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Share Your Story with Macomb!

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By: Jason Cale, Macomb Senior Writer

You’ve likely seen the hashtag #OwnYourStory on campus or online. But, have you ever wondered what it actually means? Macomb Community College created the campaign to highlight student success stories and show that, by coming to Macomb, you really can Own Your Story! You’re enriching yourself, receiving a quality education, and taking an important step toward a rewarding career.

“I’ve attended several community colleges, and I actually love Macomb most out of all of them.” –Tranyssa, Macomb student

Allow me to ask you a few questions: Do you love taking classes at Macomb? Has a faculty or staff member really helped shape your experience here? Do your classes inspire you to achieve more with your education? If the answer to any of these is yes, I encourage you to Share Your Story with Macomb.

“Macomb has taught me to believe in myself.” – Jarod Baker, Macomb student

Please take a few moments to complete a brief online form, telling us a little bit about yourself. If selected, you’ll be contacted by our Marketing and Communications team. You could be our next Real Student of Macomb Community College or appear in an advertising campaign!

Commemorating Macomb’s 100th commencement together

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By James O. Sawyer, IV, Ed.D, Macomb Community College President

Congratulations Class of December 2018! Hard work and determination have brought you to this moment, which stands as a testament to what you can accomplish if you believe in yourself. Graduation from Macomb will forever be a milestone in your history, as this commencement will be in the history of the College.

On Friday, Dec. 14, Macomb will mark its 100th commencement.  While all commencement ceremonies are significant events, this one serves as a reminder of the College’s longtime presence in the community.  It has served as an educational gateway for 100 classes of graduates and will continue to serve as a gateway for 100 more.

Among those participating in Friday’s ceremony are many who are following in the footsteps of grandparents, parents or siblings by graduating from Macomb.  All of us at the College are proud of that fact.  It is what inspires us to do our best every day in service to the families of this community.

As we commemorate this 100th commencement together, my sincerest wish is that you leave Macomb inspired by us as well.

Let’s make cybersecurity awareness a year-round habit!

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By Cinthia Aguilar

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and as a student enrolled in the Network Security Professional degree program here at Macomb, I would like to share with you some reasons why cybersecurity awareness is so important.

In this rapidly growing online world, new threats are detected every day, which means new security patches must be developed every day to protect vulnerable data.

This has created a huge demand for network professionals who are experienced in cybersecurity.  But knowledge of cybersecurity can benefit anyone, regardless of what field they are in.  I tell other students who inquire about Macomb’s Cybersecurity Club that they don’t have to be in the cybersecurity program to join.  In fact, it’s a smart idea for everyone to learn how to protect sensitive information and the club offers an easy way to do it.

A working knowledge of cybersecurity can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for jobs.  A little bit of training can also help you stay safe in our online world, from creating strong passwords to being cautious of possible threats to data in public places. Knowing what to look out for and what to be cautious of can keep your sensitive information secure and out of the hands of those with malicious intent. Take this month as a challenge to update your passwords or install antivirus software on your devices, and make cybersecurity awareness a year-round habit!

The Nuts and Bolts of Civic Participation

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By Casandra Ulbrich, Ph.D. – Vice President, College Advancement and Community Relations

On Tuesday, Nov. 6, Michigan voters will head to the polls to choose among national, state and local candidates and vote on state and local ballot initiatives.  Will you be one of them?

Voting is an important activity in which you can directly participate in and impact the outcome of your community. But first, you must register to vote.

National Voter Registration Day, a national holiday celebrating civic engagement and democracy, will be observed this year on Tuesday, Sept. 25 and serves as a reminder of the importance of voting in America.

Here at Macomb, we have made it easier for students to register to vote and receive important reminders about upcoming elections by partnering with TurboVote.  This free service is available to all Macomb students and can be used to register to vote BEFORE the upcoming deadline of Oct. 9.

Beyond voting, there are other ways for you to engage in civic participation, such as becoming a poll worker, volunteering for a campaign or issue, or even running for office.  You can learn more about voting and participation at www.michigan.gov/vote.

