Alumni Profile: Nathan Perry rockets to a second career at Blue Origin
Rich Rezler - April 08, 2025
WCC graduate Nathan Perry is a Launch Vehicle Test Engineer at Blue Origin, working hands-on with the crew capsule that carries scientific payloads and astronauts during launches.
View Post : Alumni Profile: Nathan Perry rockets to a second career at Blue Origintags: Aisha Bowe, Alumni Profile, Transfer, Adult Learners, Pre-Engineering
WCC Alumni Profile: Alaa Almounauar
WCC Public Relations - September 18, 2024
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 : WCC Alumni Profile: Alaa Almounauartags: Alumni, Launch, Student Success, Alumni Profile, Launch Fall 2024, STEM Scholars Program
Alumni Profile: Brazil native started with ESL classes, ended with associate degree in Nursing
WCC Public Relations - December 18, 2023
Ana Andrade arrived in Michigan from Brazil in 2018, speaking very little English, and today is a nurse in the medical surgery cardiac unit at Detroit Medical Center. During the five years in between played out a story of perseverance and perspective.
View Post : Alumni Profile: Brazil native started with ESL classes, ended with associate degree in Nursingtags: Launch winter 2024, ESL, Nursing, Alumni Profile, Launch
Photography graduate focused on building her business
WCC Public Relations - December 17, 2023
Emily Riley caught the photography bug in high school, which she says made her college decision an easy one.
View Post : Photography graduate focused on building her businesstags: December 2023, On The Record, Digital Photography, Alumni Profile, Digital Media Arts
Alumni Profile: Advanced Manufacturing graduate fine-tuning his career
WCC Public Relations - December 15, 2023
Like many people, Felipe Agurto wandered along life’s path for a while before finding the right direction for his career. After graduating from high school on the west side of the state, Agurto enrolled in the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering but soon discovered it wasn’t really what he wanted to do.
View Post : Alumni Profile: Advanced Manufacturing graduate fine-tuning his careertags: Launch, Alumni Profile, Launch Winter 2023, Advanced Manufacturing, 2023
Alumni Profile: Teacher says 'attending WCC was the best decision I could have ever made'
WCC Public Relations - December 13, 2023
Early on, Lauren Alexander knew she wanted to be a teacher. After graduating from Saline High School, Alexander began the pursuit of her dream at WCC. She earned an Associate in Arts in Elementary Education Degree and a Liberal Arts Certificate before transferring to Eastern Michigan University to complete her bachelor’s.
View Post : Alumni Profile: Teacher says 'attending WCC was the best decision I could have ever made'tags: Launch winter 2024, Alumni Profile, 2023, teacher, Launch
Alumni Profile: Veteran helping advance the safety of intelligent vehicles
WCC Public Relations - December 12, 2023
Mike Rudisill played the long game when it came to his education at Washtenaw Community College. He showed up, stayed late, listened, studied and connected with his instructors. Today, he leads a team at an innovative tech company which focuses on future vehicle technology – from smart infrastructure, to autonomous vehicles, to driver experiences.
View Post : Alumni Profile: Veteran helping advance the safety of intelligent vehiclestags: March 2024, Veteran, On The Record, Launch winter 2024, Alumni Profile, Mechatronics, 2023
Alumni Profile: Graphic designer sees a bright future
WCC Public Relations - December 10, 2023
Her Washtenaw Community College instructors called her an ideal student – positive, hardworking, focused, and exceptionally open to feedback. That’s why it was no surprise when Liz DeRensis, armed with an Associate in Applied Science-Graphic Design and Technologies from WCC, landed a job as the graphic designer for SEE Eyewear.
View Post : Alumni Profile: Graphic designer sees a bright futuretags: 2023, Alumni Profile, Launch winter 2024, Graphic Design
Award-winning creative manager got his start at WCC
Kayla Gahagan - July 04, 2023
Hallisy appreciated the approach to teaching the technical side of video production as well as the human and emotional side of capturing video. He puts those skills to use in his role as creative manager, collaborating with patients, faculty, hospital and university staff, executives, his own team and more.
