Real Students of Macomb

When Jennifer Lafon received the First State Bank Scholarship for Foster Students, not once, but twice, she considered it a win for a misunderstood segment of society.

“So often, foster children are seen as trouble, that’s it somehow their fault,” says Lafon. “But when a financial institution sees the value and invests in this underrepresented population, it’s truly remarkable. It sends out a message of hope.”

Lafon entered the Foster Care System when she was 13 after the successive deaths of her grandparents, with whom she lived. She was taken out of school and placed into emergency foster care. Her belongings from the only home she had ever known arrived a week later in four plastic bags.

“My whole life was placed on the floor in front of me,” relates Lafon, “reduced to exactly how I felt about myself. Garbage.”

Determined to be able to take care of herself, Lafon, who lives on her own, enrolled at Macomb and started on a path toward a business degree. She would “reward” herself with a humanities class now and then, trying to quell the sense that she was compromising a deep-seeded desire to make the system work for others.

“I realized that just because I could do something didn’t mean I should do it for the rest of my life,” says Lafon. “I reflected on all the people and groups that inspired me and my experiences and compassion for others, and tried to imagine a career that included the value they brought into my life. Social work revealed itself every time.”

Lafon received her first scholarship from First State Bank while attending Macomb and says it was “a huge relief.”  She transferred to Wayne State University and was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work when the University of Detroit Mercy offered a full scholarship and a job in its alumni relations office. She received her second scholarship from First State Bank this summer to return to Macomb as a Guest Student, taking general education courses that she needed. It was a welcomed reunion.

“I owe so much to the education that I received at Macomb,” says Lafon. “It taught me what truly matters is what you are most passionate about.”

Lafon was selected to give the student address at the college’s December 2018 commencement, when she received her Associate of General Studies degree. In her speech, she called out the “beautiful people” at Macomb who had helped her “curate” her past experiences into a future helping others. And she bravely shared that there had been a moment of hesitation before deciding upon social work as her major.

“It was terrifying to realize I was considering a career that could cause me to relive the years I was in foster care,” Lafon told her audience. “But, if I could help just one foster kid not feel like they are garbage, any emotional cost to me would be worth it.”

1.7 to 3.9. That number represents the incredible leap Jenna Gilbert’s GPA took from her freshman year in high school to her recent graduation from Macomb.

“When I was in high school, I always had an issue with learning,” explains Gilbert. Due to a difficult childhood experience, she forgot how to read in third grade, contributing to her later academic struggles. She went on to graduate with a 2.9 GPA.

Upon coming to Macomb, something “clicked.” Gilbert discovered she liked the emphasis on self-reliance; that college placed the onus on her to complete her work. She was also grateful for the support she received from Macomb’s faculty.

“All of my professors, right off the bat, really encouraged me to be better,” says Gilbert. “They give you almost personal pats on the back whenever you get a good grade.”

Early on, Gilbert planned to major in nursing or follow in her mother’s footsteps and pursue a degree in social work. Gilbert took a special interest in her mother’s required continuing education studies, especially anything involving psychology, such as brain and behavior or drugs. After taking two of Professor Paulina Multhaupt’s classes, Abnormal Psychology and Brain and Behavior, Gilbert had a transformative moment.

“I think she’s one of the reasons where I was like, ‘Okay, you know what? I really like psychology,’” says Gilbert. “I should probably stop messing around with social work and just do it.”

Professor Multhaupt also helped Gilbert come to a personal realization: Perhaps she needed a little outside help to take charge of her life. On the first day of Brain and Behavior, Multhaupt advised students not to self-diagnose themselves. As is often the case with psychology students, Gilbert didn’t heed her professor’s advice. Their ensuing conversation, along with Multhaupt’s “no judgement” demeanor, gently helped Gilbert understand that she needed to place emphasis on her well-being and see a therapist. She appreciated having someone who could listen to her problems and help her address them.

“Even if going to therapy means you’re losing an hour of studying,” notes Gilbert, “It’s more than worth it in the long run.”

The payoff became readily apparent when Gilbert participated in December’s commencement ceremony. The recent Macomb alumna, who extended her studies into winter semester, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 3.9 GPA. Gilbert’s academic achievements, which now include a $12,000 scholarship to Wayne State, where she’ll be taking five courses in the fall, frequently bring tears of joy to her eyes.

