WCC News: 60 Stories

Kaitlin Lesser

60 Stories: Alumna builds success in business and on the farm

WCC Public Relations - April 01, 2026

For Kaitlin Lesser, her Washtenaw Community College education is on display every day — from the fields of her family farm to the operations floor of a local manufacturing business.

View Post :   60 Stories: Alumna builds success in business and on the farm

tags: Launch Summer 2026, Alumni Profile, Business, 60 Stories

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60 Stories: Apprenticeship led to career as robotics technician

Terry Jacoby - March 25, 2026

Andrew Matthews completed the Magna Apprenticeship Program at WCC, earning a Robotics Technician certificate in the process.

View Post :   60 Stories: Apprenticeship led to career as robotics technician

tags: Alumni Profile, Launch Summer 2026, Apprenticeship Programs, 60 Stories, Robotics, Apprenticeships

Mathias Donat

60 Stories: Never the same day twice for auctioneer

WCC Public Relations - March 16, 2026

For Mathias Donat, no two workdays are alike. One moment he’s supporting families at an estate sale, the next repairing an old tractor, and later he may be on stage in a tuxedo, energizing a crowd of more than 1,000 at a black-tie benefit auction.

View Post :   60 Stories: Never the same day twice for auctioneer

tags: liberal arts, Launch Summer 2026, Alumni Profile, 60 Stories, Business

Dale Throneberry

60 Stories: Vietnam veteran found a home at WCC

Rich Rezler - February 27, 2026

It was 1971 when Dale Throneberry first walked onto the campus of WCC. The college opened just five years prior and community colleges were emerging nationwide as an expanding pathway to higher education.

View Post :   60 Stories: Vietnam veteran found a home at WCC

tags: On The Record, Faculty Profile, Wadhams Veterans Center, March 2026, Alumni Profile, 60 Stories

Alicia Shivers

60 Stories: Alumna calls WCC her 'launching pad'

Terry Jacoby - February 18, 2026

Alicia Shivers began her academic career at WCC, an experience that proved pivotal in shaping her future.

View Post :   60 Stories: Alumna calls WCC her 'launching pad'

tags: Alumni Profile, March 2026, 60 Stories, On The Record

Rob Woodcox

60 Stories: Alum takes WCC photo training to global level

Rich Rezler - February 10, 2026

Rob Woodcox, a 2012 graduate of WCC's photography program, recently produced a major global photography campaign for Nike in collaboration with the SKIMS apparel brand.

View Post :   60 Stories: Alum takes WCC photo training to global level

tags: Photography, 60 Stories, Digital Photography, On The Record, Alumna Profile, March 2026

Michael Kozma

60 Stories: Alum's recipe for success is a dash of maturity and heaping scoops of knowledge

Rich Rezler - February 03, 2026

After struggling in high school and dropping out of college, Michael Kozma found new motivation at WCC and graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

View Post :   60 Stories: Alum's recipe for success is a dash of maturity and heaping scoops of knowledge

tags: Alumni Profile, 60 Stories

Alex Sabin

60 Stories: WCC alum is a cybersecurity 'good guy'

Anita LeBlanc - January 28, 2026

A WCC associate degree and his own dedication to continuous learning has been enough for Alexander Sabin to build a successful cybersecurity career.

View Post :   60 Stories: WCC alum is a cybersecurity 'good guy'

tags: 60 Stories, cybersecurity, Alumni Profile

Nick Avram

60 Stories: First-generation college graduate now advocates for WCC

WCC Communications - January 20, 2026

When it comes to spreading the message about the many benefits of starting your higher ed journey at a community college, it’s safe to call alumnus Nick Avram one of WCC’s biggest advocates.

View Post :   60 Stories: First-generation college graduate now advocates for WCC

tags: Transfer, Affordability, 60 Stories, Alumni Profile

Statia Hamilton

60 Stories: Sterile Processing graduate 'wanted a career, not a job'

Kayla Gahagan - January 15, 2026

Statia Hamilton started her family young and took a less traditional educational pathway to her dream job as a medical instrument technician at the Veteran Affairs Hospital in Ann Arbor.

View Post :   60 Stories: Sterile Processing graduate 'wanted a career, not a job'

tags: Alumni Profile, Sterile Processing, 60 Stories

Patrice Scott

60 Stories: Award-winning student turns into video production professional

Rich Rezler - January 08, 2026

Patrice Scott won two first-place trophies from the Michigan chapter of the National Association of Television Arts & Sciences while he was a student at WCC.

