A Washtenaw Community College Publication
Future Surgical Technologists Future CNC Tool Programmers Future Registered Nurses
Future Information Security Analysts Future Computer Systems Analysts Future Software Developers
Future Sales Managers
In This Issue Launch
4
PREPARING FOR WHAT'S NEXT
WCC prepares students for the hottest jobs around, leading to prosperous careers.
10
TRAINING TEACHERS
6
FUTURE DEFENDER
WCC alumnus and Western Michigan University student is already building his cybersecurity career.
A new program addresses the teacher shortage by allowing students to take courses online while working in schools.
14
DOLLARS & DREAMS
12
LEADING ON & OFF THE FIELD
Club sports allow students like Saydatou Cisse (see also page 15) to balance academics with growing leadership and athletic skills.
Student entrepreneurs Joseph Zau Reng Yup and Chase Dewey balance rigorous academic course loads with multiple business ventures.
WCC Board of Trustees
Letter from the President
Greetings!
At Washtenaw Community College, we believe your brighter future starts here. Whether you’re exploring next steps after high school, looking to advance in your field or are considering a career change, WCC is ready to help you achieve your goals.
We’re proud to offer an accessible, affordable education designed to equip students for the many high wage, indemand jobs available in our state. By collaborating with industry leaders and the community, we ensure our programs align with the skills employers need most.
In this issue of Launch, you’ll find highlights from Michigan’s newest “hot jobs” report, detailing the most in-demand careers through 2032. WCC offers hands-on training and programs to help you step into these opportunities — from HVAC and CNC tool programming to critical health care roles like nursing, radiology, and physical therapy. We also prepare students for growing fields in information technology, the skilled trades, law enforcement and much more.
Angela Davis, Board Chair; William G. Milliken Jr., Vice Chair; David DeVarti, Treasurer; Ruth A. Hatcher, Secretary; Christina M. H. Fleming, Trustee; Diana McKnight-Morton, Trustee; Alex Milshteyn, Trustee
For those planning to continue their education, approximately 65% of WCC students transfer to a four-year institution, opening the door to high-demand careers in engineering, software development, business and beyond.
Wherever you see yourself, WCC is here to help chart your path toward a future that matches your passions and ambitions.
Best wishes for a successful new semester!
Rose
B. Bellanca, Ed.D., President Washtenaw Community College
Visit wccnet.edu/enroll for the full list of programs and to learn more.
BROADCAST, COMMUNICATION, VISUAL, DIGITAL & FINE ARTS
BROADCAST & COMMUNICATION
Audio Production and Engineering
Broadcast Media Arts
Journalism
Technical Communication
DIGITAL ARTS
3D Animation
Animation for Film and Broadcast
Animation for Game Art
Digital Media Arts
Digital Video Production
VISUAL, FINE & PERFORMING ARTS
Arts Management
Fine and Performing Arts
Global Studies
Graphic Design
Photographic Technology
Photography
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
Accounting
Accounting for Business
Administrative Assistant
Business Administration—
Transfer Pathway
Business Enterprise
Business Office Administration
Computer Software Applications
Core Business Skills
Cultural Resource Management
Digital Business Marketing and Sales
Entrepreneurship
Esports Management
Human Resources
Management
Marketing
Marketing Essentials
Occupational Studies
Retail and Business Operations
Retail Management
Social Media Management
Sports & Entertainment
Management
Supply Chain
GENERAL STUDIES
General Studies—Transfer Pathway
General Studies—Employment
Pathway
HEALTH
DENTAL
SCIENCES
Dental Assisting
IMAGING
Computed Tomography (CT
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Mammography
Radiography
NURSING
Nursing Assistant
LPN to RN
RN
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS
Cardiac Telemetry Technician
Health Administration
Health Care Foundations
Health Program Preparation
Medical Assisting
Medical Billing and Coding
Physical Therapist Assistant
Sterile Processing
Surgical Technology
HUMAN SERVICES,
PRE-EDUCATION & PUBLIC SAFETY
HUMAN SERVICES
Addiction Studies
Human Services
PRE-EDUCATION
Child Development
Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education Transfer