“I don’t know if I could have done it at a different university, or if I had gone straight to university or a different community college,” concludes Gilbert. “I feel like [Macomb] helped a lot.”

With an educational journey at Macomb spanning more than 20 years, Media and Communication Arts (MACA) student Anna Wagner is the model example of a lifelong learner.

Wagner graduated with a master’s degree in education from the Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in her native country, Poland, before coming to the United States. Eager to work, she discovered she would need to obtain state certifications on top of those she had previously been awarded. She decided to take a different approach.

“When I came here, I really had a chance to start over,” explains Wagner. “If I had to go to school again, I wanted to follow my true passion.”

What drove Wagner to further her studies was the artistic pursuits; more specifically, graphic design. She always had a creative flair, but never had the opportunity to acquire training in the arts. In 1998, she enrolled in Macomb’s Graphic and Communication Arts Program (now MACA). Thus began her two decades-long relationship with the college and its faculty.

“In all the years I studied at Macomb, I’ve never had a teacher who didn’t care about how well the students do,” relates Wagner. “They go out of their way to help you. They stay after hours. They come on the weekend. They put [up] their own time and effort to make sure that you succeed.”

In 2001, Wagner graduated summa cum laude with an Associate of Applied Science degree from Macomb. Shortly thereafter, she paused her career to stay home and care for her newborn daughter. She returned to the workforce in 2005, accepting an internship with a video production company that worked closely with Comcast. What was supposed to be a 10-week stint turned into 11 months of employment, abruptly ending when the telecommunications giant stopped outsourcing creative work and began producing their commercials in house. That’s when she decided it would be a good idea to come back to Macomb and freshen up her abilities.

“People with broader and more current abilities can replace you, and I don’t want to be replaced,” notes Wagner. “So, I have to stay on top, keep improving. And this school gives me just the right opportunity to do that at a reasonable cost.”

Through the recommendation of professors Brian Sauriol and Michael Crumb, Wagner was hired for a position at General Motors in 2008. Her career has since blossomed. She now works as a User Interface Designer and is extensively involved in the development of vehicle infotainment systems. Through the use of touchscreens, voice activated functions and remote connections, users can control their radios, make and receive calls and safely navigate to their destinations.

“It’s the psychology of the human – machine interaction that really draws me into it,” adds Wagner. “If people find their car communication system easy to use without reading [a] manual, that’s a good design. And if it also looks appealing, it makes it a great design.”

It has been a rewarding experience for Wagner, who believes “half of the credit” for her unique skillset belongs to Macomb, to which she returned in 2007 and, more recently, in 2018 to grow her web design capabilities and ensure her relevance in the workplace. “I owe this constant hunger for more knowledge and skills to the great programs and dedicated faculty at Macomb who encouraged, nurtured and helped me develop my competence and passion for art and design.”

What does the future hold for Wagner, who recently completed her final semester studying Interactive Web Design? While she may take another class here and there to stay current, she also wouldn’t be opposed to approaching the head of the classroom and teaching at some point. The idea isn’t so far-fetched for Wagner, who has developed a unique bond with Macomb’s MACA faculty. “Everybody knows me. I’ve been here for so long. I can have a really good conversation with the teachers, and input what I know from work when they want to improve existing programs or create new classes,” says Wagner. “It’s a very specific relationship that I have with this school. It’s not just what I take, but also what I give back.”

As a mother of three, Kathryn McGlasson admits that sleep is one of the sacrifices she makes in order to attend Macomb and finish her degree. But Ellieanna, 10; Giovanni, 2; and Wilson Harry Morrison IV, five months, are the three reasons she gladly rubs her eyes and goes to class.

“I want to have a secure job so that I may provide for them and myself,” says McGlasson, 26. “Macomb offers room for me to advance and an opportunity to believe in a bright future. Here, I can find my first stepping stone to success.”

McGlasson attended Macomb previously, but took a break when Giovanni was born. During the past fall semester, she took classes strictly online as she prepared for Wilson’s birth in October.  This semester, she is completing her last two classes and will graduate in May. Then, on to Oakland University to pursue a degree in psychology and a career as a substance abuse counselor, with hopes of eventually becoming a clinical psychologist.

“I like helping people,” says McGlasson. “I’ve known people who have gone through stuff, and I want to be the person that’s there for them.”

