Real Students of Macomb

Morgan Lashbrook’s career plans do not fit neatly into a portfolio. She is on a mission to “change the world of design,” and she credits Macomb for giving her the foundational skills she will need to do so.

Lashbrook is technically an alumna, after graduating near the top of her class, receiving the Most Distinguished Graduate honor and providing the commencement address on May 11.  But her student perspective is still fresh as she heads off to the College for Creative Studies (CCS) this fall, where she will begin work on her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Communication Design.

“From the first semester, I was blown away by the amount of artistic and design talent that comes out of the MACA (Media and Communication Arts) Program said Lashbrook, a graduate of Lamphere High School in Madison Heights who earned associate degrees in Interactive Web Media, and Design and Layout. “Macomb students were going up against students from four-year colleges for industry jobs and getting them. It seemed like a program that really provided you with the skills you needed to get a job.”

Lashbrook works at The Collegiate Bead Company and has progressed from intern to graphic designer to creative projects manager. She is also a member of Macomb’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year college students.  After CCS, she intends to earn another bachelor’s degree in computer science, possibly from Yale University, with the goal of expanding the capabilities of interactive media to better accommodate the needs of those with limited fields of vision.

“Paul Rand, a legend in the field of design, taught at Yale for many years,” explained Lashbrook of her top transfer choice from CCS. “I feel that it has a strong background in design and that I could best accomplish my intent of using the powers of design and computer science to change the world of design by conducting research, creating and learning.”

At commencement, Lashbrook told her fellow graduates how much they had “inspired” her. “I was fortunate enough to cross paths with students who each had their own story and I learned from them,” said Lashbrook, who, likewise, holds MACA faculty in high regard.

“Macomb provided me with the direction and confidence to go after my goals and future plans,” said Lashbrook. “Thanks to the mentorship of the faculty and the great learning environment at Macomb, I feel I am prepared to take on the rest of my life.”

Brooke Sasinowski has always loved Legos. She’s turned that curiosity for putting things together into a business that’s winning major recognition.

Sasinowski and her 3D printing business, 3D-ology, recently took 1^st place in the Macomb Community College Student Pitch Competition, sponsored by the College’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). Sasinowski presented her business idea to a panel of entrepreneurial experts, who voted her worthy of the $1,000 top prize.

“I was shocked and surprised,” said Sasinowski, who attended Henry Ford II High School and the Utica Center for Science and Industry. “It felt good to see that other people believed in my business.”

Despite her interests in technology, Sasinowski came to Macomb to pursue a business degree so that she could manage her own company. Discovering the CIE and its resources for aspiring student business owners was a big part of her interest in Macomb.

“I’ve enjoyed checking out Macomb’s campus and talking with Susan McPhillips at the CIE,” she said.

Sasinowski began 3D printing in high school, then branched out to making vintage remote control car and pinball machine parts on her own. She said she will put the prize money toward buying better equipment that will expand her capabilities.

“What I like about 3D printing is that you can design anything,” she said. “Anyone who has an idea, I can turn it into 3D parts.”

Soccer was too slow of a game for Kayla Cornett, so she switched to volleyball during her freshman year at Wylie E. Groves High School. It was a good move that ultimately scored her an athletic scholarship to attend Macomb.

“I love the fast pace of volleyball,” says Cornett, who played for the Birmingham Groves Falcons for four years. “My (Macomb) volleyball coach, Irick Gardner, has inspired me.  He taught me how to give 100 percent and love the game unconditionally.”

Cornett balances her studies and court time with a part-time job in a tanning salon.  She also commutes to campus from Beverly Hills in Oakland County where she lives. But, she says, it’s all time well spent.

“This past season on Macomb’s volleyball has been awesome.  I have met so many girls and have made many new friends,” offers Cornett.  “It has also taught me skills that I use on the court as well as off the court.”

A business major for now, Cornett is still exploring her career options and has found Macomb to be an excellent place for discovering herself.  No matter what she decides upon, she intends to have a side job coaching a club team once she finishes college.  Cornett is hoping another volleyball scholarship comes her way, which will help her choose a college or university to transfer to after she graduates from Macomb. And, by then, she also hopes she has settled on a permanent major.

“Macomb has made my transition from high school to college very smooth. Class size is about 30 and that makes it easier for you to work with your peers as well as getting the extra help from your professor if you need it,” says Cornett.  “I would recommend Macomb to other students, especially if you are unsure what you want your major to be.”

Christa Dash attended Michigan State University immediately after graduating from high school but returned home to help care for her ailing mom.  She intended to return to college when time allowed, but it wasn’t until her son encouraged her to join him at Macomb that she enrolled.

“He’s my hero,” says Dash of William, a senior at Oakland University who has an autism spectrum disorder. “He was my inspiration to go back to school.”

Dash will receive an Associate Degree in General Studies in May. Working full time at Montessori Children’s Academy in Clinton Township, she has been taking two, sometimes three classes, each semester.

“The first time walking into class I was petrified.  I thought ‘I’m not smart enough to be here,’” says Dash. “Then I got my first A, and it gave me confidence to continue.  Now the excitement I feel when I go to school is incredible.”

After experiencing a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), or mini-stroke, Dash needs a little more time taking tests than is generally allotted. And her son, who does not drive, sometimes needs a ride to or from his classes at Oakland. “My professors understand,” she says, “and are always willing to work with me.”