The college also offers opportunities for engagement.  Next month, Macomb’s Lorenzo Cultural Center will host a free event with Tim Skubick, a Lansing-based correspondent, to discuss the upcoming November election.  For more information, click here.

Finally, be sure to share your voting experience with fellow students at #macombvotes.

Greetings from the provost

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May I see by a show of hands how many know what a provost does?   That’s what I thought.  I’ll do my best to explain my role and connection to students.

A provost is a college’s chief academic officer. I am responsible for ensuring that your education is of the highest quality and opens doors for you in your field of choice.  In doing this, I work closely with faculty, deans, associate deans and others throughout the College.

As provost, I also have the privilege and pleasure of welcoming and introducing you to Macomb.  Whether you are new to our campuses or a returning student, let me point out the people and places that can make your time here enriching and rewarding.

In G Building on South Campus and H Building on Center, you will find a dedicated staff of counselors and advisors.  Hopefully, you have already visited one of them and she or he has set you on the right path toward success, however you personally would define that term.

If you do hit a speedbump – perhaps with that first college term paper or mastering macroeconomics – the Reading and Writing Studios and the Learning Centers, both free and located in the libraries, are here to help. Who knows, you may even get me as your tutor!

Student Life and Leadership, with offices adjacent to the cafeterias,  keeps things lively with everything from Ted Talks to field trips (Chicago anyone?), while Career Services, located near the counseling offices, can help you find employment – both now and after you graduate.

There are many other great things about Macomb that I will leave you to discover on your own. For now, I wish you all the best as you pursue your goals in higher education.  And don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or suggestions.

Best wishes for a great semester!

William Tammone

Provost

Torch project put my MACA skills to good use!

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By Michael Pawlusiak

I had a unique and exciting opportunity as a Macomb Media and Communications Arts (MACA) student to help create the torch for the Macomb County Bicentennial Torch Relay.

My contribution was to provide the Macomb County logo in vector format (used to create crisper images), since the original logo was a pixelated image. The logo needed to be redrawn to vector format in order for the Computer Numerical Control machine to create the metal emblem for the torch.  The logo needed to fit in the cutout of the torch, so it was resized to 5” x 2”. I also had to redesign the ribbon on the logo. The ribbon had a consistent blue color, with a different bright blue stroke to emphasize the front. I made a small change by making the front of the ribbon the same bright blue, and placing the darker blue at the back half of the banner, creating a better illusion of depth. The font for the logo was unknown. I had to search through fonts to find one that matched.

Also, in the original logo there were two instances of the year “1818,” (when the county and Mount Clemens were both founded.) One was on the center emblem and the other on the banner itself. I removed the “1818” on the center emblem to eliminate the redundancy and ensure everything was visible on the final emblem.

I had to draw out each shape and pull everything together to get the new vectorized logo. I made a couple variations: a grayscale version and a black and white version. The black and white version became the source logo for the machine to etch onto the torch itself.

This was a great project to test my MACA skills and to have the experience of working with other areas (climate control and machining), and I thank the faculty for making it possible.  And when the torch is used on June 22 to light the fireworks in Mount Clemens, I will be proud of the part I played in making it happen!

Read more about the project here.

“Unforgettable Memories”: Reflecting on Alternative Spring Break in NYC

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By Shandana Shah

I can honestly say that one of the best things I could have done was to get out of my comfort zone with this trip, because if I hadn’t, I would have missed out on one of the best experiences of my life. It all started on March 4th, when my group and I embarked on our journey. After ten hours of anticipation and travel, it was mesmerizing to finally be in the exuberant New York City that most of us had only seen in movies and TV shows. The high rise buildings, yellow cabs, and the bustling streets were lit with charm. The focal and most fulfilling point of it all was being able to volunteer at “God’s Love We Deliver,” a non-profit organization that works to prepare and deliver nutritious meals to the people that need them most.

