Real Students of Macomb

Sam Leonardi counts Automatic Transmissions as a favorite class, nabbed an internship in the service area of Merollis Chevrolet and just received a $2,000 scholarship from Grainger Tools, which included some sweet additions to the aspiring service tech’s toolbox. It’s only when dealing with some clerks at auto parts stores that the 19-year-old Lakeview High grad is reminded about currently being the only woman in the GM ASEP program.

“Luckily in my school and work, it’s not an issue,” says Leonardi, whose full name is Samantha.   “But I still have to deal with it when trying to have conversations about cars with some people.”

A corporate-sanctioned automotive technician training program that leads to an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Automotive Technology, GM ASEP is 80 weeks long, with time divided between classroom/auto lab and a GM dealership or private repair facility.

“The experience has been awesome. I have been with these same guys for two years and some of them will probably be lifelong friends,” says Leonardi. “The experience at the dealership has been great as well.  I have learned a lot and made a lot of friends there too.”

Leonardi looked under her first hood in the company of her father and, after taking every auto tech class Lakeview offered, one of her teachers recommended her for Macomb’s GM ASEP program in her senior year. The only thing compromising her loyalty to the GM brand now is the classic car she has spent years dreaming about.

“The 1969 Dodge Charger is a beautiful vehicle, and has a lot of potential,” says Leonardi.  “I want one that has a V8 Hemi motor with a blower on top and off-road suspension package.  Flat black, with chrome trim, and a red stripe wrapped around the rear end.”

With La La Land an early favorite for Golden Globe and Oscar honors, members of the Macombers are no doubt cheering the revival of the Hollywood musical. And for one of these singing ambassadors, the film may remind of another palm-treed haven of which many dreams have been made.

“When I was 15, my mom was transferred to Maui,” relates Veronica Russell, who grew up in Ortonville in Oakland County. “We drove to California, flew to Hawaii and lived in a hotel for a few months before we found an apartment. I’m so glad to have had that experience.  Back then, though, it was a little hard. I missed my friends.”

While Maui offered many sunny distractions, Veronica spent a fair share of her time in high school productions.  When she was invited to join the Macombers in 2016, her repertoire included My Fair Lady, Phantom of the Opera and Cinderella. She had moved back to Michigan by then, after the pull of other family, friends and snow proved too great to resist.

“My dad had just moved from Georgia to Clinton Township and offered me a place to stay. I had never been to Macomb County before, all I knew was that it had a great community college,” relates Veronica, a history major. “My aunt was a Macomber in the 1980s, and she encouraged me to audition. I was too scared the first year, but last spring decided to try.  I absolutely love it.”

The Macombers rehearse five hours a week, average 40 performances a year and receive scholarships to compensate for the time they dedicate to the troupe. For Veronica, shown here before a Macombers’ performance with a very special guest, there is also something else that keeps her singing.

“It’s the friendships,” she says. “I miss my mom, who lives on the Big Island now, but I’ve had so much fun here. Macomb is the first school where I have ever really thrived.”

The last presidential election, which Emanuel Dushaj likened to a “civil war” of words, has convinced him that he is on the right track, which he hopes will lead to George Washington University and a law degree.  But not for the reason one might think.

“I can’t be a politician, I take things to heart,” says Dushaj, a Macomb history and political science major. “I do want to go to law school. Not to work for a corporation, but to serve the human condition.  A job with the United Nations is my ultimate dream.”

A law degree, believe Dushaj, will “open doors” for him that other fields cannot.  And through those doors he wants to take on such issues as the environment, terrorism and human trafficking. Participating in a recent conversation on the last election via interactive video with students from the University of California, Berkeley, coordinated by his political science professor, Dushaj came dressed in a suit because, he says, “your appearance says a lot.”  And so, too, the manner in which you present your opinions to others.

“No one takes time for persuasion anymore,” reflects Dushaj.  “People are too quick to label others who don’t agree with them.  You will never persuade anyone if you label them.”

Enrolling at Macomb after graduating from L’Anse Creuse North High School, Dushaj intends to transfer to Wayne State before moving to Washington, D.C., to pursue his law degree. “Coming to Macomb was one of the best things I could have done in my life,” says the 18-year-old, who balances full-time studies with a customer service job at AT&T. “I really appreciate the opportunities that I have been given here.”

