As Washtenaw Community College prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary, we recognize the thousands of alumni who turned opportunity into achievement. For six decades, WCC has opened doors to education, careers, and brighter futures — and these 60 Stories that will be compiled over the year reflect that enduring mission.
Anya Pomykala enrolled at Washtenaw Community College at the age of 30 and at a crossroads in her life. She discovered a new career in the hot job market of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R).
"I needed a new pathway and a way to finish a degree. I had heard so many good things about WCC that it seemed like a logical and easy way to get back into my education," says Pomykala, who was working in the coffee roasting industry and had two incomplete degrees from another college when she enrolled in 2016.
She took time to explore WCC's many resources and launched a new path in the skilled trades. Thanks to guideance from faculty mentors, Pomykala landed a job as an HVAC technician for Saline Area Schools before she even graduated with her HVAC-R Commercial Trade certification.
"Being able to completely shift my life into a sustainable and satisfying career so much later in life is a wonder," she says. "At WCC, there are evening and weekend classes, resources to help with finances and life struggles, and staff who genuinely want you to succeed.
"WCC completely changed how I look at community college."
The patience, understanding and flexibility she found at WCC built her confidence to pursue her new career. It's something WCC does for many adult learners.
"Honestly, I didn't even know how someone could get into the trades (before I started)," Pomykala said. ""But the style of education worked so well with my style of learning. I was able to read about concepts and methods, then immediately use them in labs."
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This story first appeared in the Winter 2026 edition of Launch magazine.
Tags: 60 Stories, Alumni Profile, HVAC