MCC Monthly VISTA Feature - May 2012
Kassy Fineout
Jackson Community College
Kassy is from East Lansing, Michigan, and recently graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree from the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities (RCAH) and a specialization in international development. While in the RCAH, she focused her studies on nature and culture, studied abroad in South Africa and Ecuador, and discovered a passion for social justice and service. After a civic engagement project mentoring former migrant workers in earning their GEDs, she was drawn to AmeriCorps to continue this type of work. Kassy is currently a first-year MICC AmeriCorps*VISTA serving at Jackson Community College (JCC) in Jackson, Michigan, focusing on college readiness.
Currently, Kassy is involved with the Next STEP Program. This year Kassy has built partnerships between Jackson Community College and area high schools by launching the Next STEP (Successful Transitions through Educational Preparedness) program. In the program, high school sophomores are assessed in reading and math to see which JCC courses they would place into if they were to enroll in college immediately. Now between pre- and post-assessments, Kassy is administering MyFoundationsLab, an online learning tool, to students who wish to improve their scores and enter college at a higher level. She meets with these students twice a week and enjoys seeing their progress.
In addition to the program, Kassy has created several college-related workshops targeted towards high school students. The topics include getting involved on campus, test-taking strategies and study tips, college myths, and a Bingo game called College Lingo Bingo based on college vocabulary. She has also coordinated several College Positive Volunteer trainings for JCC students looking to volunteer with K-12 youth.
A note from Kassy’s supervisor, Julie Hand: Kassy is a terrific addition to our Student Services division and participates in many activities housed in this fast-paced environment, including face-to-face student interaction, assistance with new student orientation, and mentoring students on the value of service learning. Her outreach to our local school districts and College Access Center provide an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of prospective college students everyday by preparing them for the transition from high school to college, and others returning to college to pursue their life-long educational goals.
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