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A Publication of Mid Michigan Community College ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Expanding Horizons Small Town Dream, Big League Career Laker Becomes Off-Grid Nurse From Amish To Air Force midmich.edu 989-386-6622 President Christine Hammond (center) takes a moment to connect with students and capture a ‘selfie’ on the Laker Athletics Expansion Harrison campus. #midmoments Since the revival of athletics in 2008, the program Mid’s Lakers compete in the Michigan Community College Athletic has grown at a steady pace. Association (MCCAA) against 19 other community colleges for conference championships before being eligible for state and national tournaments. “We are excited to build our athletic program The Lakers continue to compete in the National Junior College Athletic for students and the community,” said Matt Association (NJCAA) as well. Structured comparably to the well-known NCAA Miller, Vice President of Student Services at Mid. and its associated conferences (Big 10, ACC, SEC, etc), the NJCAA includes “Our focus is always on doing it right—putting the MCCAA as one of forty junior college conferences nationwide. academics before athletics, building sustainable programs, and developing an environment that Mid currently fields men’s and women’s varsity teams in cross country, can truly support student-athletes.” bowling, and basketball. Spring 2019 will see the addition of baseball and softball to the athletic roster. The athletic programs at Mid have a solid foundation, community support, and an ongoing commitment to developing high-quality student-athletes and teams that are positioned for great achievements in the coming years. LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Friends, The days have gotten longer now, and the warm spring opportunities. Along the way, students may push their evenings bring a sunset glow to the horizon. Looking out, I internal boundaries by wrestling with complex topics and remember that no matter how far we journey, the horizon still mastering new skills. At Mid, we urge our students to consider beckons us forward. distant horizons. We know that when we travel, we gain a new appreciation of the perspectives of others and we form In this edition of Connections, our students, faculty, and friendships that encircle the globe. graduates share stories about the ways in which their education at Mid expanded their horizons. For some of our entering Mid’s impact has grown throughout our state – through students, Mid itself has been a destination on the far horizon. the achievements of our graduates, the expansion of dual Some made the journey with the support and guidance of enrollment and CTE support, and through workforce training. family and friends. Others made the trek alone, overcoming Today, Mid serves students from 74 counties in the state of obstacles and doubts. All benefited from the support you have Michigan, expanding horizons for many citizens in our state given over the years. and connecting them to each other. From Mid, you can choose many paths and travel with friends. Many thanks to all of you Like all who adventure, they rode waves of exhaustion and who continue to support our College, our programs and, excitement. Arriving at Mid, they discovered a community especially our students. dedicated to their success – a place where they could step forward with confidence. Sincerely, Maya Angelou once wrote, “The horizon leans forward, offering you space to place new steps of change.” That happens here at Mid. The College leans forward, giving students space and guidance as they move toward the next horizon. Our Christine M. Hammond, Ph.D. midmich.edu/athletics faculty members have worked to create Guided Pathways President of Mid Michigan Community College in our curriculum to smooth the way to career and transfer 2 | CONNECTIONS ANNUAL REPORT 2017 MID MICHIGAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE | 3 Photo by Christopher Campbell via Unsplash. ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Connections A publication of Mid Michigan Community College Table of Contents Editor-In-Chief Meghan Keen [email protected] Editor Jessie Gordon Art Director Gregory Gunther Laker Becomes Graphic Designer Peter DeRoche Off-Grid Nurse Justina Thomas follows her childhood dream and becomes a missionary nurse. MMCC BOARD OF TRUSTEES Douglas A. Jacobson, Chair A Travel Journal Betty M. Mussell, Vice-Chair Mid students experience culture and Thomas W. Metzger, Treasurer give back on a recent study abroad trip. Richard S. Allen, Jr., Secretary Carolyn C. Bay, Trustee DESIGNING THE FUTURE Our Story is Our Students Photos captured on campus and Eric T. Kreckman, Trustee The Art Lab at our Mt. Pleasant location offers in the community. Terry Petrongelli, Trustee a bright, open space where students explore artistic styles & mediums. 