In her own life, McGlasson is grateful that her father has been there for her. He looks after the children when she is studying or at school and her partner, Wilson, is at work. She is also appreciative of the free academic resources that Macomb provides.

“The Reading and Writing Studio has helped me keep on track with my assignments,” she says, “and the Learning Center has given me a lot of assistance.”

McGlasson “likes to get things done and move on to new things,” she says, which is why online classes have worked well for her. But she still takes on-ground classes when she can, just to be connected to the campus environment that motivates and inspires her.

“I like the scenery and all the flowers, and the architecture is so cool,” says McGlasson. “Most of the teachers have been pretty great, too, and I’ve made a lot of new friends.”  

In between talking about school and her family, McGlasson pauses to marvel at the number of “cute” baby clothes she has for her blued-eyed youngest. More, she says, than have ever hung in her own closet.  And that to her is a cause for pride. 

“All the kids take a lot of energy,” affirms McGlasson. “But I love them all and am proud to make them happy and to be a good mother. And although “balancing family time with school time has been a challenge,” McGlasson wouldn’t have it any other way. “Macomb Community College is one of the things in my life that I can wake up and look forward to. It’s been a really great experience,” she says. “It gives me hope that I can achieve something great for my family and I. I am thrilled to be getting my degree.”

Xandraya Rodriguez was offered a partial scholarship to the College for Creative Studies after graduating from Lakeshore High School. Instead, she opted for a more practical pathway.

“I’m all about blending business with art, not just art itself,” says Rodriguez. “Macomb’s MACA (Media and Communication Arts) program fit me better personally.  Illustration is my passion, but I want to be working at something. And even with the partial scholarship, Macomb is still less expensive.”

Rodriguez is studying both Creative Imaging and Illustration, and Design and Layout at Macomb and expects to graduate in May. But nothing has taught her more about pleasing a client than a recent competition held by Selfridge Air National Guard Base for the design of a coin to commemorate its air show this year. Rodriguez’ design took first place. 

“I was very honored that they picked my design,” says the Harrison Township resident, who was accompanied to the awards ceremony at Selfridge by her husband, Christian Rodriguez, and two of her MACA professors: Kris Mellebrand and Mary Bush. “I worked on it for about a week, and then it all came together. I was so excited that I met their vision.”

On the front of the coin, Rodriguez incorporated the logo of the 127^th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard, which is based at Selfridge, with the Michigan mitten superimposed over an image of the American flag. On the back are the words: “The Next 100 Years,” the theme of next year’s air show.  

“Because my husband was in the military, I was familiar with military coins,” relates Rodriguez. “The Selfridge coin will be two inches in diameter, and I wanted it to portray Macomb County as the heart of Michigan, with jet planes signifying the air show.”

In addition to her classes, Rodriguez also serves as the design editor for Sketches magazine, which spotlights the literary and artistic talents of Macomb students. She’s also a figure model in Macomb’s art classes, works part time at a florist’s shop, makes wreaths and other crafts in her home studio/workshop (shown in photo) and designs costumes, including a coat of armor made out of foam that she wore for Halloween, as well as her own clothes.  

“I still have my very first skirt, a skater-girl skirt,” offers Rodriguez. “It’s a navy floral that I made from a pair of sheets I got at the Salvation Army. I am so against fast fashion – so much waste. I like to reutilize whenever I can.”  

After graduation and a possible move out of state to accommodate her husband’s job, Rodriguez hopes to find work as a graphic designer with a company or launch her own freelancing career. A bachelor’s degree is likely on the horizon as well.  No matter what direction she takes, she is confident that Macomb has prepared her well.

“Any student looking into a design career, should go to Macomb if they strive to be the very best,” says Rodriguez. “A lot of the professors in the MACA program have worked in the field and are effective at what they do. The group projects are fun and a great way to network with other students. I’ve really enjoyed my time here.”       

For some of the shifts during her nursing externship in intensive care at Detroit Receiving Hospital, Alyssa McKay carpools with her mom, who often switches up her own work schedule to accommodate her daughter’s. It gives the pair a chance to compare notes about the work they are both passionate about.

“I don’t think she has ever come home and said her job was easy, but I see how much she loves it,” says McKay of mom Alison, a nurse at Harper Hospital and a 2006 graduate of Macomb’s Nursing Program. “It’s been very fulfilling for her.”