View Post :   60 Stories: Award-winning student turns into video production professional

tags: Student Production Awards, Alumni Profile, Video Production, 60 Stories

Kevin Ryan

60 Stories: WCC makes mid-career pivot possible for physician assistant

Rich Rezler - January 04, 2026

Kevin Ryan was 35 when his employer announced it was closing its doors. His choices were simple: Find another job in what was a dying industry or make a dramatic change. He chose change. And he chose Washtenaw Community College to help make it happen.

View Post :   60 Stories: WCC makes mid-career pivot possible for physician assistant

tags: Adult Learners, Alumni Profile, 60 Stories

Jason Franchi

60 Stories: Marine started transition to Chemical Engineer at WCC

Kayla Gahagan - December 20, 2025

Jason Franchi never planned to go to college. He entered the Marines directly out of high school and served for five years. It wasn’t until he decided to sign up for classes at WCC that he envisioned life with a college degree.

View Post :   60 Stories: Marine started transition to Chemical Engineer at WCC

tags: 60 Stories, Engineering, Alumni Profile

Dan Tyrrell

60 Stories: Medical researcher got debt-free start at WCC

WCC Communications - December 18, 2025

Dan Tyrrell's educational journey began at Washtenaw Community College, where he earned a General Studies in Math and Natural Science associate degree, with honors, in 2008.

View Post :   60 Stories: Medical researcher got debt-free start at WCC

tags: General Studies, 60 Stories, 60th Anniversary, Alumni Profile

Tom Butman

60 Stories: Tom Butman is a WCC alum and valued employer partner

Fran LeFort - December 14, 2025

As an industry board member for the past 12 years, Tom Butman helps to guide the college’s curriculum to meet industry workforce needs.

View Post :   60 Stories: Tom Butman is a WCC alum and valued employer partner

tags: Alumni Profile, 60 Stories, Transportation Technologies

JT Iacovetta

60 Stories: The only diploma on attorney J.T. Iacovetta's wall is his WCC associate degree

Fran LeFort - December 08, 2025

Of all the diplomas he's earned since being discharged from the U.S. Navy, only a WCC associate degree is displayed in attorney J.T. Iacovetta’s office.

View Post :   60 Stories: The only diploma on attorney J.T. Iacovetta's wall is his WCC associate degree

tags: 60 Stories, Alumni Profile

Caleb Rogers

60 Stories: 'Welding My Way to a Bright Future'

Rich Rezler - December 03, 2025

When Caleb Rogers crossed the stage to receive his Washtenaw Community College degree, the bright yellow cut-out letters spread across his black mortar board perfectly summarized the moment: “Welding My Way to a Bright Future!”

View Post :   60 Stories: 'Welding My Way to a Bright Future'

tags: 60 Stories, Alumni Profile, Welding, 60th Anniversary

Brooklyn Nichols & Miles Butler

60 Stories: Chelsea siblings turn WCC into launchpad for success

Terry Jacoby - November 23, 2025

View Post :   60 Stories: Chelsea siblings turn WCC into launchpad for success

tags: Launch Fall 2025, Transfer, Launch, 60 Stories, Alumni Profile

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60 Stories: WCC alumna opens family hub in Milan

Terry Jacoby - November 21, 2025

The path that would eventually lead Olivia Carpus to co-found a community play space in her hometown of Milan began more than a decade earlier — in a WCC classroom where she first felt supported and inspired.

View Post :   60 Stories: WCC alumna opens family hub in Milan

tags: Launch Winter 2026, Community enrichment, Alumni Profile, 60 Stories, Launch, Child Development

Mark Jones

60 Stories: 'Finding where your passion meets demand'

Kayla Gahagan - November 20, 2025

When Mark Jones arrived at WCC in 2019, he hadn't yet figured out how his education — or his future — would unfold. Today, he's thriving in hi career as Operations Supervisor at Dayton Freight in Indianapolis.

View Post :   60 Stories: 'Finding where your passion meets demand'

tags: Launch Winter 2026, 60 Stories, Alumni Profile, Center for Career Success

John Benjamin

60 stories: Path from GED to GM started at WCC

Rich Rezler - November 14, 2025

John Benjamin is Chief of Staff for General Motors’ Autonomous Vehicle Product Management team. His path to the cutting edge of automotive technology wasn’t a straight line.

View Post :   60 stories: Path from GED to GM started at WCC

tags: GED, 60th Anniversary, Adult Transitions Pathways, Adult Learners, November 2025, Alumni Profile, 60 Stories, On The Record

Zach Van Buren in Auto Lab

60 Stories: Desire to protect drivers led to fulfilling career

Fran LeFort - November 06, 2025

Zach Van Buren's deep desire to understand and be a part of helping to protect other drivers and passengers has paved the road to a fulfilling career with Toyota Motor North America.