15 Laker Distinction Scholarship Winners 16 Gifts to the MMCC Foundation 19 MMCC Financial Statements A Global Perspective 20 Trips to Indonesia, Singapore, and Japan inspire our globalization and inclusion. Small Town Dream, Big League Career Jodi Payne takes her radiography degree across the country. A Story of Giving 25 A meaningful story of what it means to pay it forward. Volunteer Profile 25 Steve Hoffman pairs passion and ON THE COVER project on Mid’s biking trails. Mid students explore the natural beauty of From Amish to Air Force the Dominican Republic on a recent study Katie Troyer transforms her life abroad service-learning trip. and serves her country. 28 In The News Mid Michigan Community College affirms its commitment to the principles of Mid's featured news stories from 2017. equal employment and educational opportunity, and of non-discrimination in the provision of services to the public, through its compliance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments, Section 504 Share Mid Stories & Photos of the Rehabilitation Act, the American with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination 30 Act, the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act, and the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Help us capture stories and photos Act. Mid Michigan Community College shall not discriminate in employment or related to Mid. educational opportunities, or exclude participation in the services provided as an institution, because of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, family or marital status, height, weight, disability or any other status protected by law. 31 Upcoming Events MMCC is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the Look ahead to 2018 events North Central Association, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, Illinois and save the dates. 60602-2504, 1-800-621-7440, www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org. Several departments and programs are accredited by agencies specific to their disciplines. Justina visits with a local family in the Since I was fourteen years old, I’ve I decided to attend hut that serves as the village clinic. wanted two things for my future. I’ve Mid after visiting wanted to be a nurse and career the College and missionary. Several of my family researching its Laker Grad Becomes Off-Grid Nurse members have been career nursing program. missionaries, and I’ve wanted to Paying for school follow in their footsteps to serve worried me, but I Justina Thomas Takes The Path Less Traveled people in inspiring ways. was fortunate to be offered a work After high school, I traveled with two of study position, my siblings to a mission station called which allowed me Kimbia on the Berbice River in Guyana, to work a schedule South America. We stayed there for a that didn’t conflict year, and I experienced health care in a with my courses. remote setting firsthand. That experience, much to my parents’ surprise, solidified Every part of my my dream of being a missionary nurse. experience at Mid confirmed that it I didn’t enroll in nursing school right was where I was After three years, I graduated with my away, though. First, I attended a natural supposed to be. The staff was friendly, nursing degree and without any debt. My remedies school, where I learned about the teachers genuinely cared about job hunt lasted three days. herbs, water treatments, and basic helping me learn, and my co-workers anatomy and physiology. From there, I rooted for me to succeed in both work On July 12, 2016, Adventist Frontier was invited to complete Midwife Training and studies. Missions (AFM) contacted me to say School in Ranchi, Jarkhand Province, that they were in search of a short-term India, where I assisted in over 60 village Just as importantly, I was getting an RN missionary for the Palawan project births that year. exceptional education. During clinical located in the Philippines. The position rotations, Mid students had reputations was unpaid, so the organization was My year in India confirmed my passion for working hard and knowing how to looking for someone without debt. Five for midwifery and mission work. But, it do things well. My clinical instructors days later, I began training for a one-year also convinced me that I needed broader engaged me in essential hands-on term of service. training in order to help with all of the learning and encouraged me healthcare needs that remote locations throughout my journey. face. Though my specialty was midwifery, I was called upon to assist in health issues ranging from broken bones to tumors. I simply didn’t know enough. I pursued further education by enrolling at an expensive private college. Soon after, I dropped out, discouraged by how lost I felt in the college’s sea of people and my increasing debt. My struggles at school were compounded by caring for my mother who was fighting a losing battle with cancer. That’s the sort of journey that changes everything. I’m thankful that I could be there with my mom through her last days. One of her final wishes was for me to get a college degree.

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