Jackson College

Honorees L-R: Kaylona Butler, Sue Hammersmith (representing Frank Dick), Candyce McArthur, JC President & CEO Dan Phelan, Barbara Markowski, John Crist.  (May 5, 2025 6:33 PM ET) Jackson College has announced the recipients of annual alumni, service and student awards for the 2024-25 school year. Honorees were recognized at the Jackson College Honors dinner program on the evening of Friday, May 2. Dr. Ethelene Jones Crockett Distinguished Alumni Award – Barbara Markowski ’70 Barbara "Barb" Markowski, a lifelong Jackson resident, has dedicated her life to education, entrepreneurship and community service. After earning degrees from Jackson Community College (1970) and Western Michigan University (1972), she taught home economics and later opened and operated Hearts All Around Quilt Shop (1983-1999). Her service includes leadership at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, creating a program bringing inner-city children to Lake Michigan, teaching literacy, and extensive volunteer work at SOAR Café and Farms. For more than eight years, Barb has volunteered with the Jackson College Heritage Center, bringing her expertise to various projects including quilt-making, puzzles, scrapbooks, and veterans’ Christmas tree initiatives. Upon learning of this honor, she responded: “I'm just overwhelmed and truly humbled. I just do my work out there because I love it…

2024 Graduation Ceremonies at Jackson College.  Jackson College photo. LIVESTREAM GRADUATION CEREMONIES HERE (May 1, 2025 7:14 PM ET) Jackson College announces its 2025 Commencement Exercises, scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2025, will be held at the Harold Sheffer Music Hall in the George E. Potter Center. To accommodate the significant number of graduates and their families, the College will host two distinct ceremonies. The morning ceremony will commence at 9:00 a.m., honoring graduates from the Allied Health, Business and Computer Technology, and Social Sciences pathways. Following this, a separate afternoon ceremony will begin at 1:00 p.m., celebrating students graduating from Liberal Arts, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), Agriculture and Skilled Trades programs. “We're expecting approximately 300 students to participate in this year’s commencement ceremonies,” notes Registrar Zak McNitt. “Dividing the celebrations allows us to provide a more personalized experience for our graduates and their guests while accommodating everyone comfortably in our facility.” Each ceremony will feature the traditional processional, conferring of degrees and certificates, and recognition of academic honors, providing graduates with the celebration they deserve for their achievements. Graduates should arrive 1½ hours prior to their designated ceremony time for check-in and lineup (7:30 and 11:30 a.m…