the season with a record of matches 25-15, and made it to the final four in regionals, losing to Grand Rapids Community College, who went on to win the overall tournament. Player Whitney Taylor was named to first team All Region and first team All Conference, and Liz Garrett was named second team All Conference. The team will lose eight players after this season, and coach Leigh Ann Swihart has been busy recruiting and signing new players. Five of the six starters from the 2008 season are 22 • J C C
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score!
going on to play at four-year colleges and universities.
Basketball
Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams made it to postseason play in their second season! The women’s basketball team participated in the National Junior College Athletic Association District G tournament at Ancilla College in Donaldson, Ind., and won their opening game 74-58 against the tournament hosts Ancilla. They progressed to the second round to face Lake Michigan College, falling in the quarterfinal match by a score of 61-58. The women finished the regular season with a record of 10-17, seventh in the Michigan Community College Athletic Conference’s Western Conference.
The men’s team faced Grand Rapids Community College in the opener of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association District 8 tournament in Grand Rapids, falling to the tourney hosts 71-67 in the first round. The men finished the regular season with a record of 12-15, sixth in the MCCAA West. Players Nick Minnerath and Elliot Munz played in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association Western Conference All-Star Game at Lansing Community College. Freshman Minnerath was named Most Valuable Player for the MCCAA Western Conference by scoring 17 points in 24 minutes, and sophomore Munz was able to grab six rebounds in 14 minutes of play. The MCCAA Eastern Conference came out with the win, 99-91.
Orlowski to speak at Albion College commencement Maria Orlowski shares her love of theater with students each day in her classes at JCC. She will share some of her own story with Albion College graduates when she delivers the keynote address at the 2009 Albion commencement exercises. Orlowski was born Miriam Winter in Łodz, Poland, in 1933. She and her family were in the Warsaw ghetto in 1940, then in Ozarow in 1941. At the age of 8, Miriam became a hidden child in Nazi-occupied Poland. Her book Trains (Kelton Press, 1997) is an eloquent and moving account of her life before, during and after the Second Maria Orlowski World War. Winter survived the Holocaust by posing as a Catholic, using the sign of the cross and a copy of the Lord’s Prayer carefully scripted for her by her father. Living in a series of Christian churches and homes throughout the war, she kept her true identity — including her birth name — a secret until 1962, when she attended the first formal Gathering of Child Survivors of the Holocaust. She immigrated from Poland to the U.S. in 1969, and came to Jackson in 1979. She began teaching at JCC in 1980. She has a doctorate in theatre from Michigan State University, (1992), and is a graduate of the Leon Schiller's Advanced State School for Theatre in Lodz, Poland. She taught acting at Michigan State University and is currently teaching at JCC, where she also directed “Antigone,” “Ondine,” and “Peer Gynt.” She was named the Outstanding Adjunct Faculty member for 2008. Albion College’s commencement exercises will be held at 10:45 a.m. May 9 on the Quad, weather permitting, or inside the Dow Recreation and Wellness Center. Tickets are necessary.
C O L L E G E
H A P P E N I N G S
LaZebnik family establishes scholarship to support arts by Mark Schissler, JCC Foundation
Robert and Laurie LaZebnik along with family and friends have made a powerful statement of commitment to the College’s arts and literature programs. In honor of their parents, The Sam & Edith LaZebnik Endowed Scholarship for the Arts has been established to benefit talented students who love and appreciate the arts. The family’s intent is to support the education of future artists who will carry on the pursuit of excellence in
Left to right: Leslie Steinweiss, composer and lyricist and Becky Borczon, actor, two of the speakers for the LaZebnik Scholarship weekend seminar back in September.
expression through the arts. Many students pursuing the arts are busy with time in rehearsals, studios, and in practice for their particular arts, which can leave little time for students to work outside of class.
JCC students in the arts are involved with community performances and outreach programs that help communicate JCC’s growing arts curricula and also give individual students’ opportunities for increased exposure and performance. To help kick off this new scholarship, JCC presented a weekend seminar on the arts in September 2008, with sessions involving creative writing, composing, acting, screen and stage playwriting, feature film production, and performances of the play “Rachel Calof,” which told the story of an 18-year-old mail order bride who leaves her life in Russia to come to the North Dakota frontier in 1894.
Sam and Edith LaZebnik emigrated from Russia to the United States as teen-agers, met and married in Detroit, and moved to Jackson in 1922. Starting with nothing but their dreams, they worked and made it possible for their six children to have educations. All attended JCC. Sam taught himself English. Edith struggled with her fourth language, but in her 80s wrote a memoir and became a celebrated author. “Now I’m somebody,” she said.
JCC and the Foundation would like to thank the entire LaZebnik family and their friends for their gifts. We consider it both a pleasure, and a privilege, to work with you on this inspiring project. On behalf of Jackson Community College Language, Literature and Arts Department, the Foundation and all the students served, please accept our gratitude for your support this endowed scholarship fund. If you are interested in establishing an endowed scholarship, information is available. Contact Mark Schissler at the Foundation office for more information; 517.787.0244.
