My City December 2022

MYCAMPUSNEWS

PROMOTIONAL

Reconnecting is KEY to Success

Washington’s educational path was a little different. She also started and stopped, but hers was a hard stop when she had a stroke at the age of 25. At the time, she was pursuing a degree in social work, working two jobs and caring for her infant son. “After the stroke, I pivoted to culi

J ennifer and Kai – two women on very different paths, but whose sto ries intersect in that they both wanted a second chance to pursue their dreams.They got the “do-over” through Michigan Reconnect, a tuition pro gram that helps adults earn an academic credential.This program allowed Jennifer Cronkright, 45, of Hadley and Kai Washington, 27, of Flint to pursue their academic and career goals at Mott Community College. Cronkright saw Reconnect as a way to finish the education she started and stopped multiple times. “I took a few classes at MCC in 2003, but I had to drop out due to a complicated pregnancy. I came back in 2011 be cause I was laid off from my job. I attended classes for a few semesters, but wasn’t really focused because I started my own business and dropped out again due to work demands,” she explained. “Through Michigan Recon nect, I came back for reals during the pandemic.” She really did come back “for reals” – hit the ground running, got good grades, became involved in campus groups and worked two jobs on campus. She served as president of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, was in the Honors Clown Troupe and a member of the MCC President’s Student Advisory Council. In 2022, Cronkright earned an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts, graduating MCC’s Honors College with High Honors and a Global En dorsement. She transferred to UM-Flint where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications. “I didn’t plan to go this far,” she shared. “I came back for an associate’s degree, but I transferred so many credits fromMCC to UM-Flint they moved me up to a senior status. I am the only communications major at UM-Flint in the Honors College, and the Honors Program is encouraging me to pursue a master’s in communications.” Currently taking seven classes equaling 20 credit hours, Cronkright has a 4.0 GPA. “One of my goals is to take every history class MCC offers,” she said. “When I transfer the history credits to UM-Flint, I will have to take one three-credit class and will then have a minor in history.”

nary arts – to pursue a life I am passionate about,” she said. “My life mantra is that I want to ‘serve those with the least, with the most care.’”Combining her understanding of social work with her love of cooking,Washington would love to open a soup kitchen; but not just any soup kitchen. “I want to reform how we see soup kitchens by bringing the refinery of culinary arts to those in need in a welcoming and affirming environment. Sharing a meal with someone is the universal way to build a relationship,” she added. “Reconnect has allowed me to pursue what I love without any restraint.” Still juggling family, school and work, Washington and some fellow culinary arts students are trying to revive the Culinary Arts Club. On her own, she has “spun some ideas” around the Mott Eats food pantry for creating a cookbook of recipes made from items available at Mott Eats. “I want to show busy students how to create healthy and nutri ent-rich dishes. It is the intersection of culture and positive feelings,” she explained. “Helping others recreate or modify their favorite or comforting foods is what I love to do. “I have a burning desire to make good cooking ac cessible to everyone. I think this attitude works

in my favor because I can think of 17 ways to cook with broccoli that my three-year old will eat,” she added, with a laugh. For more information about Michi gan Reconnect at Mott Community College, visit mcc.edu/enroll/michi gan-reconnect.shtml. u

KAI WASHINGTON

JENNIFER CRONKRIGHT

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