Student One-Stop Center Debuts Fall Semester at MCC

by Bill Loxterman, MCC Director of Public Information

"Well worth the long wait" is how MCC Vice-President of Student Services Janie P. Brooks describes her feeling about the College's soon-to-debut "One-Stop Center."

Literally years in the planning, having the new Center up and running has been a top priority "almost since I got this job back in 1999," she notes. Budgetary issues and other campus needs kept Brooks' pet project at bay for far too long from her perspective. Now, that is all about to change. And, unquestionably, Muskegon Community College students and the public will benefit greatly from the newly remodeled facility.

The new One-Stop Center is designed to better serve new and current students as they apply for admission and register for classes. "The primary notion is to provide students with the opportunity to get everything done in one visit to campus, if they so de­sire," according to Ms. Brooks. "This will include everything from filing your application for admission to the College, completing financial aid forms, testing services, academic counseling, and enrolling in classes," she said. The entire main entrance, and extending down both primary corridors, will be completely renovated to better serve students.

The office of Student Services at MCC is the single point of access for enrollment services on campus. The staff is committed to providing quality service to all students, with a goal to remove any service-related barriers. MCC has the technology in place to provide accurate and timely information, as well as anticipate and meet the needs of both the traditional and non-traditional student population of Muskegon Community College.

"Now that the One-Stop Center is on the horizon, I think that it's accurate to say that the excitement on campus regarding the long-awaited opening of the Student One-Stop Center is palpable," notes Brooks. "Our staff has been working hard for months assessing and tweaking important business processes, so MCC students can definitely expect the very best service possible."

Muskegon Community College is a two year college and higher education center in cooperation with Western Michigan University, Grand Valley State University and Ferris State University. The 111-acre campus is made up of the Academic Complex, the Technology Building, the Hendrik Meijer Information Technology Center, the Bartels-Rode Gymnasium, the Stevenson Center for Higher Education, and the Frauenthal Foundation Fine Arts Center. For information visit www.muskegoncc.edu.

The Best for Every Student, Every Day

by Dee Carlson, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Muskegon Public Schools

Muskegon Community Education is a division of Muskegon Public Schools and provides programming all year long for students of all ages.

With the mission "to provide community education services of the highest quality to the Muskegon area," Muskegon Community Education strives to provide "the best for every student, every day."

As a full-day, full service community program, Muskegon Community Education offers early childhood development programs, alternative education, adult high school completion, GED preparation and testing, after school programs, summer school, English-as-a-Second Language, credit recovery, childcare and senior lunch programs.

MTEC 106 FM is the only high school operated radio station, licensed by the FCC, in western Michigan. Providing the very best in "rock n soul," the station continues to gain popularity with Muskegon listeners.

Completion of Muskegon Community Education's academic programs is based solely on demonstrated competencies. A "skills checklist" approach is used in all courses, with students receiving credit for classes as soon as their course work is successfully completed.

Students are also required to complete a practical, hands-on experience in a vocational area of their choice. Small class sizes, in a family-friendly environment, provide students with an alternative to more traditional instructional settings.

Steeped in the rich traditions of Muskegon Public Schools, you can learn more about Muskegon Community Education at www.muskegonpublicschools.org or visit 571 Apple Avenue.

Muskegon's Best Kept Secret

by Paula Johnson, Director of Education, Muskegon Civic Theatre

Since its inception in 1986, the Muskegon Civic Theatre (MCT) Education Division has reached nearly a quarter of a million children in a four county area of west Michigan.

MCT educational programs are about more than just putting on plays. Our classes give children the confidence and poise to excel in their schoolwork and other future endeavors. Theater arts encourage young people to think critically, solve problems, develop self-confidence and empathy, learn teamwork and responsibility, make decisions and communicate more clearly. The arts are an essential and integral component of a young person's complete education, and MCT's mission is committed to assisting with this vital development in addition to presenting quality theatrical entertainment.

We invite the public to attend our Open House on Monday, September 15, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Frauenthal Center's Hilt Building. The evening will include refreshments, entertainment, tours of the facilities, children's activities, drawings and giveaways. This is a great opportunity to learn more about our offerings, meet the teaching staff and get registered for classes. We look forward to seeing you there!

Information on classes and auditions is available at (231) 722-3852 and www.muskegoncivictheatre.org.

Education Savings

by Sherry Albertie Becker, Waddell and Reed

Childhood, as we all know, is a time to be cherished. Care-free afternoons at the park and the pool. Playing with friends. Celebrating birthdays.

It's also a time of learning, as in learning to walk, learning the alphabet and learning to ride a bike. And before long, those early and simpler lessons give way to the more complex, as in solving mathematical equations, conducting science experiments and writing compositions.

