How a love for fixing cars led to a second-chance career
Thursday, February 27, 2025 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
Michael Moton has always enjoyed fixing things. Despite holding a bachelor’s degree in economics and having a diverse career, his true calling came later in life. After graduating from Gramling State University in Louisiana, Michael worked various jobs, including a favorite at an automotive plant in Belleville, Michigan. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to his layoff, and he found himself working for the state of Michigan. Although the job offered stability and the ability to work from home, Michael was still unfulfilled.
Digital Marketing Program Helps Macomb Student Launch Career
Friday, November 15, 2024 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
Opportunities can come from unexpected places, and no one knows this better than Macomb digital marketing student, Victoria (Vicki) Anderson. Most students see digital marketing classes as essential for entering the marketing field, but for Vicki, the classes directly opened the door to an exciting job offer.
Macomb student discovers passion for law enforcement career
Friday, October 04, 2024 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
As of 2021, women represent only a little more than 13% of full-time law enforcement professionals in the United States. Macomb student Jordan Fabbri, 23, is on track to become one of the few female police officers when she graduates with her associate degree in law enforcement in the fall of 2025.
Macomb student finds passion and a future in cybersecurity
Friday, September 13, 2024 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
The reasons a student may pursue an associate degree in cybersecurity at Macomb vary from job security to the desire to protect people and organizations from data breaches and other incidents. But for Macomb student Hannah Le, the decision to major in cybersecurity is even more impactful.
Media & Communications Arts student designs Harper Cruise logo
Monday, August 12, 2024 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
While some graphic designers may turn to music or pop culture for inspiration, Nicole Renaud found hers in the coos of her newborn son and the classic Mustang in her driveway when she was creating the winning design for the Shorewood Kiwanis Harper Charity Cruise logo contest.
Thinking of changing your college major?
Friday, July 12, 2024 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
For some Macomb students, like Daysha Ross, changing majors makes sense. She originally started her education journey in hopes of becoming a certified personal fitness trainer. However, after she started the program, she realized that it wasn’t quite what she was looking for and changed her major.
Mariya Akhlaq hopes to shape the future with a computer science degree
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
Coding and cooking may not seem like they share many similarities, but to Mariya Akhlaq they both offer an opportunity to make life more fulfilling. The same goes for her work-study assignment.
Abdullah Aljanabi isn’t letting his age interfere with his ambitions
Friday, March 01, 2024 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
At 17, Abdullah Aljanabi has the usual interests: playing soccer, going to movies and spending time with family and friends. But he’s also taking high school and college classes simultaneously, engaging his peers in the democratic process and furthering his uncle’s legacy of service to others.
Dental Hygiene program provided welcomed surprise(s) for Erica Jamroz
Friday, March 01, 2024 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
If Macomb hadn’t added Dental Hygiene to its curriculum in 2021, Erica Jamroz’ life would have taken a different turn. She’d be commuting to Oakland County for her classes for one thing and would have missed the excitement of seeing herself on a roadside billboard.
Majda Marinic found her calling in Macomb’s Dental Hygiene program
Thursday, September 07, 2023 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
Perhaps it was the good-natured hygienist who eased the teenager’s anxiety with funny stories or the dentist who sang while examining her teeth, but Majda Marinic knew from that first dental visit at 16 that someday she wanted to join a team like theirs.
Dena Moyer finds room to grow in program’s family vibe
Sunday, July 02, 2023 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
The only child of two hearing-impaired parents, Dena Moyer learned to sign before she learned to talk. Growing up with a sensitivity to disabilities keener than most her age, she began searching for a career helping those who were physically challenged.
Macomb guided alum on her journey from Athens to Apple
Monday, June 12, 2023 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
Elena Nicko’s earliest career ambitions were in the arts. She studied singing and dance in Athens, Greece, where she graduated from high school, and progressed from sketching clothing designs on paper to expressing herself with paint on canvas. After a class in Python computer programming language at Macomb, she realized there were other ways one could communicate as well.
Social work major intends to become change agent for the community
Thursday, May 18, 2023 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
Carrie Sylvester had no map to navigate from Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri, where she grew up, to full-time studies at Macomb. But at 50, the former firefighter, current 911 dispatcher and married mother of six and grandmother of four, is confident about the direction she is taking her life in.