View Post :   60 Stories: Desire to protect drivers led to fulfilling career

tags: 60th Anniversary, Advanced Transportation, 60 Stories

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60 Stories: Restoring a Chevelle at WCC catapulted Colby McLaughlin to dream career

Terry Jacoby - October 31, 2025

Willis native Colby McLaughlin is president and board member at Trim Illusion Holdings. He began the dream career at WCC.

View Post :   60 Stories: Restoring a Chevelle at WCC catapulted Colby McLaughlin to dream career

tags: Launch Winter 2026, Custom Cars and Concepts, 60 Stories, 60th Anniversary, Launch, Transportation Technologies, Auto Body Repair

Anna and Seema Awan

60 Stories: Two generations of WCC nurses

Rich Rezler - October 24, 2025

When Seema Awan walks across the stage at WCC's nursing pinning ceremony in December, she’ll be following in the footsteps of her mother, Anna, who began her own nursing journey at the college a decade ago.

View Post :   60 Stories: Two generations of WCC nurses

tags: 60th Anniversary, Alumni Profile, 60 Stories, Nursing, On The Record, November 2025, Student Profile

Anya Pomykala

60 Stories: WCC grad learns cool new skills, earns hot new job

Terry Jacoby - October 15, 2025

Anya Pomykala enrolled at WCC at the age of 30 and at a crossroads. She left with a new career in a hot job market.

View Post :   60 Stories: WCC grad learns cool new skills, earns hot new job

tags: Alumni Profile, HVAC, 60 Stories

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60 Stories: Physical Therapist Assistant grad turns clinical experience into business ownership

Terry Jacoby - October 12, 2025

Clinical rotations are a key part of WCC's Physical Therapist Assistant program. For Maysa Fontoura Barbosa, one of those rotations turned into the opportunity of a lifetime.

View Post :   60 Stories: Physical Therapist Assistant grad turns clinical experience into business ownership

tags: 60 Stories, 60th Anniversary, Alumni Profile, Physical Therapist Assistant

Alaa Almounauar

60 Stories: 'A person saw potential in me'

WCC Public Relations - October 03, 2025

Alaa Almounauar would tell you one of the best things that happened to her was someone calling her out — to pursue more education.

View Post :   60 Stories: 'A person saw potential in me'

tags: 60 Stories, STEM Scholars Program, Alumni Profile, Student Succes

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60 Stories: Apprenticeship program jumpstarts healthcare IT jobs

Terry Jacoby - September 25, 2025

Apprenticeships aren't just for the skilled trades anymore! WCC and Michigan Medicine have partnered on a paid apprenticeship program in Healthcare Information Technology, offering a fast track into one of today's most in-demand fields.

View Post :   60 Stories: Apprenticeship program jumpstarts healthcare IT jobs

tags: Fall 2025, Apprenticeships, Launch, 60 Stories, Information Technology

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60 Stories: WCC grad exemplifies next generation of transportation workforce

Fran LeFort - September 09, 2025

Washtenaw Community College is educating a nimble, highly skilled workforce for the next generation in automated transportation and mobility, and recent graduate Alex Spencer is poised to become one of those new leaders.

View Post :   60 Stories: WCC grad exemplifies next generation of transportation workforce

tags: 60 Stories, Advanced Transportation Center, Alumni Profile

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60 Stories: Teacher says attending WCC was 'the best decision I could have made'

WCC Public Relations - September 07, 2025

Early on, Lauren Alexander knew she wanted to be a teacher. Today, the Saline native is doing exactly that as a kindergarten teacher in Monroe.

View Post :   60 Stories: Teacher says attending WCC was 'the best decision I could have made'

tags: Alumna Profile, 60 Stories, Elementary Education

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60 Stories: Advanced Manufacturing grad fine-tuning his career

WCC Public Relations - September 05, 2025

Like many people, Felipe Agurto wandered along life’s path for a while before finding the right direction for his career.

View Post :   60 Stories: Advanced Manufacturing grad fine-tuning his career

tags: 60 Stories, Advanced Manufacturing, Alumni Profile

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60 Stories: Brazil native started with ESL, finished with Nursing degree

Fran LeFort - September 03, 2025

Ana Andrade arrived in Michigan from Brazil in 2018 and started working as a cardiac nurse in 2023. During the five years in between played out a story of perseverance and perspective.

View Post :   60 Stories: Brazil native started with ESL, finished with Nursing degree

tags: Alumni Profile, 60 Stories, ESL, Nursing

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