View Post : Award-winning creative manager got his start at WCCtags: Video Production, Student Success, Digital Video Production, Launch, Digital Media Arts, What Do You Call, Career, Alumni Profile, Summer 2023
Certificates align higher education with workforce needs
Rich Rezler - March 29, 2023
“Creating shorter certificates is crucial for working professionals returning to college, because it gives students quick and flexible options to re-skill themselves,” said Trinity Health Director of Digital Marketing and Websites Jason Karas, who transitioned into the industry thanks to a WCC credential.
View Post : Certificates align higher education with workforce needstags: Alumni Profile, On The Record, March 2023, Certificates, Web Design, Adult Education
WCC grad Alex Spencer exemplifies next generation of transportation workforce
Fran LeFort - August 10, 2022
WCC is educating a nimble, highly skilled workforce for the next generation of automated transportation and mobility, and recent graduate Alex Spencer is poised to become one of those new leaders.
View Post : WCC grad Alex Spencer exemplifies next generation of transportation workforcetags: December 2022, On The Record, Automotive Services, Automotive, Alumni Profile, Launch Fall 2022, Launch, ousearch_News_Launch Magazine, Advanced Transportation, CCAT
Goldwater Scholar on track to be next WCC alumna turned STEM star
Fran LeFort - August 06, 2022
Look no further than recent alumna Alex Chumney’s achievements to see WCC’s relevance in bringing up the next generation of STEM leaders.
View Post : Goldwater Scholar on track to be next WCC alumna turned STEM startags: STEM, ousearch_News_Launch Magazine, NASA, Automotive Cybersecurity, Launch, Launch Fall 2022, STEM Scholars Program, Alumni Profile, cybersecurity
Local French teacher's accelerated path to a career started with dual enrollment
Fran LeFort - April 18, 2022
Less than five years out of high school, Annie Peurach has already earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree, spent a year in France and is in her first year teaching at Emerson School in Ann Arbor.
View Post : Local French teacher's accelerated path to a career started with dual enrollmenttags: Washtenaw Technical Middle College, Dual-Enrollment, Launch Summer 2022, Alumni Profile, wtmc
WCC made a mid-career pivot possible for PA
Rich Rezler - March 24, 2022
Kevin Ryan was 35 when his employer announced it was closing its doors after more than 100 years in business. He could find another job in a dying industry or make a dramatic change. He chose change. And he chose Washtenaw Community College to help make it happen.
View Post : WCC made a mid-career pivot possible for PAtags: March 2022, Alumni Profile, On The Record
WCC grad is one of cybersecurity's 'good guys'
Anita LeBlanc - March 24, 2022
WCC graduate and former White Hat Society member now serves as a 'force for good' in the growing cybersecurity field.
View Post : WCC grad is one of cybersecurity's 'good guys'tags: cybersecurity, On The Record, March 2022, Alumni Profile, Student Organizations
WCC alumna now fluent in 4 languages: Spanish, English, Law and Tech
Rich Rezler - January 22, 2022
Alejandra Hornak came to WCC to pursue a career in law enforcement, but is now part of an international cybersecurity firm that travels the globe protecting organizations from cyber threats.
View Post : WCC alumna now fluent in 4 languages: Spanish, English, Law and Techtags: On The Record, English as a Second Language, Alumni Profile, cybersecurity, Criminal Justice, January 2022
After 'finding his path' at WCC, Miles Butler is pursuing a master's degree at Harvard
Rich Rezler - October 13, 2021
Miles Butler's educational journey started at Washtenaw Community College and continued at two of the elite academic institutions in the nation — the University of Michigan and Harvard University.
View Post : After 'finding his path' at WCC, Miles Butler is pursuing a master's degree at Harvardtags: Student Success, On The Record, December 2021, Center for Career Success, University Transfer Center, Transfer, Alumni Profile
Esports streaming fundraiser to purchase gaming carts for patients at UM's Mott Children's Hospital
Fran LeFort - September 16, 2021
Washtenaw Community College students will be streaming for good as they host a week-long Esports event Oct. 3-9 to raise money to purchase gaming devices for patients at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.