Introduction to Elementary Education
Secondary Education
PUBLIC SAFETY
Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice – Law Enforcement
Paralegal Studies/Pre-Law
Police Academy
LIBERAL ARTS TRANSFER
Liberal Arts Transfer
MANUFACTURING, TRANSPORTATION
TECHNOLOGIES, SKILLED TRADES & CONSTRUCTION
TRANSPORTATION
TECHNOLOGIES
Auto Body Repair
Automotive Cybersecurity
Automotive Services Technician
Automotive Test Technician
Custom Auto Body Fabrication and Chassis Design
EV Safety & Fundamentals
EV Service Technician
Powertrain Development Technician
Transportation Technologies
MANUFACTURING
Advanced Manufacturing (CNC)
Automation Specialist
Industrial Electronics Technology
Mechatronics-Robotics and Automated Systems
Robotics Technician
SKILLED TRADES & CONSTRUCTION
Construction Management HVAC
Welding & Fabrication
COMPUTERTECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, & MATH AND SCIENCE
COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
Computer Networking
Computer Systems Technology
Cybersecurity & Operations
Principles of Cybersecurity
Programming in C++
Programming in Java
ENGINEERING
Engineering & Design Tech
Pre-Engineering Science-Transfer
MATH AND SCIENCE
Environmental Science
Exercise Science
General Studies in Math and Natural Sciences
Math and Science
Biology/Pre-Medicine
Chemistry/Pre-Medicine
Mathematics
Pre-Actuarial Science
Pre-Pharmacy
APPRENTICESHIP
& UNION TRADES
Apprenticeship Completion
Construction Supervision
Industrial Training
Ironworkers Pre-Apprenticeship
Journeyman Industrial
100% available online
Many programs have both online and face-to-face options.
To learn more about our Student Success Guarantee, visit wccnet.edu/guarantee
Scan here to enroll wccnet.edu/enroll
Preparing for What's
Your Superhighway to Hot Jobs and a Prosperous Future
Washtenaw Community College’s mission to make a positive difference in students’ lives drives personal prosperity and fuels the region’s economic growth.
The college prepares students for direct placement in or transfer pathways toward the most in-demand jobs highlighted in the recent “Michigan Hot 50 Jobs Outlook Through 2032.”
Working “outside in,” WCC keeps its pulse on talent needs by fostering industry partnerships and creating new education and training programs.
up to $41 per hour.
Among the “hot” jobs that WCC directly prepares students for:
Associate degree, long-term training or apprenticeship requirements
uPhysical therapist assistants (21% growth through 2032 and $25-$31 hourly wages)
uHVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers (4.6% growth and $22$32 hourly wages)
uRadiologic technologists (.1% growth and $29-$38 hourly wages)
Post secondary certificate or moderate term training
uCNC tool programmers (12.9% growth and $25-$35 hourly wages)
uSurgical technologists (2.2% growth and $24-$30 hourly wages)
uComputer user support specialists (2% growth and $22-$32 hourly wages)
uSales reps and services (2% growth and $23-$48 hourly wages)
Also, through General Studies, Pre-Engineering Transfer, computer/ business associate degrees and other programs, WCC provides a solid foundation for students to transfer to four-year schools and thrive in “hot” careers as engineers, software developers, computer systems analysts, marketing specialists, general and operations managers, sales managers, human resource specialists and more.
Wages for those with bachelor or higher degrees can reach into the mid $80s per hour, according to the state’s “Hot Jobs” report.
What's Next
EARN AS YOU LEARN Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeships
Alexander Blanchard, a Marine Corps veteran and Fall 2022 graduate from the Pre-Engineering Transfer pathway, transferred to the University of Michigan to pursue a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He will graduate from U-M in spring 2025 and plans to work in the sustainable construction or renewable energy sector.
“Having been out of school for seven years, I wanted to find a college that offered me the space I needed to acclimate to the academic environment after being in a strong military-cultured environment.
"I owe a great deal to WCC and Wadhams Veteran Center on campus for helping me to succeed in school and setting me on my path toward pursuing a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. I can’t imagine being successful as an engineering student without going to WCC,” Blanchard says.
