Skye Stonestreet needed a little flexibility when it came to college, and Washtenaw Community College offered exactly that. Stonestreet, 18, is now in her second semester at WCC and dreams of working for big tech someday.
“My career goal is to work for Microsoft down in Atlanta, Georgia,” she says. “I’ve had this plan since my freshman year in high school. I love how diverse the company portrays itself. I would like to fulfill the role of an IT director there.”
Her WCC education and a potential transfer to Clark Atlanta University in 2025 would get her that much closer to fulfilling her dreams. Clark is one of America’s 107 designated Historically Black Colleges & Universities.
Stonestreet would join a growing number of Washtenaw HBCU transfer students. Since 2021, when the college launched its HBCU Pathway program to help students transfer, nearly 150 students have enrolled at HBCUs. The program offers mentoring, monthly workshops, study groups, tours to its partner HBCUs and many other support services to help students earn a bachelor’s degree from an HBCU.
Currently, WCC has established agreements with six HBCUs — and the list is expected to grow — but whether students plan to enroll at one of the partner schools or any other HBCU, advisors stand ready to help. Partnership agreements include guaranteed admission, access to in-state tuition, ease of transfering credits and more.
A self-described technology geek, Stonestreet plans to complete an associate degree in Computer Systems & Networking at WCC and ultimately work toward a master’s.
“I love the broad choice of studies WCC has and its flexibility to be able to maneuver around my personal life,” says Stonestreet, who graduated from Belleville High School in 2023 and juggles her studies with jobs at J.P. Morgan and at Blue Skye Cleaning Services, where her mother is CEO.
“Having two jobs leaves a tight schedule but WCC makes it so much easier to attend school while working,” she says.
In addition to flexible class schedules, Stonestreet adds that WCC has been the perfect starting ground because of its strong academic programming and affordability.
HBCU PATHWAY
Whether you dream of transferring to one of WCC’s partner Historically Black Colleges & Universities or another HBCU, WCC’s counselors go the extra mile to help ease your transition!
HBCU PARTNERS
- Jackson State University (Mississippi)
- Mississippi Valley State University
- Southern University at New Orleans (Louisiana)
- Alabama State University
- Tuskegee University (Alabama)
- Central State University (Ohio)
- The list is expected to grow!
JOIN US
Learn about college and an affordable path to earning a bachelor’s degree from an HBCU at WCC’s second annual HBCU Day on May 3. For details, check out wccnet.edu/hbcu or email [email protected].
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This story appears in the Summer 2024 edition of Launch magazine. See complete issue.
Tags: HBCU, HBCU Pathway, Launch, Launch Summer 2024, Student Success