“When I graduated high school, I was a super quiet person. I didn’t want to go to a university – living in a dorm with someone would have been a nightmare for me. Even when I first started here, I was super reserved, but over the last two years I’ve really opened up. It’s pretty awesome.”

Detroit native Robert Berry attended Cass Tech High School, where he often found himself in a classroom with 40 other students. Now Macomb offers the business major classes which are usually half that size and where professors call him by name. That’s helped him come out of his shell and become the Student Life and Leadership Event Coordinator, the Fundraising Coordinator of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and President of the Study Abroad student organization. He also just helped start a classic card game club and is part of a group planning the inaugural Macomb-A-Con event on April 1.

“The more time I spent on campus, the more I wanted to do. At first I thought I would just show up, go to class and be done, but my first semester changed that. I’m so glad I did so much more. I was given an opportunity to go back to school, and I wasn’t going to waste it.”

After 26 years working in the banking industry, Katie Williams-Campbell found herself laid off in 2013. With two children at home, she knew that if she went back to school for a new career, it had to be close and affordable, but she didn’t know Macomb would deliver those benefits plus so many opportunities to connect socially. Katie became a member of the Student Organization of Medical Assistants, an active participant in the Macomb Mulitcultural International Initiatives, and a tour guide for incoming students. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in December and now works as a clinical service representative at Henry Ford Hospital and as a certified medical assistant in Shelby Township. Her daughter, Lauren, works at Macomb’s Reading & Writing Studios.

“I chose Macomb because it is well known for its Veterinary Technician Program, rated the top program nationwide.  I also didn’t want to worry about transferring credits from college to college.  My experience at Macomb has been amazing!  They really take care of their students.  They are top notch in customer service and treat you with respect every time you come onto campus.  I am so thankful and proud to be a Macomb student.”

Chris Reynolds, a graduate of Lapeer High School, is attending Macomb as an “affiliate” student, which means he receives a reduced tuition rate as a non-county resident because he lives in a community that is not located within a community college district.  He is also, big surprise, “a lifelong animal lover,” and recently adopted dogs, Mya and Oreo, from the program.  Here he  is shown with Quiz, the vet tech students’ mascot.

“I think Macomb is a very open-minded school.  There are so many opportunities to learn about the community and about different cultures.   Through the Macomb Multicultural International Initiatives events, I’m learning to embrace other countries around the world.  And my work-study job (in the College’s Graphics and Publications Department) is like an internship, it’s helping me prepare for the real world.  I’m very thankful to Macomb for getting me in touch with things I’m passionate about, and Career Services is helping me with my career planning.”

Lance Hang, who attended Wayne State University for a year before coming to Macomb because, “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do.” He will graduate with an Associate Degree in General Studies in 2016 and intends to pursue a bachelor’s degree in communications or marketing and later enter law school to earn his juris doctorate.

“When I got into classes at Macomb, I knew a lot of people because I went to high school with them or I saw them at football games. It’s a closer atmosphere for me. Knowing Macomb has smaller classes, 25 to 40 people – to me, it helps with the transition from college to university. I was a B/C student in high school – I’d get an occasional A. People always think college is scary, but I’m a 3.9 student at Macomb now. There’s definitely something here that helps students. I’ve never been an all-A student, and having all As is really nice.”

Kelly Kozowicz graduated from Utica Eisenhower High School and is now studying at Macomb toward a career in criminal justice. She is working with her counselors to dual enroll at Oakland University next fall.

“For sports, a lot of kids think about it as ‘you’re not good if you don’t go to a university.’ But for me, it’s giving me a lot more experience whereas if I would’ve attended a university and not played, you’re just sitting there watching. And a lot of Macomb’s classes transfer way easier than a lot of the other junior colleges I was looking at. That was a huge impact on why I went here.”

Brandon Williams was a state champion hockey player in 2013 and a Division I All-State baseball player in 2015 at nearby Sterling Heights Stevenson High School. He was voted Most Valuable Player of the Macomb Area Conference’s top baseball division as a senior and finished his high school career playing at Comerica Park in the state All-Star Game. He is scheduled to play first base and pitcher for Macomb, which opens play March 4.

“The things I have learned in my pre-social work class with Professor (Rochelle) Zaranek about what the school offers allowed me to be apart of many activities and programs. Macomb has been a great school to attend, and I’m glad that I chose this as a first step in my college journey.”

Camilla Smith, Dec. 2016 Macomb graduate, transferring to Wayne State University to study social work. Camilla won the 2016 MLK essay contest.