JCC's first phonathan a success! The JCC Foundation’s first phonathon in October 2008 yielded significant results. Pledges totaling $40,000 were made in support of the JCC Annual Fund, and 866 new donors contributed! In addition, 20 JCC students gained valuable telemarketing experience as student callers. Our thanks to them and all who helped make the phonathon a success!
A L U M N I
N E W S
JCC Alumni Week Festivities MaryLee Maher, Connie Hobde and Bill Maher enjoying the Alumni Dinner.
Alumni Week at JCC – a series of three events held the week of Nov. 8-14 – was enjoyed by many, as graduates from as early as 1934 to our most recent 2008 graduates gathered to reconnect and enjoy College activities.
Our thanks to the following individuals and businesses for their generosity and participation:
Patricia L. Anderson ‘58
Brendon R. Beer ‘95
Lawrence L. Bullen ‘49
A.P. Cook III ‘51 Douglas L. Cook Jean and Ken Hall
The week’s activities culminated in an AllAlumni Reunion featuring the nine-piece Lansing band, Global Village. Alumni of all ages gathered to reconnect, dance, and simply enjoy the evening.
Jean and Paul Reid enjoying a dance at the Alumni Dinner.
Many attended the Nov. 8 Potter Center performance of “Last Comic Standing” and the pre-show Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Reception. The Nov. 10 men’s and women’s basketball game and half-time alumni reception at Campus View student housing gave alumni an opportunity to see the athletes in action, tour the new student housing facility and mingle with JCC athletes and current students. 24 • J C C
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The generosity of our Alumni Week sponsors allowed us to keep each event affordable for all alumni.
CP Federal Credit Union
Victor S. Cuiss ‘39
Kevin Cunningham
Thomas C. Evanson ‘67 Daryl W. Frederick David B. Goldfarb
James W. Grace
Leonard F. Griehs ‘67
Martin J. Griffin ‘82
Kenneth F. Hall ‘40
Matthew Heins ‘92
Phillip E. Hoffman ‘72
Allyn R. Kehrer
William J. Maher ‘41
Edward A. Mathein ‘61 Sheila Patterson
George E. Potter ‘56
Ralph Redmond JCC's African Drum Ensemble performing at the Alumni Dinner.
David W. Riggs ‘83
Kenneth A. Walz ‘67
JCC says goodbye to retirees
We wish a fond farewell those retiring from JCC over the past year… Judy Clark retired in December
from her position as human resources representative. She had worked for the College in a variety of roles since 1982, including payroll clerk, administrative assistant for business affairs, administrative assistant to the vice president for administration and human resources assistant. Her Judy Clark work touched nearly every employee as she worked to make sure employee pay and benefits were handled correctly and provided promptly.
Dr. Ann Green retired in December
after working 32 years for the College, the first 28 as a professor and the last four as dean of arts and sciences. She was active in work and in the community, not only as an educator and a dean but also as an author and playwright who is concerned about women’s issues. She taught primarily English, literature and humanities classes at JCC, and was honored Ann Green with the J. Ward Preston Outstanding Faculty Award, and in 2008 she received the Susan B. Anthony Award from the Jackson Women’s History Council.
Janet Lyons retired in December from her position as senior office associate in the dean of arts & sciences office. She had worked for the College since 1999, first dividing her time between human resources and the dean’s office, then
moving to full time in the dean’s office in 2001. She was instrumental in helping the dean’s office run smoothly, created the dean’s office web page, and coordinated the annual student Janet Lyons Excellence in Learning ceremony and reception.
Ken Reed retired in July 2008 after 22
years in the physical plant maintenance department at the College. He helped to oversee Whiting Hall and assisted with maintenance requests from Campus View student housing, along with a variety of other campus maintenance jobs over his Ken Reed years of service. Reed had many accolades for and took great pride in his work at JCC, and always demonstrated a positive, supportive nature with co-workers.
Jeff Schneider retired in December after working 30 years for JCC. He began his career in financial aid as veteran affairs coordinator and later became a financial aid technician. In 2000, he transferred to the business office where he was an accountant. A veteran himself, Jeff Schneider
he was an advocate for veterans in all phases of his career at JCC. He served the College in the Spirit of America flag project, and participated in many charity golf events.
Aurelie Seward retired in December after working 22 years for JCC. She began her career as an adjunct instructor, and worked in the College’s information technology department where she was a significant contributor to positioning JCC as a leader in academic technologies. Aurelie Seward She helped to develop the student computer consultant model for information technology, helping the College through valuable student work and benefitting hundreds of students who gained valuable interpersonal and technical skills. Rebecca Turner retired in December after working 27 years at the College. She spent her first 19 years as secretary to the facilities department, and from 2001 till her retirement she served as scheduling coordinator. She served on many committees and was always willing to try new Rebecca Turner things and assist faculty, fellow employees and students. She was very knowledgeable about JCC’s student data system and would assist in writing and running queries for many departments at the College. S P R I N G
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Meet the JCC Foundation staff Debbie Johnson, Mark Schissler, Sr., Kathy Levy Spring, Jason Valente
This office of four supports the mission of the College by helping to provide additional resources to ensure the success of JCC students and the College.