As much as we may not want to admit it, the innocence of our children's youth passes much too quickly, and as parents it's never too soon for us to help them prepare for their future - especially when it comes to saving for their education. A few of your savings options are introduced here.

UGMA (Uniform Gifts to Minors Act) and UTMA (Uniform Transfers to Minors Act)

- A custodial account that allows you to transfer or gift assets to a minor without setting up a trust.

- The custodian can make withdrawals from the account for any purpose, and isn't limited in using the funds.

- Friends and family may contribute (up to $12,000 a person each year free of gift tax) to the child's account.

Coverdell Education Savings Account

- Coverdell ESAs allow you to invest $2,000 per year, per child up to age 18, to save for educational expenses.

- Other family members can set up Coverdell ESAs in your child's name.

- The funds may be used to cover costs associated with attending elementary or secondary school, be it public, private or religious. Covered costs include uniforms, computers and transportation.

Section 529 College Savings Plan

- There are no income restrictions on the account owner, and you - and anyone else - may contribute regularly in any amount you choose until a maximum balance per beneficiary is reached.

- With the annual $12,000 gift tax exclusion (or $24,000 in the case of a married couple) relatives or friends can donate substantial amounts to your 529 account without incurring any gift tax.

- Earnings and qualified withdrawals on your account are federal income tax-deferred, enabling your money to potentially increase faster than a comparable taxable account. State and local taxes may apply.

Please remember that the investments inside of these savings options involve risk, including the possible loss of principle.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses associated with 529 plans carefully before investing. More information about 529 plans is available in the issuers official statement, which should be read carefully before investing. Waddell and Reed can be accessed on the Internet at http://www.waddell.com. Or, in Muskegon, contact Sherry Albertie Becker at (231) 739-7127 for more information.

"Miss Carlotta" Celebrates 50 Years with Sika School of Dance

by Gary Scott Beatty, Editor, On the Shore Magazine

Carlotta Sika Hutch (Miss Carlotta) is in her 50th year of teaching at Sika School of Dance.

Miss Carlotta, her daughter, Shelly Sika Palmer, and granddaughter, Leah Palmer, are helping other teachers and assistants pass along the benefits of dance to young and old at the West Giles Road facility.

Miss Carlotta's first husband, Buddy Sika, was a professional dancer, touring the country playing hotels and nightclubs and performing on TV. He and his partner were named one of the top 10 tap teams in the country. He decided to settle down in 1958 to teach in Montague. "When he came home I met him for the first time, we joined up, we started teaching together, married and had two kids," said Miss Carlotta.

In 1975 Sika School of Dancing outgrew the Montague studio and moved to the current West Giles Road location. Buddy passed away in 1982. Miss Carlotta continued to teach and married George Hutch in 1985.

Sika is a busy place, but Miss Carlotta has no intention of expanding. "I like being able to live where I teach. I guess I'm just happier being smaller, but being totally busy. It works out really well for us and we have everything we need," she said. "Many people come in and say it is like the studio they grew up in, it's so homey."

New this year are Social Dance classes where students will be taught to fox trot, swing, waltz, cha cha, tango and salsa dance.

Sika's certified professional instructors also teach preschoolers at three and a half years through adults ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and gymnastics. "All of our teachers have grown up in our studio and I am so proud of what wonderful young women, and dancers, they have become."

The school registers students in August and the culmination of that season's classes is a large production at the Frauenthal Theater in downtown Muskegon each year. The yearly performance is open to the public.

Because of the 50 year milestone, Miss Carlotta is looking for past Sika students to be in the program. "Even if all you can do at this point is walk, or be wheeled across the stage, we want them to celebrate with us," said Miss Carlotta.

Miss Carlotta is an advocate of dance instruction as a way to build young minds and bodies. "Dance gives children much more than another costume or trophy. The kids who dance are off the street and focused on an art form that can only make them better people. Through dance they learn self discipline."

Sika instruction is more important than ever to children's development, Miss Carlotta explained. "When we started, kids were very physically active and well disciplined. Now, the kids aren't usually as active when they start their dancing classes, and the self discipline grows within them as they come to class and go through the year."

What hasn't change is the strong friendships formed with teachers and fellow students. Second and third generation pupils are showing up at Sika. "That's what makes it extra fun. I have grandmothers now, coming in with their grandchildren and a few years ago they were bringing their own daughters to class."

When parents are looking for a dance instructor, it is important to ask about training, she said. "Dance teachers do not have to have any sort of degree. So it is really important that the dance teacher people choose belong to dance organizations like Dance Masters of America."

This year is a milestone, but not a destination. Miss Carlotta, her daughter and granddaughter will continue teaching. "As dance teachers we create beauty through work, we can inspire others to achieve greatness and have the opportunity to guide them to a brighter tomorrow."