After earning a law degree in the early 1990s, Melissa Bruzzano never expected to find herself back in a college classroom.
But the 57-year-old Ann Arbor resident returned to Washtenaw Community College to pursue a new passion — and did so with extraordinary success.
“The first time I graduated, I thought I was done,” she said. “As it turns out, that was only the beginning.”
COMMENCEMENT PHOTOS: Gallery I | Gallery II
Bruzzano, who earned an Environmental Science associate degree from WCC with a 4.0 GPA, was selected as student speaker for the college’s 2026 Commencement ceremony.
After building careers in law and education, Bruzzano was inspired to find a new direction after scuba diving trips with her family to Bonaire, a Caribbean island known for its coral reefs and marine ecosystems.
Over several years of visits, she witnessed dramatic environmental decline in the reefs firsthand. Wanting to better understand the changes — and how to help — Bruzzano turned to her local community college.
She chose WCC because it was affordable, close to home and flexible for an adult learner balancing family and work.
“I thought I was getting convenience, but what I got was so much more,” Bruzzano told her fellow graduates.
Bruzzano quickly distinguished herself academically and developed technical skills in a Principles of Geographic Information Systems course that she said “gave me the pivotal skills I would use as a participant in the NASA DEVELOP program last summer.”
Through that program, Bruzzano gained experience in satellite data analysis, work she continues today.
She also credited WCC’s Center for Career Success with helping refine her resume and interview skills as a returning adult student, support she said helped her secure the NASA opportunity.
During her commencement speech, Bruzzano encouraged classmates to embrace lifelong learning.
“I thought education was something you completed and then moved on from,” she said. “But as I stand here today as a proud graduate of Washtenaw Community College, I know education does not end with this diploma. Rather it can be, and should be, a life-long endeavor.”
Her closing message reflected the journey that brought her back to college.
“Graduation is not the finish line. It’s the starting point for whatever comes next. It’s never too late to learn, to change directions or to find a new purpose,” she said. “Continue to learn as much as possible for the rest of your time on this amazingly beautiful planet.”
Tags: Adult Learners, Class of 2026, Commencement, Graduation, Student Success