Debbie Johnson
“The most rewarding part of my job is assisting in the scholarship process. Helping students reach their education goals though scholarships provided by the generosity of our donors is life changing for a JCC student.” Johnson has been with the JCC Foundation as senior office associate since 2007. Previously she was employed at Silver Foam Distributing as a customer service repetitive for 12 years. She received her associate degree in business management in 1991 from Davenport University and is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree. Debbie is originally from Caledonia, Michigan and has lived in the Jackson area for the past 18 years. She has three children and is very active in their school and extracurricular activities. She is also involved in the community; currently she is active in her church as the assistant treasurer and Sunday school teacher. In the past year Debbie has participated in the March of Dimes Walk for Health Babies, Making Strides against Breast Cancer and most recently plunged in Clark Lake to benefit Special Olympics.
Mark Schissler Sr.
Mark Schissler Sr. is the director of donor relations for the JCC Foundation. In this role he works as an ambassador for JCC with current and potential donors. Donors include alumni, companies, foundations
and friends of the College. By learning of their interests, he is able to connect donors with existing or new programs at JCC. Through the donor’s philanthropic support the mission of college is made possible with the ultimate end-beneficiary being the students. Schissler has an extensive background in both the corporate and not-for-profit areas and draws experience from years in sales, program development and management. He has been part of senior management teams in small and medium companies as well as a Fortune 100 company. Throughout his career he has contributed time and talent to not-for-profit organizations. Some of these include Special Olympics, March of Dimes, Multiple Sclerosis, Capital Area Cystic Fibrosis, United Way, Shady Grove Hospital, University of Baltimore Alumni Association and the Knucklehead Invitational. Schissler lives at Clark Lake with his four children.
Kathy Levy Spring
“My passion for the College and our mission grows daily as I witness the impact we make in the lives of our students…and realize the impact they make in ours.” After graduating from Michigan State University in 1982 and before joining JCC in 2004, Kathy Spring worked as merchandise buyer at Jacobson Stores based in Jackson. After her daughters were born, she began a career in development, public relations and marketing at Ella Sharp Museum in Jackson. At JCC, Spring works to keep alumni and friends connected to the College in ways that are most meaningful for them – whether
through gifts of time, talent or treasure. Her connection to the College dates back to her grandparents. Her oldest daughter, Audrey, represents the fourth generation Levy to attend JCC! “I feel blessed to have a job I enjoy so much, to work with a team of talented and caring people, and to play a part in the ongoing success of our students.”
Jason Valente
Jason is the executive director of the JCC Foundation, responsible for the overall leadership of the Foundation and development office. Valente works with a variety of supporters and friends of the College to provide access to transformational learning experiences. Before coming to JCC in April 2008, Valente spent five years as director of development at Schoolcraft College in Livonia where he was responsible for the Schoolcraft College Foundation, and the Development, Special Events and Alumni Relations offices. Prior to that, he spent five years at Concordia University in Ann Arbor serving as the director of institutional advancement. Originally from Novi, Valente has lived in Jackson since 1999. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Concordia University in Ann Arbor. He currently serves on the Family Centered Care Board of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, and the Board of Trustees for disAbility Connections Foundation and several other nonprofit boards. His wife, Elizabeth, is a teacher and they have one daughter, Abby, who is 4.
S P R I N G
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A JCC Foundation forum for individuals 50 and over
The Jackson Community College Foundation will host an informative workshop entitled "Insights and Inspirations for Inquiring Minds," from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Friday, May 15 on JCC's Jackson Campus.
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Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 117 Jackson, MI
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SAVE THE DATE: Insights & Inspirations for Inquiring Minds
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THE JACKSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION 2111 Emmons Road Jackson, MI 49201
Address Service Requested
Enjoy a morning of informative and fun sessions, which will focus on financial and life planning and more. Please RSVP to Debbie Johnson in the JCC Foundation office, 517.787.0244, or e-mail JohnsonDeborahL01@jccmi.edu.
F O U N D A T I O N
F U N D R A I S E R
Feast For Knowledge event kickoff to be held July 17th Summer event will benefit JCC students The Jackson Community College Foundation invites you to attend a kickoff celebration dinner and auction at Wickwire House Friday, July 17, called the Feast for Knowledge. The Feast for Knowledge kickoff event will introduce a special dinner series to be held in private homes and destinations, hosted by JCC alumni and friends. At this event, live and silent auctions will be held for a series of approximately 20 special dinners throughout the year, and guests can bid on the party or parties they would like to attend. Chairs for this fundraising event are Dr. Edward A. Mathein, 1961 alumnus, and Dr. Jane Grover, with honorary co-chairs Patricia Anderson, 1958 JCC alumna, and Christina Medlar, JCC trustee. At left: Honorary chairs, Christina Medlar and Patricia Anderson
Feast for
Knowledge The proceeds from the event will benefit the JCC Annual Fund, which supports student scholarships, the Harriet Meyer Student Emergency Fund, and other programs that benefit JCC students. Last year, the Foundation awarded over $200,000 in scholarships, and over $10,000 in emergency student aid. Please save the date and look for more information to follow.