Metal fabricating and plastic injection molding might not come immediately to mind when one thinks about the tools of a sculptor’s trade. But in the hands of Joe Culver, Macomb art alum, they become works of art.

Take Consolidation Attempt #5, which incorporated rejected plastic parts from the shop where he worked with different sized steel levers. He suspended the sculpture from the ceiling of the Anton Art Center for the 42^nd Michigan Annual Competition, a juried exhibit featuring works from artists across the state. It took first place.

“The center’s staff helped me unleash my vision in the gallery,” says Culver. “Macomb’s Art program and the Anton Art Center are the oasis of art in Macomb County.”

Culver, who took every art class at Anchor Bay High School, studied at Macomb under Todd Mitchell, art faculty. After transferring to Wayne State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, Culver stayed on at Macomb for three years as a studio assistant. He helped Mitchell run the fine arts foundry, unique among community colleges, where students learn how to cast in bronze and other metals.

“Todd Mitchell was pivotal in both my career and personal development,” says Culver. “He helped me flesh out what it was that I wanted to do.”

In addition to Michigan Annual honors, Culver took best of show at Wayne State’s annual exhibit of graduating seniors’ work. Since then, his sculptures have been seen at the ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, the Grosse Pointe Art Center, and the Scarab Club, Whitdel Arts and Tangent Gallery in Detroit.

“Inspiration comes from how things work. Materials and processes are everything,” enthuses Culver, who has been drawing study after study of the infamous spike protein associated with COVID-19 in preparation for his next sculpture. “I’m fascinated by its shape and modulation.”

Culver has also been channeling his creative impulses into designing induction heating modules for Koil Boi, a company he and his brother formed during the pandemic. The square boxes come in neon colors and patterns reminiscent of a kaleidoscope.

“I have a passion for making,” says Culver, who is currently renovating his basement studio to provide more room for the burgeoning business. “Hobbies and interests are front and center for me. I’ve made careers out of them, and I always love what I do.”

Despite the confident exuberance that he approaches his work with today, Culver admits that he was unsure of himself as an artist when he enrolled at Macomb directly from high school.

“Under Todd, I learned about sculpture, which can be anything.” relates Culver, who remains close with his former professor. “My time at Macomb was among the best years of my life.”

At 30, Macomb alum Jeremy Barnes-Smith is living his dreams. After a decade in the automotive industry, he is now working at General Motors as a mobile software engineer. But it took more than a little dedication and a fair number of nearly sleepless nights for him to get to where he is today.

An avid gamer, Barnes-Smith’s goal to become an electrical engineer began after he received a Windows 95 PC when he was 8 years-old. The computer came with a how-to guide for Game-Maker, a program that allowed budding young coders to build simple applications.

“I was also pretty good at math growing up,” elaborates Barnes-Smith, “so I knew a form of engineering was probably a good choice.”

The foundation for many rewarding careers is a quality education, and in 2009, Barnes-Smith made the decision to begin his academic journey at Macomb.

“I originally had high anxiety about attending a university,” explains Barnes-Smith. “Macomb was able to lower my anxiety by allowing me to slowly transition myself into a four-year program” and experience campus life at his own pace.

Perhaps that relaxed entry into college life is just what Barnes-Smith needed to succeed when he landed a job as a production operator for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in 2011. During his first few years at FCA, he worked the overnight shift on weekdays, 4 pm to 2 am. At one point, he found himself only getting four hours of sleep twice a week, when he was enrolled in an 8 am physics class.

“Going to college while working full time in the factory was very stressful,” notes Barnes-Smith. “I felt like it was a constant war going on inside my head between remaining sane and going insane.”

Fortunately, Macomb’s flexible class schedules allowed Barnes-Smith to continue his studies uninterrupted; even if, at one point, it meant ending a 6 am to 3:30 pm shift “only to have to rush to a class that started at 4 pm.” He also credits Macomb’s small class sizes to his success, as they ensured he was able to get help from faculty members, such as Maciej (Matt) Halfaf, after class.

Following his graduation from Macomb in 2014 with an Associate of General Studies degree, Barnes-Smith went on to receive bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Wayne State University (2018) and University of Michigan (2020), respectively. However, his time at Macomb put him in an enviable position as he geared up for his advanced studies: “I was able to go to Wayne State University debt free because of [Macomb].”

Francesca Pace’s path to her current career as an events planner was scattered with figurative rose petals by the unlikely duo of David Tutera, of My Fair Wedding fame, and Nancy Butzu, Early Childhood Studies instructor at Macomb. But Pace never dreamed it would lead to twice monthly Zoom calls with Tutera, after being selected with 99 others for the celebrity wedding planner’s national mentorship.

“I am on cloud nine,” says the owner of Forever More Designs, who got her first taste of wedding cake as part of a large Italian family. “(Tutera) personally helped me redesign my website and has continually praised my work. His approval means the world to me.”