In high school, Lisa Cole thought she might like to become an artist until her practical side won out and she briefly majored in psychology.  Then came an arc of inspiration that has provided her with practical skills and the possibility of a creative future.

“My grandma has worked in shops since I can remember and I always thought how cool it was she could handle the same kind of work men could. We saw a news show on welding, and I asked her if she thought I could do it, and she encouraged me to try,” says Lisa, who first attended Macomb after graduating from Roseville High School, but left after struggling with a major she really didn’t want. “Going back to Macomb for welding really changed my mind about school.  It made it something fun to learn and to do.”

Lisa is one class away from her advanced certification in welding and is employed full time as a welder at Triune in Troy. She intends to continue on and earn an associate degree. Eventually, the former ceramicist hopes to begin welding her own art pieces and selling them at art fairs.

“Some of the guys I work with make some awesome things on their lunch hours,” says Lisa.  “There is such an artistic side to welding.  And it wasn’t as threatening as I thought it would be. The hardest part was finding small enough welding gloves.”

Declan Kirby isn’t normally comfortable in front of a crowd. But Macomb’s first elevator pitch competition helped Kirby conquer that fear – and win recognition for his business idea.

“I always get nervous before going up in front of people, but this was all about something I’m passionate about, so it forced me to relax and be confident in myself,” said Kirby, who took first place out of 20 competitors in the event sponsored by Macomb Community College’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE).

Kirby, a Macomb business management major, heard about the competition in class and came up with a pitch to make headphone earbuds from an eco-friendly, plastic-like material made from mushrooms. He and the other participants were coached by CIE staff and received a tour of the Quicken Loans building in Detroit. They then pitched their ideas one at a time to a successful entrepreneur while riding an elevator, imitating a chance encounter that might happen in the business world. Selected as one of four finalists, Kelly then pitched on stage to four judges, earning first place and $500. He also received a few business cards from people interested in hearing more.

“It was a wonderful chance to network with professionals and get advice,” he said.

Kirby plans to continue toward a bachelor’s degree in business and hopes to create a functional prototype of his headphones in order to attract more funding. His advice for future participants is to rehearse a lot and choose something you’re passionate about.

“If you’re not passionate about your topic,” he said, “then why should anyone else be?”

Antonio Capaldi uses the word “blessed” a lot to describe his first year as a Macomb student. The Eastpointe native has found success and opportunity both as a member of the men’s basketball team, averaging nearly 10 points a game including 20 in the regional championship, and as a campus leader.

“Macomb helped me center my life,” Capaldi said. “It helped show me what I want to do, how I want to do it, where I want to do it. Without Macomb, I don’t know where I’d be.”

Capaldi, who is thinking of studying education to become an administrator and coach, made the dean’s list after earning a 4.0 in the summer semester, and he credits Heather Mayernik, his College Study Success Skills professor, with helping him make the academic transition to college. He’s been asked to speak to incoming students and younger teammates about being a successful student. He was also invited to attend the Shining Light Awards, where he met NBA Hall of Famer and former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing. As he walked into that event full of CEOs, civic leaders and other successful community members, Mayernik told him, “This could be you one day.”

Although he could not have imagined that a year ago, Capaldi replied: “Yes, it could.”

The Monarchs basketball season starts in November. Check out their schedule and follow them on Twitter.

“I love music,” says Katie Braschayko, a Macomb sophomore and sax player with an affinity for the New Orleans’ stylings of the late, great Sidney Bechet.  “My dad’s a classical jazz kind of guy, so I grew up listening to it. I played clarinet in high school before switching to sax. I like being in the bass line and I like to be heard!”

Katie is a member of Macomb’s Jazz Band and is also taking classes in piano. While uncertain about a major, maybe sports management, she is on the path toward a minor in music. A member of jazz band in high school, Katie wanted to attend a college that offered the same opportunity. In addition to jazz band, Macomb also sponsors a concert choir, concert band, symphony orchestra and the Macombers, a singing and dancing troupe for which auditions are held each spring. And does Katie mind those 7 p.m. practices after a day of classes and working at a local restaurant? “You get to end your day playing jazz,” she says. “It doesn’t get much better than that!”