We were given the privilege to not only help prepare the meals, but also to deliver them to some of the many deserving people that are helped by this organization. Being able to see the gratitude in their eyes when we exchanged the meals was incredibly rewarding. Amidst all this, we created some unforgettable memories and built friendships that will last beyond those four days. I am very lucky I got to know the amazing people I went with, especially our site leaders, Daniel and Lindsey, who could not have been more supportive and did a splendid job of tying our whole experience together. We were all brought together by the want to make a difference, and the wonderment of it all was that we did.

For more information on upcoming volunteer opportunities, contact Student Life and Leadership.

5 Tips to Ace Our Job Fair on April 18

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By Brooklyn Frontiera, Career Services Coordinator

Career Services is hosting its annual Job Fair on Wednesday, April 18th, from 4-7pm at the Sports and Expo Center, but are you prepared?

More than 200 employers are already registered for the fair, and with each of them bringing several job openings, we are talking at least 500 open positions – and one of them could be yours!

With all these wonderful prospects in our own backyard, as a job seeker you need to come ready to talk. So, here are a few of our best tips to help you be your best:

  • Research the employers that are going to be there. Here are the companies currently registered to attend: https://bit.ly/2GYAclD. Target who you want to talk with, look at their websites and take notes to bring with you.
  • Dress to impress. We have seen it all, from pajama pants to bathing suits. Treat the job fair as if it is an interview, because it really is. For men, wear a suit or at least dress pants and a button-up shirt with a tie. Ladies, a pant or dress suit. Let them see you for you.
  • Update your resume and bring several copies. Stop into Career Services and we can help you freshen up your resume. We’re at South Campus, G309 and Center Campus, H109.
  • Practice your elevator speech. If you don’t know what that is, check out this great video to help you create one: https://youtu.be/Lb0Yz_5ZYzI
  • Attend our Job Fair Success Seminar! We have a one-hour presentation with question and answer opportunities, checklists and giveaways. Check us out April 10, 2pm at Center H219, or April 11, 2pm at South G309.

Even if you aren’t exactly sure what you want to do, the Job Fair is a great way to make connections, build your network and research your career field. Arrive early, prepared and organized, and you’ll already be ahead of the pack. We hope to see you there!

Macombers Auditions Are Coming Soon – Here’s What You Need to Know

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Greetings! My name is Andrew Montano, President of The Macombers, and this is my second year attending Macomb Community College. For those who may not know, The Macombers are a traveling show choir group that performs all across Michigan, from local community events to elementary schools. If you’d like to see us perform, our Spring Extravaganza is coming up April 28th at 7:30 p.m. at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts.

And if you’ve ever had an interest in auditioning, you’re in luck! Auditions for the 2018-2019 season are coming up on Sunday, March 25 or Tuesday, March 27 at 6 p.m.

If you want to audition, here’s some tips about what to expect:

  • There will be a dance audition where an entire routine is taught to the full group, and then you will perform it with a smaller group. If you forget a step or your mind goes blank on what comes next, just keep going! It’s better to keep dancing and just smile away rather than standing still. 😊
  • You will also sing a prepared song (this part of auditions will be private). Be sure to bring a karaoke track on CD or phone, or sheet music that includes piano accompaniment. If you have a karaoke track, try your best not to play it off the internet – there have been moments where either the WiFi or the cellular data have stopped working and the song had to buffer!
  • After you perform your song, you will establish your pitch and harmony skills with our director, Todd Moses. For example, a note may be played on the piano and you will have to match that pitch.
  • Lastly, just have fun! Take slow, deep breaths. An audition is just like a job interview. If you’re one of the few people that didn’t make the cut, the best thing you can say to yourself is that you gave it your best.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact our director, Todd Moses, at  mosest098@macomb.edu or 586.226.4734. Also, if you want to keep track of what The Macombers are accomplishing, please visit our Facebook page!

https://www.facebook.com/TheMacombersOfficial/

Thank you for taking the time to read about Macomber auditions!