News

More Than 500 Attend SMC College Fair

More than 500 students attended Sept. 24’s Southwestern Michigan College Fair in the Charles O. Zollar Building, encompassing 1st Source Bank Fieldhouse and the Student Activity Center. Representatives from 46 colleges and universities were available to visitors from 10 a.m. to noon. High school students could talk to representatives from a wide variety of colleges and universities in one convenient location to get answers to questions about admissions, programs and financial aid.

SMC Hosts Michigan School Counselors

Southwestern Michigan College updated local educational partners at the annual Michigan Counselor Breakfast Sept. 18 in Mathews Conference Center East on the Dowagiac campus. Counselors received a preview of the academic year and met SMC’s admissions team. Eighteen counselors attended from Berrien Springs, Brandywine, Bridgman, Dowagiac, Edwardsburg, Heritage Southwest Intermediate School District, Marcellus, New Buffalo, Niles, Phoenix High School of Kalamazoo and Three Oaks.

SMC Accomplishments Reviewed

Interim President Brent Brewer detailed an “historic fall” Sept. 10 for the Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees. From an economic impact study and three capital improvement projects to 1,100 students participating in 17 Welcome Week activities, SMC is “firing on all eight cylinders,” in 2025, as Chairman Tom Jerdon put it.

Good Boy Founder Speaks to SMC Business Club

Alex Pratt, founder of fast-growing Good Boy Vodka, shared his story Sept. 16 with Southwestern Michigan College Business Club, which packed the Student Activity Center theatre. President Cole Kilboy presented Pratt with a Business Club shirt members autographed.

SMC Music Majors Hear Renowned Trombonist

Southwestern Michigan College music majors were treated Sept. 12 to a guest speaker, trombonist Tim Coffman. Coffman, a performer and educator in the Chicago area, was in town to perform Sept. 13 at the South Haven Jazz Festival with the Lake Effect Jazz Big Band through a Jupiter Music grant. Coffman began by playing a 1941 Billie Holiday ballad, “Lover Man,” accompanied by a play-along track on his laptop he pulled from YouTube.

Make It a Laughing Matter

Automotive Professor Kyle Schrock isn’t ready to give up his seven-year day job, but at the same time he’s serious about nurturing his fledgling comedy career. Stand-up comedy implies a fusillade of jokes. That’s not Schrock. He’s more of a storyteller.

Meet SMC's Chief Assurance Officer

Native Texan Dr. Jeff Freels, Southwestern Michigan College’s new chief assurance officer, aims to position faculty for success the way he did for students while teaching history at community colleges.

Inspired to Share Her Passion for Teaching

Studying early childhood education with Ranee Conley at Southwestern Michigan College “put more fire in my passion,” Noemi Reyna-Adams, SMC ’21, said. Her career goal today is becoming a professor in early childhood education.

Room to Grow at SMC

A whole college experience provides learning outside of classrooms. That’s why Southwestern Michigan College launched the Room to Grow capital campaign. Room to Grow provides dedicated space for SMC’s growing wrestling program, including a larger competition and training area as women join the mix this fall. Only 29 NJCAA schools offer women’s wrestling. SMC will be first in Michigan to offer this increasingly popular sport to women.

SMC Announces New Wrestling Facility, Arts Building Upgrade and ‘Room to Grow’ Capital Campaign

Southwestern Michigan College announced two construction projects today: an expansion of the Charles O. Zollar Building to include a brand-new wrestling room for the Roadrunners and upgrades to the Dale A. Lyons Building to improve music facilities for faculty, students and the community.