Graduate Profiles: Meet the WCC Class of 2026

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:

 

(Note: This page will be updated with additional graduate profiles.)

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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.

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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.”