Long before that, however, Pace turned to Tutera’s product line when she planned her own wedding to husband Nino Pace 10 years ago. The couple first met as teens at the San Vito Club, a social organization for the local Italian community, where they performed traditional Italian dances on special occasions. They lost track of each other until they met up again at the club, while both were attending Macomb. The couple have two children, daughter Norella is six and son Giuseppe is four. Pace is vice president of the Parent/Teacher Organization at her daughter’s school, one of the many activities that she juggles as a devoted mom and business owner.

“Being in a close-knit Italian family, I was raised that having an education is important, but being a wife and mother is just as important,” says Pace, who was named after her grandmother Francesca. “My father went back to college in his thirties and received his bachelor’s degree. His bravery, as that was out of the norm for our family, made me believe I could do anything, no matter my age.”

Pace, who earned an associate degree in Early Childhood Studies from Macomb, also finds time for community service projects. Currently, she is working with Woman’s Life Chapter 911- Macomb Angels to create a digital auction to raise money for its efforts on behalf of financially struggling women and their families. Pace also solicits donations for the organization’s Hygiene Pantry from her followers on social media. And, then, there are her artistic passions, which she has spun into a new career after working with young children for 15 years, most recently as an associate director of a childcare center.

“I love journaling, painting, crafting, decorating; anything artistic and I am doing it,” says Pace, whose work as an events planner includes designing invitations, custom signs, and room and floral decorations. When her business was stalled by the venue closures brought about by COVID-19, she began searching for other ways to stage events. That’s when she discovered the Event Planners Association, which led to her receiving a scholarship to Tutera’s mentorship program.

Even though she is nearly three years into her second career, all that she learned at Macomb, in its Early Childhood Studies program and the subsequent art and business courses that she took, is still never far from mind.

“Macomb has absolutely shaped the person I am today. It helped set me up for success,” says Pace. “I learned how to connect with people, practice public speaking, organize summer camp events and how to make connections with local businesses. Those connections opened a new door for me.”

 

Despite the fact that she completed Macomb’s Veterinary Assistant program just last June, animals who find themselves under Cherie Noullet’s watch at Macomb Veterinary Associates in Utica are in the hands of a veteran caregiver.

“My husband Chris and I owned an animal boarding and grooming facility in Troy for 20 years,” says Noullet. “He never had a pet until he met me in college. I grew up with (them) and also picked up any stray within a 20-mile radius of our home.”

For Noullet, home was in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. She met Chris at the University of New Orleans, where she was a competitive volleyball player (and still is) and earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education. The Noullets relocated to Michigan when Chris was hired as an engineer at General Motors. They moved her mother to Michigan just nine months before Katrina hit and the floodwaters reached the roofs of the houses in Noullet’s old neighborhood.

“My friends and neighbors lost everything, but New Orleans has come back strong. It is a great place to live or visit,” says Noullet, who has only an occasional accent, but a continued longing for the Creole and Cajun cuisine of her hometown. “We miss the food. If I had stayed in New Orleans, I would be much heavier.”

Noullet was among the first graduates of Macomb Veterinary Assistant program, which debuted in 2019. That year, the Noullets had sold their boarding kennel and moved to the country. When the Workforce and Continuing Education Schedule of Classes arrived in the mail, Noullet knew that she had found the next chapter of her life.

“The registration process was easy and the campus was very nice and welcoming. The teachers were all great and really cared about how you did in their classes,” says Noullet. “I completed the program and national exam last June and now have the title of Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA).”

Noullet’s internship was with Veterinary Associates, which offered her a permanent position after she graduated. Not surprisingly, she said “Yes!”

“Our clinic sees cats, dogs and rabbits. I like knowing that we are helping them, even if sometimes helping them means that we end their suffering,” says Noullet, shown in the photo with the clinic’s top cat, Miguel. “Nothing makes you happier than caring for a pet and see them get 10 times better, health-wise, because of our treatment. The workers and veterinarians at our clinic are very nice and very dedicated. It’s a hard job, but I love it.”

And when she comes home to her house in the country, Skeeter, Dexter (found roaming the streets of Detroit), C.J. and Missy are waiting for her.  A beagle and three cats, respectively, all were adopted from rescue organizations, one of which the Noullets donated space to when they owned the boarding kennel.

“All are spayed or neutered,” notes the responsible pet “mother,” “and we love them all.”

 

 

Dalia Ali-Khan has worked two jobs and pursued scholarships to stay in college. She sought out tutoring when she needed it and regularly pushed herself beyond her comfort zone. It’s a level of perseverance driven not only by career ambitions, but also something more profound.

“I was diagnosed at 16 with generalized anxiety disorder after suffering debilitating panic attacks multiple times a day,” says the 2017 graduate of Clintondale High School. “I want to make sure that no one ever feels the way I felt. Alone and terrified.”

Ali-Kahn earned an Associate of General Studies degree from Macomb in 2019 and transferred to Oakland University. She is majoring in social work, with a minor in philosophy, and intends to earn bachelor and master degrees.

“My career goals are to become a clinical social worker and advocate for accessible mental health services in public K-12 schools and community colleges,” says Ali-Kahn. “I want students to have access to mental health services so they do not have to fight to get the help that they need.”

