Across Jackson County, seniors marked their post-secondary commitments with pride during school-hosted Decision Day events. From college to career training, military service, and more, these celebrations recognized students’ hard work and the exciting paths ahead. Take a look at the photos and highlights to see the Class of 2025 in action!

Our middle school career exploration program wrapped up this quarter with hands-on experiences in manufacturing, skilled trades, and college campuses. Through tours and conversations with professionals, 8th graders gained insight into future pathways and sparked new ideas about what's possible. Check out what students said about their experience and the partnerships from this year’s journey.

1058/1280 8th grade students completed our K2C/PPST Survey. Here is what they said:

• 86.3% said these visits increased their understanding of the skilled trades.
• 60.7% said they are more likely to look into working in a skilled trade.
• 91.6% said these visits increased their understanding of college.
• 89.1% said they are more likely to look into attending college.

We teamed up with Junior Achievement to bring early career awareness to the youngest learners at Cascades Elementary. Through interactive lessons, K-2 students explored different jobs, practiced goal-setting, and started thinking about their futures. See how these little learners are already dreaming big!

This spring and early summer, we were proud to be out and about—sharing resources, building connections, and showing up for our community. From school events to neighborhood celebrations, our team hosted tables, facilitated activities, and connected with families, students, and partners. These events help us extend our reach, deepen relationships, and ensure more people know about the support available through the CCAC. Take a look at some of the places we’ve been this past quarter!

In June, we welcomed visitors from Concord, Indiana, Lansing, and MCAN to learn more about our advising model, partnerships, and community impact. These visits were full of great questions, idea-sharing, and future possibilities.

Our Student of the Month is Columbia Central High School senior Ella Stiles. She is the embodiment of resilience, compassion, and determination. A childhood leukemia survivor, Ella’s personal journey has shaped not only who she is, but also the path she’s determined to follow after high school. She plans to attend Michigan State University to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, with hopes of beginning her career as a travel nurse. Ultimately, she aims to become a Nurse Practitioner specializing in pediatric oncology—using her own experience to bring hope and healing to others.

Ella’s passion for helping others shines through in all aspects of her life. She’s a dedicated leader both in and out of the classroom, participating in Leadership class, National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and dual-enrollment courses at Jackson College. She’s also CPR-certified and plays a key role in organizing Red Cross Blood Drives at her school. Her commitment to community service includes involvement with Special Olympics, the Hope Run, Angel Tree gifting, and other local volunteer efforts.

An accomplished athlete, Ella has earned numerous awards in both competitive cheer and varsity soccer. Her cheer accolades include 1st Team All-Conference, Tri-County All-County, Most Valuable Cheerleader, and the Cascades Scholar Athlete Award. In soccer, she’s been recognized with All-District and Most Improved honors, and her team has consistently achieved the All-Academic Award.

Outside of her academic and extracurricular commitments, Ella works as a restaurant hostess and finds time to enjoy the outdoors, whether she’s running, working out, or spending time at the lake. She credits her older sister Lindsey as one of her biggest inspirations—a role model who taught her to persevere and pursue her dreams with passion.

Ella’s message to her peers is powerful: “Don’t let difficult circumstances define who you are or stop you from chasing your goals. Life will throw challenges your way, but resilience comes from how you respond.” Her strength, spirit, and service to others make her an exceptional role model.

Congratulations, Ella! We’re so proud of all you’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see the difference you’ll make in the world.

Austin Smith took his passion for math, science, and the outdoors and turned it into a promising career in engineering. After graduating from Napoleon High School in 2020, Austin enrolled at Trine University in Angola, Indiana, where he ran cross country and track & field while pursuing his bachelor’s in civil engineering.

Fast forward to today, Austin has graduated (as of December 2024!) and already landed a full-time position with Soil and Material Engineering (SME) as a Geotechnical Engineer.

His path wasn’t always clear-cut. Originally thinking he’d work for NASA, Austin shifted gears after discovering a better fit in civil engineering. He credits his PLTW (Project Lead the Way) classes at the Career Center and his instructor, Mr. Reidiman, for igniting his interest in the field.

“No one has it all figured out going into college,” Austin says. “Stress doesn’t help in making decisions. Explore, adjust, and don’t be afraid to pivot.”

Juggling college athletics and a challenging course load wasn’t easy, but Austin’s proudest accomplishment? Scoring points for Trine at a conference meet while maintaining a 3.6 GPA. Organization and planning, he says, were key and these skills continue to serve him well on the job.

Outside of work, Austin is all about movement and the outdoors. Whether he’s running, biking, kayaking, rollerblading, or even jumping on trampolines, you’ll find him soaking up the fresh air. One fun fact? He ran steeplechase in college - a long-distance race with hurdles and water jumps.

Now based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Austin recently bought a house with his girlfriend and is working toward earning his Professional Engineer license. He’s already passed the first exam and is collecting experience toward the second. He also hopes to launch a roadside litter pickup group in his community and, in his words, “keep the human in our work prevalent” as AI becomes more prominent.

The College & Career Access Center played a key role in Austin’s journey.
He shares: “CCAC helped me apply for FAFSA my first two years and Brian Green worked with me to perfect 27 scholarship applications during my senior year. That made a huge impact.”

We’re proud to celebrate Austin’s journey from Napoleon to Fort Wayne and can’t wait to see what he builds next!

After graduating from Springport High School in 2022, Dylan Sanford made a bold and inspiring move - he joined the U.S. Navy. Just weeks after graduation, he was off to training and has since spent the past year and a half stationed aboard the USS Porter in Norfolk, Virginia.