Despite the challenges she faces, Dash’s grades have earned her membership in Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. With the assistance of her Macomb counselor, Patricia Dolengowski, she has charted a path that includes transfer to Oakland or Wayne State University to earn a bachelor’s degree in social work.

“Psychology and sociology classes have been my favorite,” says Dash. “I feel my niche will be in working with children and young adults with an autism spectrum disorder or senior citizens.”

In addition to her son, providing Dash moral support throughout her educational journey have been her colleagues at Montessori, where she has worked for 18 years, and her husband, Michael.

“He’s been very supportive,” says Dash.  “He’ll help around the house so I can do what I have to do.  And what I do on weekends is study.”

Because of her dedication, Dash is likely to graduate with cum laude honors and a transfer scholarship to one of her two university choices.  And when she attends the first day of class, she’s confident she will be prepared not petrified.

“I am thoroughly impressed by the fact that I can go to a community college and my professor has a Ph.D.,” says Dash.  “I am paying a lot less for the same experience I would have gotten if I started at a university.”

Hydrangea Kitchen may sound like an odd name for a restaurant with a menu that leans to the south of the border.  But the hardy blooms with vivid colors are favorites of the mother of the Macomb student who runs it.

“My mom, Malo, did all the decorating, my dad helps manage it and my husband helps me do the shopping,” says Megan Kasprzycki, a culinary arts student set to graduate in May.  “I do all the cooking.  And wash the dishes.”

In 2011, at only 23, she may have seemed young to open up her own restaurant, but the hospitality industry is a part of Kasprzycki’s career DNA.  Dad Randy Villareal manages the Motor City Casino Hotel in Detroit and previously ran the Biltmore in Los Angeles. One brother graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and bartends in Chicago, another is a restaurant manager in Washington and the third is a sommelier in California.  Likewise, husband Peter is a catering manager for Einstein Bagels, as well as his wife’s right-hand man.

“He will close the restaurant when I have to leave early for school,” says Kasprzycki. “It takes a whole team to make this work.”

Kasprzycki starts working solo at 5:30 a.m., assisted by two servers during the breakfast and lunch rushes.  It wasn’t until after she adjusted the restaurant’s hours, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., that Kasprzycki found time to attend culinary classes at Macomb. She started out at Schoolcraft, but it offered few evening classes. At Macomb, she found it wasn’t just the hours that were more accommodating.

Natalie Timmer loves animals, is a bit shy around people and grew up in a family that adopted retired greyhounds and other rescue animals, so becoming a veterinarian made perfect sense, until it didn’t.

“I was in pre-vet at Grand Valley State University when tonsillitis and pneumonia forced me to go home and rest,” says Timmer, who used that time to reconsider her major. “Vet techs spend more time with their patients than vets do – and helping animals is where my heart is. So I decided I wanted to be a vet tech instead.”

Once that difficult decision was made, choosing a college was the easy part for the Troy Athens High School grad.

“Macomb is very well known for putting out some of the best vet techs in the country,” says Timmer. “It’s a difficult program, but if you can stick it out, you will be an incredible vet tech.”

Timmer is now in her second year in the program and, following an internship, was hired by Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners in Auburn Hills. Recently she received a $1,000 scholarship from the Southeast Michigan Veterinary Medical Association (SMVMA) to continue her studies.

“I was ecstatic, I was so thrilled to be recognized,” says Timmer, who along with classmate Kelly Capwell received two of the three scholarships the SMVMA gives out annually.

“One thing that MCC taught me that I believe will make me a better technician is their policy of Outstanding Technical Skills – Outstanding People Skills,” wrote Timmer in the essay she submitted in the scholarship competition. “I learned very quickly that my patients will never come to me without being attached to a person.”

And the animals Timmer is most attached to are the three dogs, one cat and one hamster that she calls her own.

“This is such a great program for a student like me,” says Timmer. “We get first dibs on adopting the animals brought in by the Macomb Animal Shelter.” That’s how two of her dogs, Leopold and Hamilton, and cat, Piper, found their furever home.

“I give a lot of credit to my parents – we’ve always had animals at home and they encouraged me to follow my heart,” offers Timmer. And so, too, she says, have the faculty at Macomb. “They are the reason I will be a successful vet tech.”

“I can’t see myself doing this too long.”

Marcel Van Buren kept having this thought while working as a custodian for Detroit Public Schools. When she was laid off, she decided it was time to finish the business degree she had started 20 years prior, before starting a family made it too hard for her to continue.

“I knew a lot of people who had gone to Macomb and were saying good things about it,” said Van Buren, a Detroit native. “When I went to sign up here, the atmosphere was friendly and everybody wanted to help me.”

Van Buren said it took some time to “get in a groove” after years away from being a student, but she took advantage of Macomb’s free tutoring and other support systems to keep going. She is scheduled to graduate this spring.

“I hope I don’t cry,” she said of receiving her diploma. “It’ll be tears of joy, though.”

Van Buren says she’s been able to apply some of the problem-solving skills she’s learned in her business classes to her new job working for a metal shop that tests parts for an automaker. She hopes to start her own cosmetics company using the skills and connections she’s gained at Macomb.

“I regret dropping out years ago, but I’m glad I came back to finish what I started,” she said. “It’s a good investment of your time going to Macomb.”