When Ali-Khan enrolled at Macomb, the panic attacks had eroded her confidence to the point that she was “terrified” of failing. She confided her fears to some of her professors and they immediately went into action. They tutored her in math and connected her with mental health professionals who helped silence the negative voices that told her to give up. That she read from her own poetry at a Macomb event, was elected president of the Argument Clinic (a student club that explores philosophical questions) and was one of two graduates chosen to give a speech at the December 2019 commencement, indicates how far she has come.

“My experience at Macomb was really life changing. There are professors who truly want you to succeed,” relates Ali-Khan. “They recognized qualities in me that I couldn’t see. With every ‘I know you can do it,’ I started to believe them.”

Most recently, Ali-Khan received the Nido Qubein Scholarship from the National Speakers Association, sharing with her benefactor a character born of perseverance. Nido Qubein emigrated to the U.S. from the Middle East as a teenager and knowing little English. An alum of High Point University, Qubein is now its president and a recipient of the Horatio Alger Award, which honors Americans who have overcome diversity.

“Every time my mind is screaming at me to give up, I remember that there are people out there rooting for me,” says Ali-Khan. “Even if I cannot see them, I know they are there and that I am strong enough to get through whatever life throws my way.”

For Macomb alum Christin Salama of Sterling Heights, the Early College of Macomb (ECM) program provided a perfect chance to get an early start on college and gain experience that will readily translate to future career success.

Originally from Egypt, Salama’s family moved to the United States in 2008, sadly followed the next year by the passing of her mother. She attended Center Line High School and participated in their female soccer team. During her sophomore year, she discovered and applied for ECM.

“I decided to join Early College of Macomb to get an idea of what college life is like,” says Salama. “Being at Macomb the first couple of years was definitely the right choice.”

Advantageous to Salama was the fact that ECM allowed her to earn an associate degree with no out-of-pocket expenses. Books, fees, tuition and resources were all covered through the program. Above all else, Salama appreciated the welcoming atmosphere Macomb’s faculty created. They were always reachable, “willing to help,” and understanding of her needs as a dual-enrolled student.

“They treated me and other early college students the same way,” notes Salama. “Their support was really the main key that encouraged me to be up to their expectations and to meet their standards.”

Through ECM, Salama, whose sights are set on a career in engineering, landed an internship with General Motors in 2017. She was fortunate enough to be able to return in 2018. While there, she learned the processes involved in various specialties and “about different disciplines of engineering.”

Now a transfer student at Wayne State University, Salama recently received the $2,500 Russell J. Ebeid Closing the Gap Scholarship, awarded to Wayne State engineering and business majors from Arab and African American, as well as Latinx backgrounds. The scholarship’s namesake was fueled by a drive to create change through funding the education of engineering and business students.

As with the late philanthropist, Salama also enjoys giving back to the community. In addition to volunteering for church functions, she is involved in the Wayne State chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Among the many activities she helps support is inviting representatives from engineering businesses to speak with students about job opportunities and requirements.

“That is a great way for students to come in and learn more about such companies,” adds Salama, “to give them an idea of what to expect when applying.”

Michigan’s tallest skyscraper carries the mark of two Macomb alums, separated by four decades, two automobile companies and a current of energy-conscious innovations.

The Renaissance Center’s main tower stands 73 floors over Detroit and is illuminated at night by blue LED lighting. Now the headquarters of General Motors, Shane Szeszycki is the lead engineer on a project to retrofit the building’s outdated environmental control systems.

“We are converting the old systems to modern, automated ones,” explains Szeszycki, who is graduating from Macomb’s Climate Control program this winter, after completing his last two general education credits (Spanish) online. “I oversee all the logic programming for equipment, the networking of the computers and controllers, the systems used to monitor energy usage for the whole building and designing systems to create better efficiency.”

Part of a revitalization project for Michigan’s largest city, The Renaissance Center owes its name to Roger Lennert, a Macomb alumnus and marketing executive who died in 2015. Lennert ‘s suggestion was one of more than 140,000 received in a contest sponsored by Ford Motor Company to christen what was intended by its CEO to be the centerpiece of Detroit’s revitalization efforts in the 1970s. Szeszycki’s path to the GMRENCEN, as it is now called, was a bit more intricate.

“I decided to enter the energy management field after a contractor came (to a class at Macomb) and spoke about it,” relates Szeszycki, who graduated from Port Huron High School in 2014. “I was already doing HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) work for two years and enjoyed it. I’ve always had a niche for computers and programming and (energy management) combines the two.”

Working full time and going to school is a challenge faced by many college students. Szesycki credits his determination to necessity and curiosity.

“I grew up with a single mom, and we didn’t have much growing up. I’ve always wanted to find ways to make sure my mom never has to worry again,” relates Szesycki. “I am also very involved with the work because I have a drive to always figure things out and make them better.”

Because of his education and ample experience, Szesycki has been invited to return to Macomb next year to teach a class in its revamped Building Performance and Energy Management program, one of few like it in the state. Following the lead of his own professors, he has accepted.

“The professors in the Climate Control program are relatable because they are either working in their respected fields currently or have for many years,” says Szesycki. “They respected and supported me while I was working and going to school. Not having flexibility like Macomb offered would have crumbled my goals.”