The path to graduation looked very different for Washtenaw Community College students. Some
balanced classes with full-time jobs or raising families. Others discovered a new
passion after changing directions. Some are headed straight into the workforce, while
others are continuing their education.
Together, their stories reflect the wide range of programs, experiences and opportunities available to students at WCC.
Meet a few members of the Class of 2026:
OUMOU KANE
Pre-Engineering
When Oumou Kane enrolls at the University of Michigan to study mechanical engineering this fall, she’ll bring with her a strong academic foundation and a boost of confidence provided by her time at Washtenaw Community College.
The 2023 Ann Arbor Huron High School graduate says WCC’s smaller class sizes, personalized support and meaningful opportunities to grow as a leader and student made it the ideal place to start her academic pursuits.
And she’s not shy about sharing those opinions while participating in one of her many on-campus activities – showing off the college to prospective students and their families while working as one of the college’s Student Ambassadors.
“When I give tours, I always emphasize that WCC is a really smart and strategic starting point, especially when it comes to affordability and accessibility. … I tell families that you’re not missing out — you’re actually gaining a strong foundation in smaller classes where professors are more available and supportive,” Kane said.
“That support system makes a big difference, especially in STEM. I also highlight how strong the transfer pathways are, especially for students aiming for schools like the University of Michigan.”
Kane earned a Pre-Engineering Science Transfer associate degree at WCC and stacked up a series of experiences atop her classwork.
She was a member of WCC’s STEM Scholars program and the college’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society and took advantage of programs such as NextGEN MI-LSAMP, where she explored research pathways, mentorship opportunities and attended a STEM conference in San Diego.
She was also engaged with The Entrepreneurship Center at WCC, including a Solve-IT competition that pushed her to think creatively, solve real-world problems and work in a team setting — gaining soft skills that will be invaluable beyond the classroom.
Kane’s career goal is to combine engineering with entrepreneurship to create impactful solutions in the automotive industry.
VICTOR REYNOLDS
Registered Nursing
When students enroll in the Nursing program at WCC, they're stepping into a pipeline that keeps local hospitals and care facilities staffed with highly trained professionals.
Victor Reynolds is one of those graduates who is now moving directly from classroom to bedside.
Reynolds accepted a position in the rehabilitation unit at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, where he will care for patients recovering from surgery, illness and injury. He'll begin as a graduate nurse while preparing to take the NCLEX licensure exam.
“I heard about the strong reputation of the WCC nursing program — particularly how well its graduates do on the NCLEX — and wanted to be part of it,” said Reynolds, who moved from Walled Lake to Ann Arbor to enroll in a program named a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing.
Reynolds was one of 129 WCC Class of 2026 graduates to earn a Registered Nursing associate degree. He did so with honors (3.5-3.8 GPA) and was a member of the college's Phi Theta Kappa honor society.
Seven more graduates completed the LPN-to-RN associate degree program while 102 students began their nursing journey by completing the Nursing Assistant Skills program. It was the most popular certificate among Class of 2026 graduates.
Reynolds is not new to healthcare. He worked in administrative roles for a home healthcare agency from 2009-2015 before starting his own company that focuses on quality assurance for similar agencies.
Over time, though, he began to feel drawn toward more direct patient care, where he believed his work could have a stronger impact and greater sense of purpose.
His first nursing school clinical experience brought him to the rehab unit at St. Joe’s — an early preview of where he would begin his nursing career. An eventual return to home care work as a visiting nurse is among future possibilities.
Reynolds said WCC’s combination of top-notch facilities, equipment and faculty support helped prepare him for the demands of the profession.
“The faculty was the best part of the experience,” he said. “They nurtured every student and really want you to succeed.”
PREEONNAH WALLACE
Secondary Education
One by one, Preeonnah Wallace carefully pressed letters onto the top of her graduation cap during Washtenaw Community College's commencement rehearsal.
“MADE TO TEACH,” it read by the time she finished.
The message fits the 22-year-old Ypsilanti native, who says working with young people has long felt like the right path for her.
Wallace earned a Secondary Education-Transfer associate degree from WCC and will continue her studies at University of Michigan-Dearborn, where she plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education.
Her current employment is also influencing the direction she may take as an educator. Wallace works at a clinic that helps individuals with autism spectrum disorder build functional life skills, improve communication and reduce harmful or disruptive behaviors.
“Seeing how impactful those treatments can be for people has me thinking that maybe I’ll focus on special education for secondary,” she said.
As Michigan schools continue to face teacher shortages, Wallace represents the kind of future educator WCC is working to develop through transfer pathways and partnerships tied directly to community needs.
WCC is the premier community college partner for MI Talent Together, one of the nation’s largest “Grow Your Own” teacher preparation programs. The program, founded in partnership with the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative, includes a consortium of all 56 intermediate school districts in Michigan.
For Wallace, that step is already in motion — continuing her education and preparing for a career helping students succeed in the classroom.
JOHAN VILLALOBOS CALDERON
Cybersecurity
For Johan Villalobos Calderon, studying cybersecurity offered a chance to be part of protecting the digital systems people rely on every day.
“I chose cybersecurity because ever since I was a kid, I was always very into computers and curious about what computers can do,” said Villalobos Calderon. “When I got to college, I had to decide which field to pursue. I’ve never really been into programming, but security — knowing how computers communicate — all that really intrigued me.”
Villalobos Calderon, 22, earned an associate degree in Cybersecurity from WCC while maintaining a GPA above 3.8, placing him among the college’s high honors graduates. He plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Eastern Michigan University.