Ally Nash is Letting the Music Guide Her
Friday, April 14, 2023 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
Allyson (Ally) Nash’s earliest memory of singing goes back to the solo she cinched in her fourth grade Christmas concert. “Since then, I have been giving the music world my whole undivided attention,” said Nash, who joined her middle school and high school (Dakota) show choirs before moving on to the Magic Company, Macomb’s show choir for high school students.
Student’s wanderlust is taking her in new directions
Friday, March 24, 2023 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
Growing up, Sarah Johnson’s mom would sometimes excuse her children from school so they could accompany her on trips to Atlanta or Niagara Falls. It may not have paid off with As on their report cards, but the experiences were priceless.
Respiratory therapy student fell in love with program and field
Tuesday, February 07, 2023 8:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
Ashley Glaser knew she wanted to work in health care and had a friend with asthma who sometimes struggled to breathe. But it wasn’t until a respected mentor became a respiratory therapist that she considered it as a career.
Brooke Pacifico
Tuesday, December 06, 2022 8:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
When Brooke Pacifico’s large Italian family gathers together, the calendars come out and everyone wants to know where she’ll be performing next. “My family is very supportive of my work and hobbies,” shared Pacifico, a first-year Macomb student and a member of its choral groups Expressions and the Macombers. “They are only partially joking when they say, ‘See you on Broadway.’”
Ivan Thomas
Thursday, November 10, 2022 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
After graduating from Warren Lincoln High School in 2019 and working at MJR Cinema, Ivan Thomas was bored. He had never been out of the states, was clueless about a career and experienced “culture shock” without the routine of high school. “I sat down with myself and asked, ‘What is it that you really like?’” related Thomas. “I like food, and that’s when I knew what I wanted to do.”
Macomb to Ferris was one of the best decisions I have made
Tuesday, November 01, 2022 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
My experience as a transfer student from Macomb to Ferris State University has been nothing but a huge success. Macomb is a great college and it prepared me to get where I’m at today.
Career options for today’s pharmacy technician
Tuesday, November 01, 2022 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
Pharmacy technicians were once limited to counting out prescribed medications and handling sales transactions, but their roles and responsibilities continue to change as the responsibilities of pharmacists grow and expand.
Pepside (Percy) Masanga
Wednesday, October 19, 2022 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
When Percy (a nickname given to her in elementary school) Masanga began taking classes at Macomb in the fall 2021 semester, she was ill-prepared for the chill that arrived shortly after the autumn equinox. “Where I came from, it is mostly hot and we do not have snow,” said Masanga, who grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Central Africa, which straddles the equator and is home to a tropical rainforest. “To be honest, I am still getting used to the weather and to the wealth.”
Activist and Advocate
Thursday, September 01, 2022 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
I’d been working as a medical assistant for several years when I realized the field wasn’t the right fit for me. As I was looking for another job, I met a social worker. While she talked about her career, I thought to myself, that’s everything I want to do.
VitaMaria Loduca
Tuesday, July 05, 2022 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
Just as her parents did when they named her, VitaMaria Loduca is approaching her culinary career in ways both traditional and unique. An avid baker since childhood, she cinched a production baking course at Fraser High School before following her siblings to Macomb. She took a few exploratory courses, at the encouragement of her mom, before deciding the Culinary Arts program was the best fit.
Brooke Jankowsky
Thursday, May 05, 2022 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
Somehow in between working on her second associate degree, a part-time job at C.J. Barrymore’s, multiple responsibilities with Macomb’s Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapter and being a vocal champion for community colleges, Brooke Jankowsky has found time to study piano.
Alyssa Wood
Wednesday, March 09, 2022 12:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
Sometimes in life, the most important decision you can make is either not to do something or, rather, to pivot and go in an entirely new direction. Alyssa Wood, 25 and from Shelby Township, is the perfect example.
Justine Vescio
Friday, January 07, 2022 8:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
To borrow from Irene Cara, Academy Award-winning singer/songwriter, Justine Vescio intends to dance right through her life. A fitness instructor, dance teacher and weight trainer, the Macomb student is pursuing two (more) degrees at Macomb in Exercise Science, and Health and Wellness Promotion (WHES collectively) while teaching at a fitness center and two dance studios.
Amy Jackson
Monday, December 13, 2021 8:00 AM by Macomb Community College
Student Stories
Amy Jackson has been playing basketball since she was four. But even after setting a record for earning varsity letters (17) at Flat Rock Community High School and being named Female Athlete of the Year 2018-19 by Monroe Evening News, she didn’t think she was good enough of an athlete to make a college team.