Dylan chose this path with two goals in mind: to avoid student debt and to serve his country. It wasn’t an easy journey as being far from family and adjusting to the demands of a high-stakes career brought its own challenges. But Dylan’s found strength through physical fitness, golf, and the close friendships formed during long months at sea.

And he's already making waves - earning the rank of E-5 in under two years, a remarkable achievement in the Navy. “I saw Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Colombia in my first year,” Dylan shares. “I get paid to do a cool job and see the world. The camaraderie is awesome too - we build the best and closest friendships ever.”

When he's not working, Dylan enjoys CrossFit, golfing, and exploring the outdoors through hiking and trail running. Looking ahead, he hopes to earn a degree in Social Studies and eventually become a teacher - bringing his worldly experiences into the classroom.

His advice for high school students unsure of their next step? “Get out of your town for a few years. Go out and see the world. If you want to come back, do it - but don’t be afraid to explore.”

Additionally, Dylan proudly notes the impact the center had on his wife’s scholarship journey - a reminder of the many ways support can ripple through a family.

We're proud to celebrate Dylan’s story and grateful for his service.

Written by: Quincie Cheeney - Advising and Operations Support Specialist

Albion College, founded in 1835, is a private liberal arts institution located in Albion, Michigan. It holds the distinction of being one of the first colleges in the Midwest to offer coeducation, reflecting its commitment to inclusivity and progressive education.

Over the years, Albion has expanded its campus to encompass nearly 600 acres, featuring over 30 major buildings, including the LEED-certified Science Complex and the 340-acre Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center—the only on-campus equestrian facility at a private college in Michigan.

Albion College's mission is to prepare students for lives of purpose characterized by meaningful careers and responsible leadership with local and global impact. The college emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and a love of learning rooted in the liberal arts tradition and academic excellence. With a diverse student body and a commitment to inclusive education, Albion continues to cultivate an environment where students can thrive academically and personally.

Academically, Albion emphasizes experiential learning and undergraduate research, often pairing students with faculty mentors to work on original research projects. Its Foundation for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (FURSCA) provides funding and support for students to explore advanced work early in their academic careers—something typically reserved for graduate students at larger universities. Combined with a robust study-abroad program and a commitment to leadership development, Albion creates a deeply personalized and practical liberal arts experience.

The college offers a diverse range of academic programs, including bachelor's degrees in business, humanities, fine arts, natural sciences, and social sciences. Study-abroad opportunities are available in regions such as Europe, Latin America, Israel, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

Albion is particularly renowned for its biology and physical education programs, with the Whitehouse Nature Center serving as a notable resource. This 144-acre center features six miles of trails, an arboretum, and various ecosystems, providing students with hands-on learning experiences . Beyond academics, Albion College fosters a vibrant campus life with over 100 student organizations, including clubs for knitting, medievalists, and tabletop games. The college also boasts 24 varsity sports teams and a variety of music ensembles, a robust art exhibition calendar, and a fully functioning theatre company. Additionally, the Ludington Center, located in downtown Albion, serves as a collaborative community space, enhancing engagement between the college and the city. Overall Albion College is a community built of diversity and opportunity for every member of the Albion family. Go Brits!

From Dream to Dirt: The Story Behind Hillside Excavation

Written by: Quincie Cheeney - Advising and Operations Support Specialist

Founded in 2021, Hillside Excavation is the product of early passion, hard work, and a vision rooted in family values and community service. The owner and founder Josh Hicks, began this journey long before the company officially opened its doors. Back in high school, a Co-op class through the Jackson Area Career Center allowed him to split his days between school and hands-on work. That’s where he joined his best friend Tyler at Boss Construction, sparking his first real taste of running heavy equipment and learning the ropes of the excavation world.

But the seeds of this dream were planted even earlier. “I’ve been running equipment since I was five years old,” Hicks recalls. “I knew from a young age that college wasn’t for me—I was going to start an excavation company. My dad taught me everything I know and really laid the foundation for where I’m at today.”

That foundation became Hillside Excavation: a company built not just on technical skill, but on a deep commitment to helping others. Specializing in septic system solutions, the business fills a critical gap for homeowners in crisis. When a septic system fails, panic often follows. That’s where Hillside steps in. “Our mission is to positively impact as many people’s lives as possible. We respond the same day to assess the situation and help homeowners get back up and running fast.” The day-to-day at Hillside is a blend of precision, teamwork, and customer care. The crew meets at the shop at 7:00 AM to load equipment and gear up for the day’s job. While a team gets started onsite, Hicks and his project manager hit the road to meet new clients and provide estimates for upcoming work. This mix of on-the-ground labor and strategic planning keeps the business running smoothly and allows for consistent, high-quality service.

While many businesses aim to grow as large as possible, Hillside Excavation is proudly focused on staying small—but mighty. The goal? Maintain two full-time crews and preserve the high standards that built the company in the first place. “I want to keep the quality where it is today,” Hicks explains. “And one day, I’d love to pass the business down to my kids.”

Among countless satisfied clients, one relationship stands out: Bob M., an 82-year-old building his dream home in Brooklyn. “Bob has been one of our favorite clients,” Hicks says. “He’s always open to new ideas—like when I suggested a stamped concrete patio instead of a basic broom finish. He treats the crew like family and even works alongside us on projects. It’s relationships like that that make this work so rewarding.”

For those dreaming of starting their own business, Hicks offers a piece of heartfelt advice: “Don’t stop believing in yourself. Adapt with the times. We started out building fences and doing interior work—now we move dirt every day. Push yourself further than you think possible. In the end, what matters most is that you’re happy, your clients are happy, and the business is strong enough to keep going.” With grit, passion, and a deep-rooted sense of purpose, Hillside Excavation continues to dig deep—not just into the ground, but into the heart of what it means to serve a community.