Jeff Sornig was not interested in parlaying his 23-year administrative career in the military into a civilian job when he retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2012.  Instead, the 48-year-old decided to revisit an interest that had propelled him through every art class offered by Petoskey High School.

“It was a different time then. No one in the late ‘80s encouraged art as a career,” notes Sornig. “Joining the Marines was my ticket out of the north.”

During his time in the service, Sornig was deployed to the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan.  A happier experience was meeting his wife, Heather, an Ohio native and also a career Marine. The couple transferred from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to Selfridge Air National Guard Base in 2006, from which they both launched their post-service lives. They live in Chesterfield Township and Heather works for TACOM, while Sornig graduated from Macomb’s Media and Communication Arts (MACA) Program in May.

“I’ve always been interested in character design and animation,” offers Sornig, dad to Brad, 27, and Vaughn, 17. “(Macomb’s) program gives you a good working knowledge of the skills needed for the industry.

Sornig gladly interrupted those studies to accept a coveted “NICKternship” at Nickelodeon in Burbank, California.  His mother-in-law lives near there and offered him a room during what he thought would be a 10-week stay.  The internship, however, turned into a two-year job. Sornig worked on shows that included Pinky Malinky, the first collaboration between Nickelodeon and Netflix, for which he received a rolling credit as a production assistant.  In 2018, he returned home and to his studies.

“Coming out of the Marines, there is a tendency to want to do something similar in the civilian world,” reflects Sornig, “but I had no desire to do that.”

With questions about the educational benefits he was entitled to as retired military, Sornig visited Macomb’s Office of Veteran and Military Services before enrolling. He discovered that all costs associated with earning an associate degree would be covered.

“I started down a general (MACA) track,” says Sornig, “and then focused on my particular interests in imaging and illustration.”

When Kris Mellebrand, one of his MACA professors, promoted the annual Shorewood Kiwanis Harper Charity Cruise design contest in class, Sornig decided to give his new skills a spin around a competitive track.

“Although I’m really a Dodge guy, I’ve always liked the design of the ‘59 Corvette convertible,” offers Sornig. “I also love the midcentury modern aesthetic, and it all comes together in my design.”

From 60 entries, Sornig’s was awarded first place, with fellow MACA students Allison Ray and Jeannie Skirpan taking second and third, respectively.  Held annually and open to only Macomb MACA students, the contest includes cash awards donated by the Shorewood Kiwanis and its corporate sponsor, Roy O’Brien Ford, which are matched by scholarships from the Foren Family Foundation Engineering and Advanced Technology fund from the Macomb Community College Foundation.  The winning design will be printed on T-shirts sold during the cruise, which takes place the fourth Wednesday of each August along Harper Ave. in St. Clair Shores.

Sornig plans on being there and, he acknowledges, “I’ll be buying a few T-shirts.”

Macomb Community College alumna Jill Gerloff is a wife, proud aunt, cancer survivor and self-proclaimed degree collector. After receiving an associate degree from Macomb in 1998, she went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University, and master’s degrees from Roosevelt and Kansas State universities. Most recently, she obtained a doctoral degree in education from Texas Christian University. But, Gerloff credits her time at Macomb as being an integral part of her success.

“If it wasn’t for Macomb Community College, I may not have become Dr. Gerloff,” she says. “They started me on the trajectory to who I am today!”

Gerloff began taking classes at Macomb as a senior in high school, and returned following a failed start at another institution. Right away, she noticed the welcoming faculty and staff. “I felt that it was a judgment free zone, and that they were accommodating to working adults.”

On the first day of one of her classes, Gerloff’s instructor shared a personal anecdote, revealing her early struggles in college and her gradual journey toward a Ph.D.

“She was honest and vulnerable with us about her experiences, in an effort to encourage us to pursue our goals despite setbacks,” relates Gerloff. “I had a similar story and followed her road less traveled and finally completed that doctorate in 2018.”

Now employed in higher education for 12 years, Gerloff has served in roles that involve “teaching, curriculum development, and advising and mentoring students at a variety of institutions.” She now works as a student services analyst for Phoenix College in Phoenix, Arizona. There, she assists students with putting together their course schedule, “goal setting, and preparing for the next steps, whether that is graduation or transfer to a four-year institution.”