In addition to his academic success, Villalobos Calderon was part of the WCC STEM Scholars program, which he said played an important role in his college experience.
“I really felt very supported at WCC throughout my whole program,” said Villalobos Calderon, who resides in Ann Arbor with his sister, a University of Michigan student.
As employers increasingly seek professionals who can protect critical systems and digital infrastructure, programs like cybersecurity play an important role in helping communities build a skilled workforce in essential fields.
WCC was designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security.
Villalobos Calderon said the program gave him both technical knowledge and practical experience. He appreciated that WCC partners with the Cisco Networking Academy, the world-leader in networking technology, to offer cybersecurity-related classes at WCC for a fraction of the cost of other providers.
“I feel like I was definitely taught by professionals in the field who know how it is,” Villalobos Calderon said. “The experience was definitely what I was expecting, and probably even better. The coursework was beginner-friendly early on and moved at a pace that I could keep up with.”
TAYLOR McKNIGHT
Occupational Studies
When Taylor McKnight returned to college, she wasn’t following a straight path. Like many WCC students, she was tackling online classes in the evening after working a full-time job.
While working as an administrative support professional for a large corporation, McKnight discovered an interest in the field of Human Resources and decided to pursue it further. She transferred some previously earned college credits to WCC and began working toward an associate degree in Occupational Studies, along with an HR Skills & Operations certificate.
McKnight graduated with high honors and a perfect 4.0 GPA in her WCC coursework. Days before walking in the Class of 2026 Commencement, she was selected to serve as student speaker during the college's annual Honors Convocation.
In her remarks, McKnight reflected on the realities many community college students face while pursuing their education. She spoke about rebuilding confidence, overcoming self-doubt and finding renewed purpose through education.
“Throughout my time at Washtenaw Community College, I learned one of the most important lessons of my educational journey: A dream delayed is not a dream deferred, as long as you continue moving toward it,” she said.
McKnight also highlighted the often-overlooked value of community college experiences — particularly for adult learners.
“Community college is often viewed as just a stepping stone, but for many of us, it represents much more,” she said. “It becomes the place where confidence is rebuilt, direction is discovered, and potential is finally recognized.”
Her story also became a family achievement. McKnight’s mother, Renee McKnight, also graduated from WCC with high honors on Saturday, earning an associate degree in General Studies.
“And to the people like my wonderful mother, who raised her family while still pursuing her own dreams, thank you for showing us what perseverance, sacrifice and resilience truly look like,” McKnight said.
EDWIN BARNETT
Accounting
For Edwin Barnett, time at WCC became about more than earning a degree — it became an opportunity to build confidence, develop professional skills and launch a business.
“My time at WCC has been transformative. I came in unsure of exactly what direction
I wanted to take, and over the past few years I’ve grown academically, professionally,
and personally,” Barnett says. “I learned discipline through balancing classes, work,
and entrepreneurship at the same time. WCC helped me build confidence in myself and
gave me opportunities I genuinely don’t think I would have had elsewhere.”
The 23-year-old Ann Arbor native and Huron High School graduate earned an associate degree in Accounting. Alongside his coursework, he worked in restaurants and dabbled in entrepreneurship,
building Win-Win Printing, a custom UV printing business that specializes in promotional products.
Using his business as his testing ground, Barnett was one of three finalists in the
WCC Entrepreneurship Center's annual Pitch@WCC contest, a hands-on learning experience where students develop and
present business ideas. After training and coaching, the select group of finalists
present their pitches live to a panel of judges.
“Pitch@WCC was an incredible experience because it pushed me outside of my comfort zone,” he said. “It taught me how important storytelling, communication, and confidence are when presenting a business. Being surrounded by other motivated students and receiving feedback from mentors and judges was extremely valuable.”
Barnett plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University, following a 3+1 articulation agreement with the neighboring university that allows him to complete three years’ worth of college credits at WCC’s low tuition rate.
MEGAN WATTS
Mechatronics
In some ways, enrolling in the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education program at WCC meant a return to childhood for Megan Watts, who describes her younger self as the girl who would climb trees and play with bugs in her Easter dress.
“I had never really considered (advanced manufacturing) as a career, but when I was a kid I always loved to take things apart and figure out how they worked and how to put them back together,” Watts says. “And my younger brother broke a lot of things, so I naturally figured out how to fix things.”
Now, the 33-year-old Pittsfield Township resident is graduating from WCC with honors, gained hands-on industry experience and earned the distinction of becoming the first woman to complete WCC’s FAME apprenticeship program.
Watts, who grew up in Ypsilanti and graduated from Milan High School in 2011, earned an associate degree in Mechatronics along with Automation Specialist and Robotics Technician certificates.
During the earn-while-you-learn program, she worked at Moeller Aerospace, maintaining CNC machines. She’ll continue working for the turbine engine component supplier post-graduation.
Before returning to school, Watts worked for 12 years at the Ypsilanti District Library. She described the FAME program as “challenging, but rewarding” and credits WCC instructors with helping to build her confidence and understanding along the way.
“I definitely hunkered down and wanted to succeed,” Watts said. “It was made easier because the instructors were so nice. Whenever I asked questions, they made sure to explain it. Over time, it was easier to pick up because we’d just take what we learned, add on to that, and it kept snowballing.”
Today, Watts says she's found purpose in her new career path and the teamwork involved in manufacturing.
“I liked helping people at the library, but now I can help people in a different sense,” she says. “There’s a whole community, especially at Moeller, so many people that operate the machines – a whole team I work with – it’s nice to be able to work with them and know I’m making a difference.”
Tags: Alumni Profile, Class of 2026, Commencement, Graduation, Student Success