Improve your snapshots in this one-day summer OCC class

Are you looking to improve your photo skills this summer? Beginner’s Guide to Better Photography is a one-day class at Oakland Community College designed to help you shoot better pictures.

The class is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 22, 2013 at the Auburn Hills Campus of Oakland Community College and costs $89.00.

Bring your charged digital camera and any items that came with it such as batteries and a memory card. You will spend the day learning simple techniques to improve composition and photo results. You will shoot photos outside and review results in the classroom.

To register, go to www.oaklandcc.edu/ce, click the registration button and type in ‘personal interests.’ The class will automatically list. Students can also call program manager Clarisse Bolduc at 248-232-4169 for more information.  

OCC Police Academy to graduate 33 trainees

The Oakland Police Academy is graduating its 104^th Basic Police Training class of 33 trainees on Friday, June 21. 

Commencement ceremonies are at 2 p.m. in the Jones Johnson Theater at OCC’s Royal Oak Campus, 739 S. Washington and features 51^st District Court Judge Jodine Debbrecht as speaker.  

Students are typically either sponsored by a law enforcement agency after being offered employment or find employment after graduating from the academy. The academy is located on Oakland Community College’s Auburn Hills Campus.

Of the 33 trainees in the class, two are sponsored by the Dearborn Police Department, one by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, one by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and one by the Novi Police Department. Independent students who are not sponsored by a law enforcement agency are deemed eligible for licensure by the State of Michigan.

Two 17-week basic police training classes enrolling up to 50 students are held each year. The academy presents specialized programs that include police interview techniques and police dog training. About 3,000 law enforcement personnel attend the Oakland Police Academy a year.

The Auburn Hills Campus of OCC is located at 2900 Featherstone Road in Auburn Hills.  For further information about the Oakland Police Academy contact Director of Basic Police Training Richard Tillman at (248) 232-4222.

Congratulations to all graduates!

They are: Mark Aldrich of Plymouth, Brian Burke of Clawson, Estere Chochla of Hamtramck, John Corder of Swartz Creek, Charles Corley of Detroit, Christina Doolan of Farmington Hills,  Emily Dove of Rochester Hills, Derek Edler of Troy,  Scott Flarity of Madison Heights, Justin Gekiere of Harrison Twp., Troy Hairston of Birmingham, Brian Jenkins of Hartland, Edward Johnson of Dearborn Heights, Bryan Johnston of Pinckney, Michael Jusino of Otisville, Joseph Larson of Clarkston, Victoria Madge of Royal Oak, Gerard Marschall of Auburn Hills, Jeremy Meiser of Lake Orion, Brendon Moquin of Clarkston, Brandon Murphey of Detroit, Eric Nelson of Rochester Hills, Brandon Perry of Detroit, William Prestige of Sterling Heights, Chivas Rivers of Oak Park, Brian Ross of Flint, Andrew Rougeau of Madison Heights, Christopher Smith of Southfield, Michael Tesmer of Metamora, Muhieddine Turk of Farmington Hills, Paul Wisniewski of Armada, and Martin Youhanna of Royal Oak.

OCC graduates its largest class ever

Nearly 2,900 students graduated from Oakland Community College Saturday, May 18. It was the largest graduating class in OCC’s 49-year history.

An audience estimated at 12,000 that included 900 graduates, family members, guests, college trustees, faculty and staff, crowded the Palace of Auburn Hills for OCC’s 47th commencement.

More than a third of the class of 2013 – 1,124 graduates – earned University Transfer Degrees in business, liberal arts and science. Another 949 were awarded Associate of Applied Science Degrees. Known as “career degrees,” these diplomas provide graduates with entry-level credentials in 160 professions including accounting, the culinary arts, robotics and nursing.

The balance of the graduating class received associate's degrees in general studies and one-year certificates in fields such as computer information systems, technology, medical assisting and licensed practical nursing. More than 200 graduates were awarded multiple degrees and certificates.

OCC Chancellor Tim Meyer introduced the college’s Outstanding Alumnus for 2013, Michigan House Representative Mike McCready of the 40^th District. McCready attended OCC from 1978 to 1981 before transferring to Western Michigan University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Business Administration. McCready characterized himself as a “proud OCC student.”