WCC’s specialty programs also meet employer needs in the “hot job” fields of law enforcement — with hourly wages between $28-$38 — and skilled trades, including plumbing and pipefitting with hourly wages between $23-$41.
U.S. manufacturing is poised for strong growth, with future jobs requiring advanced skills in robotics, digital security, and other 21st-century technologies known as "Advanced Manufacturing."
A 2024 Deloitte Insights report predicts 1.9 million unfilled U.S. manufacturing jobs by 2033 if the skills gap persists. Michigan alone saw 86,700 manufacturing job postings in February 2024, with an average starting salary of $71,700, according to a state workforce report.
WCC is addressing needs through expanded apprenticeship pathways and focus areas like CNC machining, automation, industrial electronics, robotics, and mechatronics.
As the only Michigan community college in the FAME USA program, WCC partners with nine companies for a paid apprenticeship and collaborates with other partners on similar programs.
Recognized as a U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship intermediary, WCC also provides handson training for USDOL-certified occupations.
FUTUREDEFENDER
Washtenaw Community College alumnus Nick Ford is an emerging leader in cybersecurity even before he completes his bachelor’s at Western Michigan University (WMU).
Ford plays the guitar and originally enrolled at Western to study music. Along the way, he transferred to WCC and began in earnest his ultimate path toward a career in cybersecurity.
“I have a strong interest in auditing and criminal justice, so cybersecurity fills that prerequisite,” says Ford, who in 2023 transferred from WCC back to WMU to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in cybersecurity. “Not only is it the bleeding edge of technology but you get to make huge impacts by defending critical infrastructure from the most advanced threat actors.”
Today, Ford works as a student LAN (local area network) technician, set-
theWCC PROGRAMS
WCC ALUM'S JOURNEY TO A CYBERSECURITY CAREER!
ting up workstations, writing scripts to streamline IT management functions, updating and backing up servers, and supporting staff technology.
He has earned certifications, including the U.S. Department of Defense Cyber Sentinel Challenge and ISC2 Candidates credentials.
CYBERSECURITY IS AN AMAZING FIELD THAT YOU WILL NEVER GET BORED OF. " "
“I would love to work for a governmental agency one day or within a cybersecurity role that has a positive impact on people’s lives,” says Ford. “Cybersecurity is an amazing field that you will never get bored of. It has a bit of a learning curve but the pay off when you see the impact you can make and the things you can create makes it all worth it.”
~ This story was originally published by Western Michigan University and reprinted, in part, with permission.
Secure Your Future at WCC
WCC’s cybersecurity training prepares students for a range of high-demand, high-wage and high-skill careers in cyber defense. The college has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the U.S. National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security and offers an associate degree as well as certificates.
Career opportunities and median earnings in Michigan, according to the Economic Modeling Specialists International
Organization, include information security analysts ($103,281), network and computer systems administrators ($88,617), document management specialists ($93,490) and business intelligence analysts ($89,960)
8Cybersecurity Associate in Applied Science Degree — This 65-credit degree transfer program introduces the skills and strategies needed to plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems, among other responsibilities.
TRAINING DATA ANALYSTS IN AN AI WORLD
Washtenaw Community
College’s role in the Center for Connected and Automated Transportation (CCAT) consortium is paving roads to education and career possibilities for local rural high school students.
Thanks to funding from CCAT — the University of Michigan-led research group comprised of nine national universities and WCC — 35 students from Whitmore Lake High School are learning how to apply data analytics in an AI-driven world.
With real-time mobility data from the Michigan Department of Transportation, Whitmore Lake students see a bigger picture, understand trends and develop plans.
The training is designed to enhance high school curriculum by providing hands-on relevancy. Rather than just learning about statistics, students will learn how to take action with the data, to bring it down from the cloud, clean it, sort it, visualize it and interpret it.
“These higher-level skills align closely with professional and
college-level expectations, giving students a strong advantage as they enter the workforce or pursue further education,” says Whitmore Lake High School teacher Jen Taylor, whose juniors and seniors are on track to earn Excel certification.
