Macomb celebrates 105th commencement with virtual ceremony

Three students share their Macomb experience of success during ceremony

Macomb Community College is celebrating its 105^th commencement with a virtual ceremony available at www.macomb.edu/future-students/campus-life/student-life/index.html beginning Friday, Dec. 17. The college awarded more than 850 associate degrees for the 2021 fall semester. Approximately 140 students participated in the ceremony.

“I think it’s important to recognize that earning a college degree is not an easy task, even in the best of times. It takes maturity and courage to put yourself on a path to build a new future and forge a new identity,” said James O. Sawyer IV, president, Macomb Community College when addressing the graduates and their families. “It takes determination and commitment to go from thinking about being a college graduate to actually earning that degree. We realize it also takes balancing work, family and personal commitments with school obligations. It means persisting through conflicting priorities. It means keeping focused on accomplishing a longer-term goal, often forgoing immediate gratification.”

Three new graduates shared their personal stories of success at Macomb during the virtual ceremony.

“Over the last few years, I have struggled with the unknown. This includes not knowing what I wanted to do with my life,” said Marsalis Wade, 34, of Clinton Township. “Approaching 30, I realized that for me to succeed or want to advance in life, a college degree was essential to make my mark in society. Many say higher education is futile. I look at higher education as an opportunity to advance further in society. Transferring to Macomb Community College in 2017 provided me with the necessary tools to continue in my pursuit of education and success in life.”

Wade earned an associate of business administration degree at Macomb and intends to transfer to Walsh College to earn a bachelor’s degree in business and then apply to law school at the University of Houston.

English is a second language for graduate Tania Ahmed, 34, of Warren, who attained her associate of applied science in nursing from Macomb.

“To be a part of the health care family, my classmates and I have been working hard toward our educational goals,” said Ahmed. “We have put in so much effort in the last two years to earn the right to stand here. We endured many sleepless nights due to staying up late studying and attending many study group sessions. We might be different ages, races and ethnicities, but we’re all bound by the same goal and that is to graduate from nursing school. It has been an amazing journey, which we will never forget.”

Ahmed is continuing her education at Wayne State University in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in nursing, with the long-range goal of becoming a cardiac intensive care unit nurse.

“As I close this chapter, with great strength and pride, I begin a new one. I will continue to expand my education and gain my bachelor’s degree. I will continue to succeed, and hopefully get into law school,” said Jaide Sedgeman, 26, of Macomb. “If there is one thing Macomb Community College and my professors have taught me, it is there is no limit to my success. I now feel prepared to enter the workforce, continue on with school, and be whoever I want to be.”

Sedgeman earned an associate degree of applied science in paralegal studies at Macomb and plans to attend Madonna University to complete a bachelor’s degree before pursuing law school.

About Macomb Community College

Macomb Community College (www.macomb.edu) is one of the nation’s leading community colleges. Macomb nationally ranks in the top two percent in the number of associate degrees awarded by community colleges and is one of the largest grantors of associate degrees in Michigan. The college’s comprehensive educational programming includes pre-collegiate experiences, university transfer and career preparation programs, bachelor-degree completion and graduate degree programs, workforce training, professional education and certification, and continuing education and enrichment opportunities.

Media contact: Sean M. Patrick, 586.445.7271, patricks28@macomb.edu