Pandemic Redirects Preston into Medical Assisting

At 52, Laura Preston of Niles pivoted from careers with retail giants such as Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue and creative director for an Ohio vitamin company’s five-member marketing team to Southwestern Michigan College’s medical assistant certificate program.

SMC Jazz Ensemble Playing with Count Basie's Trombonist

Dennis Wilson was in the house April 18, polishing three hours nonstop into the evening with Southwestern Michigan College’s Jazz Ensemble for their collaboration April 27 during the 20th annual Thornapple Arts Council Jazz Festival. Wilson will lead SMC’s band on a few tunes and solo in Hastings. His gravitas enveloped the theatre in the Dale A. Lyons Building with authenticity, especially when he grabbed his trombone to rip off a solo for the rapt young musicians.

SMC Student Art Show Opens

Sashenka Cruz of Dowagiac and Cecilia Matthews of Edwardsburg received recognition April 16 at Southwestern Michigan College’s annual student art show in the Art Gallery of the Dale A. Lyons Building. Cruz won the popular vote for the Peer Award. This is her first full year as a college student after starting at SMC while still attending Union High School.

SMC Students Explore Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia and South Carolina

This year’s Southwestern Michigan College extended learning experience exposed history students to Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia and South Carolina — 2,000 miles in four days. Nathan Andrina, Kaylee Brooks, Lyla Elrod, Lanie Gist, Seth Pompey, Gabby Blake, Michael Burks, Shane Edwards, Nathan Hetler, Lil Schinbeckler, Devin Bridges, Koya Cross, Olivia Garrod, Micah Ordway and Paige Waldrop participated.