Taylor works with the WCC instructor online to guide students and incorporate the training into her own CTE Business Operations class.
WCC plans to articulate the courses into college credit.
“As AI and machine learning become more prevalent, these skills will grow in importance. It’s critical for students to not only understand data but also to interpret and apply AI-generated insights responsibly, knowing which information is relevant and how to leverage it effectively,” Taylor says.
8Principles of Cybersecurity Advanced Certificate – This 13-credit program meets the emerging demand for highly skilled cybersecurity professionals within the IT industry and business community.
8Automotive Cybersecurity Certificate – This 19-credit program introduces students to the skills and strategies needed to test security related to automobile networks and infrastructure. Students will explore risk mitigation technologies to protect vehicles that could be vulnerable to attacks.
$103,281
ALL ROADS LEAD TO SUCCESS
No matter your background or place in life’s journey, a WCC education can pave new roads to career success.
Tucker Biallas, Heather Lester, Kevin Johnson and Renae Turner returned to WCC at different points in their careers to pivot direction. Now they’re thriving in diverse roles at the Hyundai American Technical Center Inc. (HATCI), the carmaker’s advanced development facility in Superior Township.
TUCKER BIALLAS
After graduating from Dexter High School in 2009, Biallas initially explored movie production and automotive journalism before realizing it was working hands-on with cars that he really loved.
He earned an Automotive Services Certificate and Associate in Applied Sciences then transferred to Ferris State University to complete a bachelor’s in automotive technology.
Today, he is a software production application engineer in Hyundai’s EV efforts and has also worked in the
"I wouldn’t be here without the excellent education and training from WCC.
company’s engine and transmission calibration space.
HEATHER LESTER
After the pandemic, she enrolled at WCC, where a transportation technologies career fair soon led to a co-op position at Nissan. Lester was on her way to launching a career in mobility.
After graduating in 2024 with an Associate in Applied Sciences –Automotive Test Technician, Lester
landed a job at Hyundai as a data/ instrumentation test technician.
She sets up data collection devices and verifies information, as well as diagnoses issues, makes repairs and puts together new data collection instruments.
RENAE TURNER
After starting as a receptionist, Turner enrolled at WCC to earn an Associate in Graphic Design. She’s now a key member of the Business Support Team, collaborating with Hyundai engineers.
Her daughter AnnaNaiya is now studying Fine Arts at WCC.
Heather Lester
KEVIN JOHNSON
Johnson is HATCI’s senior photographic technician responsible for high speed video and general photography in the facility’s new crash safety space.
He worked 30 years for the Big 3 domestic automakers and returned to WCC during the pandemic to earn an Associate in Photographic Technology.
PROJECTED SALARIES
Automotive software application engineer salaries may range from $92,000- $123,500, according to multiple job sites. A graphic designer’s median salary is $58,910, and the mean salary for photographic services for all occupations is $49,980, reports the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
DRIVING EV EDUCATION
WCC recently launched electric vehicle service technician and safety certificate programs, joining the EV concentration within the Transportation Technologies associate degree to train mobility workers.
u EV Service Technician
Certificate (22 credits)
u EV Safety & Fundamentals
Certificate (10 credits)
In 2022, the Michigan median pay for automotive service technicians trended just above the national level at $49,670.
Careers with New Partnership Power
A new program between Washtenaw Community College and Michigan Works! Southeast is fueling high-demand careers in the emerging mobility sector.
“Power UP” Your Future provides up to $5,000 in training and education for eligible career seekers, including tuition assistance, career advising and apprenticeships in EV and mobility occupations.
Training programs must fall into one of these career profiles:
•Automotive Service Technicians
•Computer Occupation
•Electrical & Electronic Engineering Technologists
•Electrical Engineers
•Industrial Machinery Mechanics
•Maintenance & Repair Workers
•Assemblers & Fabricators
•Production Workers
•Software Developers
“POWER UP” YOUR FUTURE
Learn more about the “Power UP” Your Future program and apply now at www.mwse.org/wcc/
L-R: Tucker Biallas, Kevin Johnson, Renae Turner
New Partnership Addresses Teacher Shortage
BRIDGING THEGAP
ierra Pauley long desired to help others improve their lives, which led to decades of work in customer service. Due to situational and financial barriers, she thought teaching was out of reach.
