News

Tales From Adult Learners—Tim Witherow

Tales From Adult Learners—Tim Witherow, Welding Technology

Tales From Adult Learners—Samantha Roberts

Tales From Adult Learners—Samantha Roberts

Tales From Adult Learners—John Gershoffer

When John Gerschoffer graduated from Edwardsburg High School in 1994, he signed up for programming classes at Southwestern Michigan College. “Programming didn't sit well with me, so I ended up stopping,” he said. Gerschoffer's back on campus now, having received an SMC advanced technology scholarship, and is studying robotics. In fact, he's in his final semester.

Staying Close to Home is Sometimes the Perfect Choice

At 45, Jayna (Peterson) Sobecki has been teaching Cassopolis children half her life. After her 23rd year at Sam Adams Elementary School, it’s been 26 years since her selection to speak at Southwestern Michigan College’s 1998 commencement. She had been Brandywine High School valedictorian, so the full-ride scholarship she received made it any easy decision to follow her parents to SMC, just as two younger brothers followed her.

SMC Board of Trustees Adopts Budgets

Following a public hearing, the Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees June 12 adopted balanced 2024-25 fiscal-year budgets. The $27,384,000 general fund budget for July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025, anticipates $10.976 million from tuition and fees, $7.782 million from property taxes on 2.3864 mills, $8.167 million in state appropriation and $459,000 from other revenue.

SMC Wins 2023-2024 MCCAA All-Sports Trophy

For the first time in school history, Southwestern Michigan College Athletics has earned the Michigan Community College Athletic Association's most prestigious honor. The Charlie Chanter All-Sports Trophy, named after a former coach and professor at Grand Rapids Community College, is presented annually to the college with the most overall success in its programs.

‘I’m in Music for the Long Haul’

Wyatt Marshall Noack, Elkhart’s Texan, planned to move to Buchanan in March when the versatile musician got his first look at 1st Source Bank Fieldhouse Feb. 5. Noack, 24, graduated from Southwestern Michigan College in 2021 with honors and an associate degree in music, transferring to Indiana University South Bend (IUSB) to complete a year toward a bachelor’s degree in music technology. “Wyatt Marshall,” as he’s known professionally, is set to release his first rock album this summer as Y@.

SMC Goes for the Gold in Veterans Service

Melanie McGee traces her affinity for serving veterans to her grandfather, Louis Richmond. McGee’s diligence as Southwestern Michigan College student records specialist and SCO, or veteran school certifying officer, last summer clinched SMC gold-level status as a VFS, or Veteran-Friendly School, by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.

SMC’s First Professor Visits Campus

Robert Guntle was not only a charter member of Southwestern Michigan College’s faculty, he was SMC’s first instructional hire. Guntle, 90, joined the college in 1965 from Brandywine, the year before classes began, and stayed nine years as a biology professor, so it’s not surprising that whenever he’s in the area visiting family and friends, he stops by campus to see how things are growing.

SMC Hosts 202 from Area High Schools for Junior Day

Southwestern Michigan College hosted 202 high school 11th graders from Lawton (38), South Bend Career Academy (20), Decatur (35), Cassopolis Ross Beatty (27), Berrien Springs (22), Watervliet (four), Covert (16) and Kalamazoo Central (40) May 17 for Junior Day. Participants visited SMC’s Dowagiac campus for nuts-and-bolts advice on the college admission process.