Hundreds of eighth-grade students from across St. Clair County will get an early look at college life when they visit the SC4 campus later this month.

St. Clair County Community College (SC4) will welcome nearly 1,500 eighth-graders through its annual partnership with St. Clair County Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) and the Blue Water College Access Network (BWCAN). The visits are meant to introduce students to campus life and get them thinking about life after high school.

The first group of eighth graders from Marysville, Holland Woods, Central, Fort Gratiot, and Capac middle schools will visit campus May 18 and 19, followed by students from Algonac, Croswell-Lexington, Marine City, Memphis, St. Clair, and Yale middle schools May 20 and 21.

While on campus, students will explore educational and career pathways through hands-on experiences in health sciences, engineering, and the arts, among others. Highlights include virtual reality technology, emergency response demonstrations, and advanced manufacturing tools such as CAD software and 3D printers. The tours are designed to make career possibilities real and within reach.

“These tours are about helping students see themselves in a college setting and start imagining what comes next,” said Erin Schweihofer, Supervisor of Career and College Programs at St. Clair County RESA. “Through the Blue Water College Access Network, we’re working with schools and community partners to make sure every student has access to experiences that open doors and broaden their sense of what’s possible.”

“Partnerships like the one we share with RESA are at the heart of what makes these experiences so meaningful. Together, we’re not only opening our campus doors, we’re opening minds to new possibilities,” said Sarah Rutallie, Chief of Staff at SC4. “We’re deeply grateful for RESA’s collaboration and shared commitment to ensuring every student can envision a future that feels both exciting and attainable.”

“We want every student to see that their future is full of possibilities,” said RESA Superintendent Brenda Tenniswood. “Experiences like this help students connect their interests to real opportunities, whether that’s college, career training, or another path, and build the confidence to take those next steps.”

Local Middle Schoolers to Get a Taste of College Life