But an email from her daughters’ Lincoln Consolidated School District superintendent changed everything. The weekly note to parents included information about a new program at WCC to train teachers for muchneeded educator roles.
Now, Pauley and 15 other teacher candidates are enrolled in their first WCC classes through a new partnership with nonprofit Talent Together. Another 50 are expected to enroll in the Winter semester.
The program covers a teacher candidate’s tuition and offers other unique benefits.
Talent Together works with select colleges and universities state wide to train teachers for all 56 intermediate school districts. WCC is the consortium’s premier community college partner, educating teacher candidates with little to no previous college credit through online and virtual courses.
"Through this program ... I am free to pursue one of the highest callings in America. Being able to inspire, improve, and enrich a student’s life is an honor that I look forward to experiencing, and I couldn’t be more excited for what the future holds,” Pauley says.
"
THROUGH THIS PROGRAM... I AM FREE TO PURSUE ONE OF THE HIGHEST CALLINGS IN AMERICA. "
Prospective teachers take college courses online and simultaneously work full-time in schools, usually as a paraprofessional, to gain practical experience and fill educator needs. Pauley works by day as a special
She hopes to complete her teacher preperation and credentialing at Eastern Michigan University.
Once teacher candidates are placed as student teachers, they are paid through federal dollars 80% of a starting teacher’s salary for that school district.
WCC PREPARES TEACHERS
A 2024 Michigan Teacher Shortage Study from Michigan State University says at least 1,768 teaching positions were vacant during the 2022-2023 school year. The median salary for a teacher in Michigan is $64,353. WCC is helping to solve the teacher shortage.
ASSOCIATE DEGREE PATHWAYS
uElementary Education Transfer
uSecondary Education
uEarly Childhood Education
TALENT TOGETHER PARTNERSHIP Learn more at: https://mitalenttogether.org/
Sierra Pauley
VETERAN STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS
THOMAS LABEAU
Hometown: Lincoln Park
Q A&
Branch: Air Force, 2009-2013, stationed at Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan
Military Job: Aircraft Environmental and Electrical systems specialist
WCC Program: Pre-Engineering
Q: How has WCC set you up for success?
A: WCC and education in general has sharpened the way I think and helped me develop better problem-solving skills. Ashley Starks in the Wadhams Veterans Center has been by my side every step of the way, supporting and guiding me. Couldn’t have done it without him.
Q: What is your ultimate career goal?
A: I plan to transfer for a bachelor’s in engineering. There is a process engineer job waiting for me at my current company, Navitas Systems (a global leader in larger-format lithium battery technology and systems). My ultimate career goal is to work as a process engineer in advanced energy storage. This sector is a career path of the future, and I believe that I found my career in life.
Q: Did your job in the Air Force spark your career interest?
A: We had a battery backshop on Kadena. That was my first introduction to the battery industry. … Overall, I have always had a curious fascination with electricity and that has only grown over the years as I continue to learn about it.
Q: Describe your job at Navitas.
A: My current job as a process specialist is essentially problem-solving for two departments. … My job (and hopefully my future job) is to identify areas and issues and improve upon them. It is a lot of testing and refinement. A process can’t be changed without data to back up the change.
NICOLE WOOD
High School: Stockbridge
Branch: Navy, 2013-2015, USS Theodore Roosevelt and Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth
Military Job: Boatswain Mates, administration
WCC Program: Associate in General Studies (2024); currently Clinical Laboratory Sciences at Eastern Michigan University
Q: What are the benefits at WCC, especially for veterans?
A: The benefits at WCC include the support from staff, as well as all of my instructors, my advisor Ashley Starks, and the Tutoring Center. Everybody inside the Veterans Center was welcoming, kind, always willing to help and made me feel like family. WCC prepared me for success through the education, extra classes offered to help in my future career, mentoring and guidance from almost all of my instructors, who saw potential in me when I couldn’t see it myself.
