MCC's Annual Peace & Dignity Ceremony, a sacred ceremony celebrating the 4 colors, was held on October 10th.

Patti Smith was featured on October 13, 2011. Student musicians accompanied Ms. Smith as she sang. Punk rock's poet laureate, Patti Smith, ranks among the most influential female rock and rollers of all time. Look for a next great event in the spring.

On October 20th, The Foundation co-hosted with the Arab American Heritage Council Zeina Awad of 'Fault Lines' to the campus. Ms. Awad spoke to students of her experiences. Awad co-hosts 'Fault Lines', Al Jazeera English's fl agship current aff airs programme about the Americas. A journalist, Ms. Awad has reported from Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Algeria, Canada, the US and India. Awad has interviewed numerous world leaders, including former Nigerian President Abasanjo, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, veteran Lebanese politician Walid Jumblatt and members of the US Congress, as well as Arab and African Ministers.

On November 30, MCC was proud to dedicate its new Media Studio in honor of P. Thomas "Tom" Bryson, retired broadcast journalist and manager of abc12.

On January 12, 2012, the Martin Luther King, Jr. City-Wide Tribute Dinner featured MCC professor Dr. Lillie W. McCain as guest speaker. Dr. McCain is a native of Mississippi, born and reared at Teoc, Mississippi, a small farming community located between Greenwood and Grenada, off north Highway 7. During the era of segregation, she was educated in Mississippi's public schools. After having actively participated in the Civil Rights Movement to force integration in the same schools, she was one of two African-American students, who were the first to have graduated from J.Z. George, a previously all white high school at North Carrollton. She is a product of Carroll County public schools, a graduate of Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, Mississippi, Kansas State College, Pittsburg, Kansas, American Technological University, Killeen, Texas, and Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. Lillie joined Mott Community College as a full-time faculty member in 1975 and teaches general psychology, abnormal psychology and theories of personality. She also works as a clinician and workshop facilitator.

Who's Driving the Bus? Panel discussion was held on February 8th in the Student Life Center and discussed the drive for community change over the years and how student involvement and leadership is important. Emcee was MCC Professor Emeritus Paul Rozycki (at podium). L-R: Carol Todd Robinson, a Flint Native and MCC alum who is now Parent Coordinator in the Jack Public School District in Jackson, Mississippi; Charles H. Winfrey, Executive Director of the New McCree Theater; Olof Karlstrom, attorney and former Vice President of Flint Junior College/MCC; and The Honorable Woodrow Stanley, State Representative, D-Flint, serving the 34th District.

Also held in February in honor of Black History Month was the 2012 African-American Dining Experience offering lunch and entertainment at Applewood Cafe on the 16th and 23rd.

March is Women's History Month. This year The Foundation held a dining experience with entertainment at Applewood Cafe.

On April 13, The Ballenger Eminent Persons Lecture Series presented "Create, Build, Succeed: An Entrepreneurial Conference." Keynote speaker was David Tarver, author of "Proving Ground."
Breakout sessions were held featuring:

Randy Seale / Music Producer
LuAnn Jenkins / Medical Billing
Deitria Hodo / Event Planner
Marge Murphy / Restaurant Owner
Sally Kagerer / Hardware Store Owner
Robb Klaty / Restaurant Owner
David Tarver / Author-Proving Ground.

Our closing session featured a panel discussion with all speakers as well as Citizens Bank representatives April Orange and John Hunter, Jr.

P.R.I.D.E.: Empowering Women for the New Millennium was held on Friday, April 20 for women ages 13 and older. The conference included interactive workshops, motivational speakers and educational resources. It was sponsored by MCC's women In Education in collaboration with Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

May 1st brought the May Day Celebration in appreciation and bringing attention to the struggles of the American worker.

On May 8, MCC celebrated its annual prestigious Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony honoring alums Stephanie K. Confer, John K. Krupp, CPA, Raynetta Speed and Justus Thigpen, Sr. for their achievements and for their significant impact on the college and community.

In addition, MCC Coach Steve Schmidt was honored as an honorary alum.