During her transition to Wayne State, Gerloff says that “there were many checklist items I did not know I needed to do.” As a result, she ended up going solo in the process, not knowing “how to ask for help, or that there were offices available to assist me.” In spite of these initial hiccups, Gerloff really valued the ease with which she was able to transfer her credits.

“One barrier to student success at a four-year institution is having to retake courses, which do not transfer equally or do not count toward degree progress,” says Gerloff. However, through articulation agreements with many schools statewide, “Macomb made it relatively seamless.” She also appreciated the convenience of being able to take classes at the University Center, close to home and work.

Gerloff’s experiences at Macomb, as well as the difficulties she encountered, equipped her with the tools she needed to thrive in her current position.  She encourages all new students to “take advantage of all of the opportunities on campus,” whether that means networking with students and faculty, or getting involved in activities and clubs. “Become an integral part of the Macomb community!” Equally important, she recommends students speak with an advisor.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help when needed,” says Gerloff. “The educational journey is a team effort!”

It is often said that family needs not be blood-related, and Evan Leedy, 23, exemplifies this ideal. In 2015, Leedy read a Detroit Free Press article about James Robertson, a down-to-earth factory worker. Known as the “Walking Man,” Robertson traveled 21 miles to work by foot each day.

So moved was Leedy by Robertson’s story that he started a GoFundMe campaign in hopes of raising $25,000 to purchase him a car. Within seven days, the fundraiser had drawn in more than $350,000. Topping it off, Leedy says, Suburban Ford donated a new car to Robertson, ensuring not only that he had enough money to move closer to his job, but to help him plan for retirement. In the years since, Robertson and Leedy have remained close.

“He comes to my family’s holiday parties,” relates Leedy, “and was at my wedding last year.”

Now a network administrator for a division of Illinois Tool Works (ITW), Leedy got a jump start on his college education through Early College of Macomb (ECM) at 15.

“The ECM program was enticing,” says Leedy. “It seemed like a great opportunity to not only start college classes while still attending high school, but also to get an associate degree for no cost.”

Each year, five Dakota High School students are selected for the accelerated education program and, in 2011, Leedy’s name was randomly chosen after passing the entrance exam. Only 15 at the time, Leedy relied on his parents and friends to help him get to campus until he obtained his driver’s license. The rigorous curriculum often required him to manage three classes at Dakota and another three at Macomb, after which he worked the rest of the evening.

“It was definitely a challenge juggling high school classes, college classes and a job,” offers Leedy, “but it was such a rewarding feeling at the end of it all.”

Whenever Leedy found himself encountering difficulty with a course, he was able to rely on Macomb’s plentiful resources.

“Staying organized and taking advantage of tutoring at Macomb’s library really made a difference in my studies,” says Leedy. “ECM and Macomb have plenty of resources available to help ensure you are successful throughout the program, so take advantage of them. If you are struggling in a class, you are not alone!”

Shortly before completing high school, Leedy was offered an internship at ITW. That led to a permanent role with the company, followed by a salaried full-time position after he earned his Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management degree from Wayne State University. Come May 2, Leedy is set to graduate with his master’s degree, also in Information Systems Management.

“Managing high school, college and a job all at once really helped me prepare for managing various projects and tasks throughout my career,” says Leedy. “I would not have the job that I do or be graduating with my master’s degree without any student loans if it wasn’t for the ECM program.”

Aviana Vasko graduated from Walsh College last year and is planning to return and begin working on her master’s degree in September.  That’s not only a testament to her determination, but to her business savvy as well.

With the money she saved at Macomb, Vasko had reasoned, she would be able to afford a bit more traveling, she’d already visited Europe and Aruba, and an early start on her master’s degree. So far it’s all going according to plan.

I had a lot of conversations with my mom when I graduated high school,” says Vasko, Henry Ford II High School class of 2013.  “We agreed Macomb was the better option and I am extremely glad I decided to stay home, save all that money and receive the same education. I loved a lot of my teachers at Macomb, and the flexibility to take classes around my schedule.”

