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This summer’s Success Express program at Montcalm Community College focused on what students need to know to be successful in college.

At MCC, 25 students participated in the five-week-long Success Express program, which was funded by the State of Michigan and administered by the Michigan Community College Association in partnership with community colleges across the state.

Sophia Gray, 18, of Lyons, was signed up for the program by her mom.

“I liked the idea of getting out of the house and getting a feel for the campus because I’m enrolled for the fall classes at MCC,” Gray said.

“I really enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends in a relaxed environment,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting there to be games and fun stuff.”

Gray plans to get all of her prerequisites done at MCC, then transfer to Baker College to be a veterinarian technician. She said the program has been very helpful in learning how to navigate college.

“It helps get rid of some of the horror stories my parents would tell me,” she said.

Her favorite aspect of the program was the way all of the participants worked as a team, and it became more of place to study with friends.

“(I liked) learning about the different parts of campus, so now I know what’s available if I change my mind,” Gray said.

Mya Kahn, 18, of Portland, also attended the Success Express program.

“It had a lot of great opportunities, I just couldn’t pass it up,” she said.

Kahn said it’s not like a stereotypical classroom, it’s more like a refresher on what to expect in college.

“We discussed a lot more controversial issues than I thought we would,” she said. “We did mindfulness stuff and I learned more about myself.”

She plans to follow the Criminal Justice program pathway when she comes to MCC in the fall. Upon completion, she plans to transfer to another institution to pursue becoming a lawyer. She said since the program is so broad, she could go into law enforcement if she decides not to become a lawyer.

Kahn expected the Success Express program to be more classroom based.

“It was actually much more collaborative, and learning about yourself and others,” she said. “It was focused on the students, and the teachers seemed invested and focused on what’s best for us.”

She appreciated the sense of unity she experienced in the program. She said it was nice to go up to anybody and start a conversation.

“It’s worth it,” she said about taking part in the program. “The opportunities that come from this are amazing. The college credits sold it for me.”

Daniel Ellis, 18, of Sheridan, attended the Success Express program because it was heavily promoted at his school, Central Montcalm High School.

“I needed a laptop for college,” he said. “It was almost hard to say no.”

Ellis plans to attend MCC in the fall. While he is undecided about his career pathway, he said, “It was a comfort to find out that it’s OK to not know what I want to do in the future. That’s my biggest takeaway from all of this.”

He said most of the people in the program wanted to be there, so it was great getting to interact with everyone.

“It’s been nice hearing people telling you how to be successful, how the act of going to college is going to work,” Ellis said.

While he expected a more lecture-based learning environment, he appreciated the activities that had them getting up to participate. He also said he’ll have an advantage over some of his friends that will be attending college this fall.

“I will already know some of my teachers,” Ellis said. “I won’t feel like a stranger here. I almost have an edge over them and can help them out.”

Program participants received reimbursement toward transportation costs, a cash stipend, a laptop computer, three college credits for coursework at MCC, classroom supplies and meals when classes were in session.

Media contact:
Shelly Springborn
Director of Communications and Public Relations
shellys@montcalm.edu
989-560-0833