View Post : Esports streaming fundraiser to purchase gaming carts for patients at UM's Mott Children's Hospitaltags: Student Activities, Alumni Profile, Esports, fundraising
Medical researcher got debt-free start at WCC
WCC Communications - August 19, 2021
With WCC’s affordable tuition and an academic scholarship to boot, Dan Tyrrell started his educational journey without the burden of student debt. The money he saved went toward a Ph.D. program at Wake Forest University.
View Post : Medical researcher got debt-free start at WCCtags: August 2021, Student Success, Alumni Profile, On The Record, STEAM, Affordability, Transfer
WCC grad Aisha Bowe honored with 2021 MCCA Outstanding Alumnus Award
Rich Rezler - July 21, 2021
A self-described “unmotivated and unfocused” student in high school, Bowe found her passion and purpose while attending WCC from 2003 to 2006. The former NASA aerospace engineer is the founder and CEO of STEMBoard, an engineering solutions company.
View Post : WCC grad Aisha Bowe honored with 2021 MCCA Outstanding Alumnus Awardtags: August 2021, STEM, Aisha Bowe, On The Record, Alumni Profile, Outstanding Alumnus Award
WCC alumna, current U-M student selected as Truman Scholar
Rich Rezler - May 10, 2021
WCC alumna Cat Hadley is one of 62 Truman Scholars from around the country, selected from a record number of candidates.
View Post : WCC alumna, current U-M student selected as Truman Scholartags: Student Success, ousearch_News_2021, Transfer, Alumni Profile, Student Awards
WCC nursing grad: 'I knew what I was getting into'
Rich Rezler - May 04, 2021
WCC alumna Hunter Darrow started her nursing career in the midst of a global pandemic. "I knew what I was getting into,"she said. "I knew it wasn't going to be easy."
View Post : WCC nursing grad: 'I knew what I was getting into'tags: ousearch_News_2021, On The Record, Alumni Profile, Nursing, April 2021
Detroit Free Press business reporter Chanel Stitt, a WCC alumna, is Free College Week closing speaker
Rich Rezler - April 05, 2021
Detroit Free Press business reporter Chanel Stitt, a WCC alumna, is the closing speaker for WCC's Free College Week on April 12-19.
View Post : Detroit Free Press business reporter Chanel Stitt, a WCC alumna, is Free College Week closing speakertags: ousearch_News_2021, Free College Week, April 2021, On The Record, Alumni Profile, Journalism
Never too late: William Glover finds path to rewarding career at WCC
WCC - March 04, 2021
William Glover is an award-winning television producer, but the journey to a full-time job in a profession he loves wasn’t easy.
View Post : Never too late: William Glover finds path to rewarding career at WCCtags: Student Success, Digital Video Production, Alumni Profile, February 2021, On The Record, ousearch_News_2021
Nicholas Ochal's search for a purpose
WCC Communications - February 26, 2021
It was a winding road with some fits and starts that took WCC alumni Nicholas Ochal to the career in social work that he enjoys today.
View Post : Nicholas Ochal's search for a purposetags: On The Record, Alumni Profile, February 2021, ousearch_News_2021, Student Success
Hip to crypto: 2 associate degrees led WCC grad to high-tech job in NYC
WCC - December 21, 2020
Carl Vitullo credits WCC for helping to prepare him for his job as an engineering manager and front-end developer for Stellar Development Foundation.
View Post : Hip to crypto: 2 associate degrees led WCC grad to high-tech job in NYCtags: Alumni Profile, Business and Computer Technologies, ousearch_News_2020, December 2020, On The Record, ousearch_News_On The Record
WCC alumna Aisha Bowe endows scholarship for engineering transfer students
Rich Rezler - February 03, 2020
The Aisha R. Bowe eMpower Engineering Scholarship will be awarded to select WCC students who’ve earned a minimum of a 3.3 GPA while completing at least 14 credits in a WCC academic program designed to transfer into the University of Michigan College of Engineering.
View Post : WCC alumna Aisha Bowe endows scholarship for engineering transfer studentstags: Aisha Bowe, Scholarships, Alumni, Alumni Profile, STEAM, WCC Foundation, Transfer, ousearch_News_2020