This year’s commencement speaker was Hajj Flemings, founder of Brand Camp University, the second largest personal branding conference in the Midwest with operations in Boston, New York, Las Vegas and Austin. His clients include Walt Disney Productions, Pitney Bowes, the U.S. Department of Defense, Iowa State University, the University of Michigan-Ross School of Business, Davidson College and the University of Detroit.

Flemings has been featured in the CNN documentary “Black in America 4: The New Promised Land – Silicon Valley,” the Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, Mashable and CNN Money.

Flemings invited participants to use their mobile devices during the event and tweet messages thanking OCC faculty and staff, and wishing their classmates farewell.

Characterizing OCC as a “vehicle for change,” Flemings observed that the graduates “came to the college as raw material, but leave as a refined product.”  He concluded by urging the graduates to “take your game to the next level” and be “thought leaders.”

OCC is the largest of Michigan’s 28 community colleges and the 23^rdlargest in the nation.  The college offers degrees and certificates in more than 160 fields including university transfer and general studies degrees.

Orchard Ridge renovations celebrated

Officials celebrate Orchard Ridge renovations 

Oakland Community College’s Orchard Ridge Campus in Farmington Hills celebrated the completion of a $6.34 million student center renovation with a May 9 ribbon cutting ceremony. 

The OCC Board of Trustees authorized the renovation of the lower level of Building J in September 2011. Renovations included the replacement of 57,000 square feet of waterproofing under the Student Center plaza  and landscaping. Leaks over the years damaged much of the building’s lower level, including the campus bookstore.

The ribbon cutting featured as speakers OCC Chancellor Timothy R. Meyer, Campus President Jacqueline Shadko, Farmington Hills Mayor Pro Tem Richard Lerner, and campus history faculty member Marilynn Kokoszk.

The new HydroTech waterproofing system has worked well this rainy spring season, said OCC Director of Physical Facilities Daniel Cherewick.

Renovations also included:·         

• New ceilings, lighting and painting·         
• Gutting and remodeling of the campus bookstore·         
• New study spaces and Student LIFE offices·         
• Construction of a small theater/performance room at the east end of the building with a separate entrance.

Work included renovations to the campus bookstore.

“We now have a student gathering space that is inviting, promotes fellowship and is conducive to studying,” said campus president Jacqueline Shadko.

The Student Center features display areas where students and faculty can showcase the artistic character of the campus and its programs, Shadko added. The space can be used to display ceramics, interior design, graphic design and cinematic arts.

“An attractive campus enhances and positively fosters the quality of the educational experience for our students,” said Chancellor Timothy Meyer.  “Maintaining and improving our facilities would not be possible were it not for the support of Oakland County citizens who have approved OCC millage funds three times in the last 18 years for such projects.”

Oakland Community College is the largest community college in Michigan. It ranks 23rd among the nation’s 1,200 associate degree-granting schools. With five campuses throughout Oakland County, it offers degrees and certificates in more than 160 fields, including university transfer degrees in business, science and the liberal arts, workforce training and certificate programs. More than nearly three quarters of a million students have enrolled at the college since it opened in 1965.  Visit OCC online at oaklandcc.edu.

Register now for Summer II courses!

Take advantage of OCC's Summer Session II to speed up completion of your degree, ease your course load,  or just do something fun.
 
Choose from the extensive schedule courses offered from July 1 to August 20.

Summer II registration is open now through June 28.

Web and Touch Tone Registration is March 4 through June 26
. Call 248-341-2345.

Final Registration is June 27 and 28.

Students can add and drop courses between July 1 and July 2.

For more registration details, click here and to search for classes click here. 

State representative honored at convocation

Oakland Community College has selected State House Representative Mike McCready as this year's outstanding alumnus.

McCready represents the 40^th District, which comprises Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, and a portion of West Bloomfield Township. Elected to the State House in November 2012, he is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, chair of the Appropriations Committee on the Michigan State Police, vice chair of the Appropriations Committee on the Department of Natural Resources and vice chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of Human Services. 

McCready is also a member of the House Transportation and House Capitol committees. He graduated from Birmingham’s Seaholm High School, attended Oakland Community College and transferred to Western Michigan University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Business Administration. McCready is principal owner of McCready & Associates, a small business representing commercial furniture manufacturers in Michigan since 1991. 

Prior to his election to the Michigan House, he served on the Bloomfield Hills City Commission, holding many leadership roles including mayor, mayor pro-tem, chairman of the zoning board and member of the planning commission and the library board. McCready and his family live in Bloomfield Hills.