When she was a student at Macomb, Vasko could often be found in the library studying, where she appreciated the close proximity of coffee and pre-made sandwiches.  An amateur photographer, she had plans to open her own studio.  At first, she took accounting and marketing courses at Macomb because it made sense to know the practical side of running a small business.  But, then, she discovered that she was good at it.

“I still enjoy photography, but as a hobby,” says Vasko.  “I still want to be creative, and marketing offers me the best of both worlds.”

Vasko earned a Bachelor’s of Business Administration Degree from Walsh, taking most of her courses online or at the University Center on Macomb’s Center Campus.

“It was an easy process to transfer from Macomb to Walsh,” says Vasko, “and the University Center was in the perfect area for me.”

A quality assurance associate with i3Logic, Vasko is finding the experience invaluable as she learns about the business culture.  She believes a master’s degree in marketing will open up more doors for her as she makes her way toward her dream job: head of a marketing department.

“I’m active with the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society, which is a great networking opportunity,” says Vasko.  “In business, it’s about working as a team and constant improvement.  In marketing, it’s about showing the customer how you can make their life better.”

And that, says Vasko, is what Macomb and Walsh have done by showing her how to combine creativity with her own innate business sense.

“I never thought I would go to a business school,” says Vasko.  “You just never know where life is going to take you.”

“The Future in Motion,” is the slogan of Continental AG, the international, tier one auto supplier that employs Mike McMillan, Macomb Advanced Automotive Technology graduate, as a lead test and validation engineer.  And he personifies it well.

“This is a fast growing company with lots of opportunities,” says McMillan, who works in Continental’s Automotive Systems Division.  “It’s a lot more interesting than information technology (IT).”

McMillan studied IT for a year at Oakland University before hearing about Macomb’s Center for Advanced Automotive Technology.  He’d always liked cars and began to think that becoming a certified mechanic would be his niche in the workplace.  He transferred to Macomb, earned his Associate of Applied Science Degree in Advanced Automotive Technology and discovered a new career pathway.

“A couple of my professors starting asking if I had ever considered going into electrical engineering,” offers the 2008 graduate of Anchor Bay High School.  “Instead of getting another degree in automotive, I decided to transfer to Wayne State and earn a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering Technology.  It’s a better route, more general, and I can work in more than automotive if I need to.”

McMillan graduated from Wayne State University in 2014, after receiving a full-ride, transfer scholarship.  He’s been at Continental for four years, working as a software testing engineer and components test engineer before he was promoted to his current position, in which he is responsible for implementing test strategies.

“It’s a dynamic environment, always changing,” says McMillan.  “The company will pay my tuition if I want to go back to school. My goal now is to earn an MBA so that when I’m ready to retire, I can teach at a community college.”

That new direction, he notes, is partly attributable to the experience he had at Macomb.

“I would recommend starting at a community college to anyone. The faculty are just as good as those at a four-year school, and they helped me figure out what I wanted to do,” says McMillan.  “In a short amount of time, I learned quite a bit.”

His skills as a certified mechanic, however, still come in handy.  McMillan drives a Chevy Volt to work, but began racing his turbocharged Dodge Neon SRT-4 last year. He intends to do the same with his Eagle Talon and Yamaha FJ-O9 motorcycle.

“I’ve always liked cars. My dad was always into them and he got me interested,” says McMillan, who shares his Chesterfield Township home with Smokey, the cat. “It used to be just a hobby, but it’s been a lot of fun turning it into a career.”

When Angelo Loria enrolled in Macomb’s Culinary Arts program, he had already earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Oakland University (OU) and had worked for 10 years at Ford Motor Company.

“I started at Ford when I was still going to OU,” said Loria, who graduated from Henry Ford II High School in 1994. “But it just wasn’t the right fit.  I had no passion for what I was doing.”

Loria, now executive chef at Vince and Joe’s Gourmet Markets, grew up in a Sicilian household where food was the centerpiece of family life.  Today, he makes regular visits to his poultry supplier in Ohio and is proud that when corn is in season, it’s still warm when it arrives on the loading dock from local fields.  On Sundays, his day off, he loves nothing more than engaging his children (ages 2, 4 and 6) in making an apple crostata a batch of red sauce.

