Bay College “Kickstarts” Student Success

News

Bay College Escanaba Kickstart Program with Michigan State Police Officers Basanese and Taylor.

By Amy Gibbs
Published August 15, 2024

This summer, the Bay College Kickstart Program offered future college students the opportunity to get a head start on learning how to be a successful college student. Participants brushed up on their Math and English skills, participated in college and career preparation workshops, and learned about campus and community resources. Thanks to a short-term grant from the Michigan Community College Association, the program was offered free of charge to participants and included professional instruction, guest speakers, meals, school supplies, and a completion award up to $500.

Michigan State Police Offices Basanese and Taylor joined the Escanaba session to conduct a workshop on situational awareness. This workshop allowed students to discuss how to be aware of their surroundings in different stressful situations. Other workshops provided over the two-week session included career exploration, time and stress management, study skills, and more.

Program advisors Gabi Boyle and Makenna Nelson understand the impact of a program like this for incoming college students.

“It was truly inspiring to see students supporting each other and fostering a new sense of community throughout the program,” shares Boyle.

Similarly, Nelson states, “This really is a program where our purpose is to meet individuals where they’re at and help them achieve their goals from there. College is an independent experience and it can be overwhelming at first. Our mission as their advisors and as a program is to prepare them beforehand and help alleviate some of that beginning stress.”

On the last day of the two-week program, students and instructors celebrated their successful launch into the fall semester with a pizza and ice cream party.

“This program helped college not be as intimidating after not being in school for nine years,” shares student participant, Jeremy Vance. “It helped me more than adequately prepare and gave me the tools to help me be successful in my academic future.”

The Kickstart Program also took place on the Iron Mountain Campus in June, and an online session was completed last week via Zoom.

Bay College is the community’s college with a mission of: Student Success, Community Success. Culture of Success. Bay is devoted to each individual’s achievement in the classroom, on-campus, online, in the community and into the workforce by providing certificates and associate degrees,  transfer credits to universities, and workforce training programs which develop skillsets and advance careers. #BayIsTheWay