Both McKays live in St. Clair Shores in what the Macomb nursing student lovingly refers to as “a home for misfit animals.” A graduate of Southlake High School, McKay knew early on that she wanted a career related to science.  An animal lover whose “misfits” include three rescues: a Doberman, Labrador and Siberian husky mix, she considered going into Macomb’s Veterinary Technician Program.  But success in her physiology and anatomy classes suggested another career path, and she chose to follow her mom’s lead and apply for admission to Macomb’s Nursing Program.  

 “The setup and the faculty are amazing. We get to focus on one class at a time. I really like that format,” says McKay, who will graduate in May and likely be hired full time at Detroit Receiving. “I haven’t had one faculty (member) that I didn’t like. They are so smart and available. They give you a lot of help when you need it.”

McKay was elected president of the Student Nurses Association (SNA) last semester, leading her classmates in Thursday study nights soon after. Recognizing that health care professionals are more likely to encounter physical violence than those in less public-facing careers, McKay arranged for an off-site self-defense class for SNA members. Then there was a group trip to Lansing in October at the invitation of the Michigan Nurses Association, where the student nurses learned more about the proposed Safe Patient Care Act. That was followed by McKay’s solo attendance at a student nursing conference in Chicago and, with her SNA officers, coordination of an on-campus professional development day for all of Macomb’s student nurses in November. 

“I was not planning on being president, but no one else wanted it. I wanted to change that lack of involvement,” says McKay. “I thought, ‘Okay, let’s make this organization something we can be proud of as students.’ Fortunately, I have amazing officers.  They always stick by my side.”

Admittedly, the demands of school, work and the SNA leave McKay with little time to walk her dogs in the park or dote on her little nephew, among her favorite things to do. But she’s definitely not complaining.  “I love the nursing profession,” says McKay, who intends to transfer to Oakland University and earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing, with her tuition reimbursed by Detroit Receiving. “I like getting to know my patients, and I feel lucky that I get to be the one to care for them.” 

In words that will resonate with world travelers everywhere, Tessa Lau signed up for a study abroad trip this past summer hoping to “spend some time away from normal.”  It’s safe to say she wasn’t disappointed.

“It was an amazing experience,” says Lau, of the trip she took with Professor Susanna Williams and nine other classmates to Granada, Spain, which included Spanish language classes at the Centro de Lenguas Modernas, Universidad de Granada. “We met from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a short break, and we only conversed in Spanish.  My Spanish improved tremendously.”

Lau and her roommate/newfound friend, Melody Momper, stayed with a mother and daughter at an apartment in walking distance from Granada’s downtown.  From her hosts, Lau learned how to make yogurt from scratch and appreciate the finer details of daily life.  

“I so enjoyed the family that I stayed with.  They wanted to share their country with me,” says Lau. “Mare (her host/mother) knows French and Greek, and she cooks incredibly good, healthy food.  Her daughter Teresa is so talented.  She plays piano and is really fun.  I am so glad I got to know them. We are still in touch.”

After class each day, Lau and her classmates would meet up with Professor Williams outside of the Granada Cathedral, a Spanish Renaissance wonder that took 200 years to build.  They would then have lunch at one of the nearby cafes. 

“All of the food there is really good,” says Lau, who became fond of Spanish frittata – eggs and potatoes prepared much like an omelet.  “I also loved the ham sandwiches with olive oil and fresh tomatoes that you could buy on the street.”

A stay in Granada is not complete without a visit to the Alhambra, famous for its Islamic architecture, lush gardens and many fountains.  It was once home to the royal court of Ferdinand and Isabella, the king and queen who commissioned Christopher Columbus’ journey to the New World. 

“It didn’t seem real,” says Lau, shown here with her sister Ava (left) in Granada, where they met up near the end of the trip. “When you look up at it at night from the Mirador (tower) de San Nicolas and it’s all lit up, it’s magical.”

During her two weeks in Granada, Lau also gave much thought to her career.  After seeing the stunning work of human hands so evident throughout Granada, she decided to venture into a new normal when she returned home.

“I wanted to do something I love every day, and I wanted it be creative. I had done some metal fabricating when I helped a friend build a food cart, and I really liked it,” says Lau, who changed her major from general studies to welding this fall. “It looks like a really interesting career. I’m hoping to get an apprenticeship.”