Q: What are your ultimate career goals?
A: My ultimate career goal is to become a pathologist’s assistant and, if I am able, maybe one day become a doctor of pathology.
Q: How did you choose your career path?
A: I have had a love for human anatomy and physiology since seventh grade. For me, performing an autopsy brings closure to families or loved ones, and in a way, it can be very healing to have answers to the unknown. A true passion of mine has always been to help people through grief at any stage. I found myself on this path over my last three semesters at WCC. … If it weren’t for my advisor, and my anatomy instructors — Marvin Boluyt, Rae Labadie and Bryan Miller — I would have settled for something else. They all believed in me, regardless of my circumstances, and therefore I believed in myself.
DID YOU KNOW?
WCC is recognized both nationally and in Michigan for its commitment to supporting nearly 500 veterans and military-connected students and dependents through comprehensive services.
LEADERS ON &
Student-Athletes are Committed to Excellence
lub sports play an important role in student life at Washtenaw Community College, offering an outlet to balance academic demands while honing athletic abilities, grow leadership skills and cultivate friendships.
WCC offers 10 women's, men's and coed team sports. Skills needed to excel in club sports also help players become better students.
Hailey Donnellon graduated from Saline High School and captained WCC's women's soccer team.
From WCC, she was recruited to play soccer for Madonna University in Livonia, where she earned an undergraduate degree in sport and exercise science.
“WCC helped give me structure and influenced me to be the student I wanted to be.” Today, Donnellon is in graduate school at Wayne State University, studying to become a clinical exercise physiologist.
Aiden Lenhardt, current captain of the men's soccer team, came to WCC for the same reasons as many others—the cost advantage and a safe space to determine “next steps.”
“WCC is allowing me to get a degree for an affordable price while figuring out what I want to do,” says Lenhardt, who is taking advantage of the 3+1
OFF THE FIELD
Transportation Technologies Transfer program with EMU.
WCC’s club sports are designed to support students both on the playing field and in their classrooms.
“Having a vibrant student life is essential for the retention efforts of any institution. Club sports serve as one of those outlets, offering students a chance to continue competing against other colleges and universities, meet new people on campus or try a sport for the first time," says Matt Lucas, Manager of Sports.
WCC offered Prince Agbaeze, who grew up in Nigeria, the opportunity to play basketball, a sport he didn't get to play in high school. He ultimately transferred to Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, where he is currently playing NCAA Division II-level basketball and completing his bachelor's degree.
“It was a way for me to do something I always wanted to do,” says Agbaeze, whose goal is to work in some form of cyber or network security.
LOVE SPORTS? LOVE YOUR CAREER!
If you love sports or dream of working in the wide world of sports (but aren’t an athlete), check out WCC’s certificate programs that can lead to direct job placement or transfer toward an exciting career on and off the field.
Sports and Entertainment Management Certificate
This 18-credit program introduces you to a variety of sports and entertainment job opportunities such as facilities and event management;
Entertainment & Recreation Manager
$73,460 annual median pay
Sports & Other Event Promoter
$109,880 annual mean wage
Sports Agent
$84,900 median annual wage
Facilities Manager
$102,340 median annual wage
Event Coordinator
$43,711 annual median pay
Esports Manager
$64,404 national average
Booking agent
$48,474 national average
* Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Indeed Career Guide
representing a professional athlete or team; sports and entertainment marketing, communications and public relations; and more.
Esports Management Certificate
This 9-credit certificate program addresses the growing demand for skilled professionals in the esports industry, offering a structured pathway for education, skill development and career advancement.
LAUNCHPAD FOR NEXT GENERATION OF BUSINESS INNOVATORS
WCC is a fertile ground for student entrepreneurs, a place where disparate backgrounds and common aspirations merge together.
Yup Joseph Zau Reng and Chase Dewey arrived at WCC in Fall 2023 and immediately joined forces in business.
Fast forward a year. They’re juggling academic course loads with multiple joint ventures. Among them: planning the launch of their “Dollars and Dreams” podcast and competing for a $10,000 prize to fund efforts to teach financial literacy to community college students statewide.