“Cooking,” says Loria, “has always been in my blood.”

Transforming that passion into a marketable skill, however, required long hours and hard work.  He studied pastry arts and restaurant management at Macomb, where, he says, “The chefs set us up to succeed with the right amounts of passion and focus.”  When students were asked to volunteer to help prepare food for the golfers competing in the 2008 PGA Tournament at the Oakland Hills Country Club, Loria quickly signed up.  That would lead to his first professional culinary job as a prep cook at the country club, after Chef O’Farrell  of Macomb’s Culinary Arts faculty put in a good word for him.

“If it wasn’t for that first big break, says Loria, “I would probably still be at Ford.”

Loria progressed through several chef’s positions, eventually becoming the country club’s executive chef.  But the hours were long and some nights, he offers, “I slept in the locker room.”  So when his wife Rosalee found him a new job, as executive chef at the Fox Theatre, he was more than happy to accept.

“The Ilitch’s personal chef was my direct boss,” relates Loria, who assisted with all the Olympia entertainment events.  From there, he went to the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, where he oversaw a revamping of both the menu and the banquet facilities.  This allowed him to use all the skills he had amassed in cooking, catering, beverage management and purchasing and, he says, “It was a great experience.”  He might still be there if Vince and Joe’s hadn’t offered him a job, not once but twice, until he accepted.

That was nearly four years ago and Loria is still excited that, “I get to cook for a living.”

Loria oversees the preparation of all takeaway dishes sold at the markets.  He supervises wine tastings, special events and offsite catering, and manages social media.  And he can often be found helping a customer find that just right something for the evening meal or sifting through papers in his office for a recipe to share.   And does the executive chef have his own favorite?

“My favorite thing to cook,” says Loria, “is the next thing.”

When the American-born Shandana Shah moved with her mother from Sterling Heights to her parents’ native Pakistan just before starting high school, barriers of both culture and language prevented the Macomb alumna from expressing herself to the extent she was accustomed.  Now Shah is making up for it as a communications major at the University of Michigan.

“Although we spoke a Pakistani language at home, it wasn’t the one spoken at school,” relates Shah.  “Not being able to talk to people was difficult. The sense of togetherness we felt with family helped make the transition easier, but, still, my grades in Pakistan were not very good.”

Shah took a year off after graduating from high school to think about what she wanted to do.  Her mom wasn’t quite ready to return to Michigan, and Shah wasn’t quite ready to commit to a major or a school.  By the time they resettled in Roseville, Shah had decided she would attend Macomb.

“My older brothers had both gone there before transferring to Michigan State (yes, you read that correctly, the new Wolverine’s siblings are both Spartans),” says Shah.  “Macomb was familiar, and that is what I needed at that time in my life.”

At Macomb, Shah excelled in her studies and was invited to join Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for community college students.  She volunteered for an alternative spring break trip to New York, where she and other Macomb students, supervised by Daniel Thurman, Macomb’s associate dean of Student Success, prepped, packaged and delivered healthy meals to those with serious illnesses.  She was also selected for a paid Community College Summer Research Fellowship at the University of Michigan, a 10-week program that introduced her to one of Michigan’s most venerable institutions of higher learning.

“Macomb gave me a huge opportunity to reinvent myself. It helped me build up confidence to apply to U of M, and the faculty were genuinely excited for me when I was accepted,” says Shah, who credits Thurman for mentoring her throughout the transfer process.  “It has been so exciting to see Macomb be a part of each new milestone in my life.”

While living in Pakistan, Shah, who loves to read, found an expressive outlet in creative writing. After taking Marketing, her first class at Macomb, she hopes her passion for words will translate into a communications or marketing career.  Now in her second semester at U of M, she is availing herself of all the cultural opportunities the university and Ann Arbor have to offer, as evidenced by the photo of her in front of the Michigan Wings mural in the city’s downtown.

“Macomb taught me how important is to get involved, which is something I regret not doing when I lived in Pakistan,” says Shah. “There will be no more missed opportunities and for that, I am forever grateful to Macomb.”