News

Weston a Semi-Finalist for National Scholarship

Southwestern Michigan College’s Nick Weston hopes the adage “good things come to those who hustle while they wait” applies to him. Weston, of Paw Paw, recently returned from New Orleans as one of five SMC presenters at the American Chemical Society national meeting.

Five SMC Students Present in New Orleans

Five Southwestern Michigan College students presented at the Spring 2024 American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans March 17-21. In a rare opportunity for community-college students, Mitzy Grana Diaz, Hartford; Alex Foster, Baroda; Katie Lull, Marcellus; Delaney Platt, Illinois; and Nick Weston, Paw Paw, presented findings of year-long research projects to academics, industry and government professionals.

Three-time SMC All-American Coaches in Illinois

Ty Wolf was one and done his first time at Southwestern Michigan College. But what a year it was once he got here. A three-time All-American and one of four All-Americans on Coach Ron Gunn’s 1982 cross country team, which finished third in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

SMC’s Tyhe Glenn Named Chautauqua, N.Y., Scholar

Southwestern Michigan College’s Tyhe Glenn has been selected from a national pool of applicants as a Summer Scholar for Chautauqua’s 150th season this July. Glenn, 19, an SMC Honors Program student from Benton Harbor, graduates May 4 with his visual arts associate degree.

Students, Community Jam SMC Career Fair

Logan Petruska of Edwardsburg, usually seen drumming with the Southwestern Michigan College Jazz Ensemble, doesn’t graduate until next spring. He came to Wednesday’s Career Fair in Mathews Conference Center East on SMC’s Dowagiac campus dressed for success because while “music has been my passion since I was 7 years old,” the business major March 20 focused on banks and financial institutions.

Alex Fiks Designs Card Games to Train RAs

Southwestern Michigan College William M. White Residence Hall Manager Alex Fiks also designs card games like Behind Closed Doors as a tool for training resident assistants (RAs). More than 150 games have been marketed across the United States. Cards reflect experiences from numerous institutions. They are meant to be fun and interesting for new and veteran staff alike by drawing out situations that frame conversations for supervisors to cover.

2013 SMC Graduate Designs Winning Cass County Coin

Paige Linback, Southwestern Michigan College 2013, marked seven years in October as a graphic designer for WNDU-TV in South Bend, though she left an indelible image at SMC as a photographer. As the designer of Cass County’s honor coin, Linback, of Edwardsburg, owns #1. Only 100 were minted.

SMC’s ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ opens March 21

Southwestern Michigan College presents “Little Shop of Horrors” as its spring musical March 21-23 at 7:30 p.m. and at 2 p.m. March 24 in the theatre of the Dale A. Lyons Building on the Dowagiac campus. See swmich.edu/performances for ticket information. Set in Skid Row in 1960s Los Angeles, Mushnick’s meek flower shop assistant Seymour Krelborn (Oliver Long of Edwardsburg) pines for coworker Audrey (Aliya Leavitt of Paw Paw).

Glass Artist Returns to SMC as Guest Lecturer

Glass artist Eli Zilke credits fate for being in the right place at the right time. Zilke grew up in Fairplain, graduated from Lakeshore High School in 2010 and attended Southwestern Michigan College in 2011 and 2012. His ceramics instructor, Sherrie Styx, brought him back as guest presenter March 6 to address her Art History 2 class.

SMC’s Faculty and Staff Art Show Returns

Southwestern Michigan College’s faculty and staff art show, absent since the pandemic, is like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get. With its return March 5, at least that hasn’t changed.