“We’re from such different backgrounds,” Dewey explains. “I’m from a very small rural town in Michigan (Pinckney), and he’s from Myanmar on the other side of the globe. But, we connect with each other in a deep way. I feel that’s the beauty of Washtenaw. There are so many groups of diverse people here, and yet we’re all students. It connects us.”
Joseph came to WCC to earn his basic credentials toward a bachelor’s degree in engineering. Dewey is doing the same as he plans to pursue a degree in business administration.
They are members of the student Investment Club, and are sharing their love of business and finance, helping budding entrepreneurs overcome common obstacles. The duo is organizing student competitions and workshops at WCC and other colleges.
There are so many groups of diverse people here, and yet we’re all students. It connects us. " "
“Dollars and Dreams,” a winning entry in a student competition hosted by WCC’s Entrepreneurship Center last year, will highlight steps that other local entrepreneurs and business leaders have taken to success.
Dewey plans to transfer to the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, while Joseph hopes to enroll at Georgia Institute of Technology to pursue an engineering degree with a focus on supply chain management.
WHAT MAKES A GREAT ENTREPRENEUR?
Entrepreneurs are go-getters, like Yup Joseph and Chase. The EC at WCC is open to students and community members alike, and services are free!
The Center empowers people to realize their dreams and works with anyone wherever they are in their journey. Services include mentoring, boot camps, business competitions, workshops, one-on-one training sessions and more.
THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER
CALL: 734-249-5880
EMAIL: entrepreneurship @wccnet.edu
TIANHANG HU
Non-degree seeking international student; two C++ courses (2024)
TianHang Hu lived in the U.S. for seven years before moving back home to China, where he has worked in private banking. After deciding to transition to a tech career he applied to several schools in the U.S. and was accepted
in the prestigious Master of Computer and Information Technology (MCIT) program at the University of Pennsylvania.
Q: How did you choose WCC?
A: I needed to fulfill for-credit prerequisites before applying for the MCIT program and a couple of others. To accomplish that, I researched online courses that satisfy their requirements.
WCC stands out for course topics and the completely asynchronous format.
Q: How did WCC set you up for success?
A: My instructors were really responsive to my questions. My academic advisor was also very prompt in answering questions. I felt welcomed here, although I am an online student, a total stranger. Recorded lectures were of great quality.
Q: What are your ultimate career goals?
A: To manage my own business or to work in big tech/quantitative trading. I am determined to integrate coding into a future job and get out of investment banking and private banking.
Q: Any advice for current or prospective students?
A: It is never too late! Don’t lose hope, trust yourself and move on.
FUTURE TECH & SPORTS LEADERS
SAYDATOU CISSE
General Studies Associate Degree, Sports & Entertainment Management Certificate (2023)
Saydatou Cisse of Ann Arbor is on her way to a dream career in marketing either for the NFL or NBA. Currently at Michigan State University pursing a bachelor’s degree in advertising management, Cisse interns with Peacock/ NBCU.
Q: We’ve heard you’re launching a podcast. Tell us about HerPOVSports.
A: HerPOVSports is an Instagram and TikTok page I created to provide a platform for women to discuss sports, post game highlights and share career advice and personal experiences within the industry. The goal is to create a judgment-free space where women can express their point of view on sports.
Q: Please share highlights about your Detroit Lions summer 2023 internship.
A: I created a content plan for 27 summer camps, fostering a sense of
community through football on all social media platforms … improving the camp's online presence and attracting a larger social media audience. This effort resulted in a 10.2% monthly increase in followers and boosted engagement by 18%
Q: How did WCC set you up for success?
A: The guidance prepared me to excel at MSU and laid a strong foundation for my future career. I gained invaluable hands-on experience working in the WCC sports office. Joining the club volleyball team and later becoming the team captain helped me develop leadership skills and a passion for sports.
I also created a sports and entertainment club. Amazing instructors and career advisors taught me the ins and outs of sports management and guided me in my resume and preparing for interviews.
