Students Who Inspire Us – SGA Student Spotlight

Tell us about yourself.

I am a full-time student serving in the military while also working part time at Fed-Ex and managing the HACC Call of Duty esports team. This is my sixth semester at HACC, and I am planning to graduate this spring. I enjoy what I do and believe all my experiences have helped shape me into the leader I am today.

What did you expect when you came to HACC?

I came to HACC after serving for two years in the Marines directly out of high school. I came because I wasn’t quite ready to transition fully to a four-year school. I never took the SATs, so I wasn’t sure if I would be eligible to go straight to a four-year program. I didn't have any expectations when first coming to HACC, but I have been happy to see such effort put into students from a small community college. HACC has a lot more activities than I expected when I came here, and I have been grateful to meet the group of people that I did through esports.

Have you had any particular positive experiences you can share?

I have tons of experiences to share, but I don't have the space for them all. Back when HACC was in person, me and a bunch of friends – around nine or ten individuals – made a group and used to go all over campus playing Pokémon Go. That was a positive experience. I can list a thousand positive experiences through the esports program. I am proud to be part of a dominant school in the esports league. This has also helped me meet and make so many friends across the country.

Are there any specific individuals at HACC who have helped you succeed?

All my professors at HACC have been helpful. The manager of the esports program, and my esports coach, Neftali Perez, has had the greatest impact on my academic career. He helped me through hard times and supported me in many ways. He helped me with forming a team and has influenced me to do better in school and to make good decisions as a person. I definitely plan to stay in touch with him after HACC, as well as some of the other people I’ve met in esports.

What are your plans after HACC?

After HACC, I plan on transferring to a four-year school to finish my degree. My goal in life is to get my bachelor’s degree so I can qualify for Officer Candidate School and reenlist in the military as an officer. I plan on commissioning into the marines as a pilot. I plan to either stay in the Marines until I retire or finish my contract and fly civilian side.

What did you expect when you came to HACC?

When I first started thinking about my possible career options, I was a junior in high school. I was instantly interested in the dental field, so I asked my counselor how to get started. First, he introduced me to a vocational school for dental assisting. After that, I started looking at local colleges. I wanted to become more advanced with dental assisting and found out that HACC offered a Commission on Dental Accrediting accredited dental assisting program. So, I applied and graduated from the dental assisting program in 2018. After that, I worked full time while also taking credits at HACC for the hygiene program as well. Finally, in the spring of 2020, I was accepted into the dental hygiene program. I had high expectations for each program. Especially in dental hygiene, the program is extremely thorough and offers so many opportunities to help the overall public health.

Have you had any particularly positive experiences you can share?

My expectations have been met in every aspect as a student at HACC. I love the environment. In my time at HACC, my most positive experience has been the opportunity to be class president for my dental hygiene program. With this role, I have been able to motivate my class and the first years as well to stay involved in the program and to find ways to serve the community. I love being able to organize events and ideas to help serve those around us and to also become closer as a dental family.

Are there any specific individuals at HACC who have helped you succeed?

In my time at HACC, I have met a few individuals whom I look up to and strive to be like. First, Dr. Sarah Ostrander, who is the program director for dental hygiene. Her passion and thorough knowledge of the program and the field of dentistry has inspired me to continue reaching my goals and even consider teaching at HACC. Second, Ms. Sherie Tynes, who is an associate professor in the dental hygiene program. When I was in dental assisting, we had the pleasure of having Ms. Tynes teach us a lesson on a topic she was passionate about. Seeing how she talked about caring for patients, and her desire to educate, really pushed me to move further into hygiene. All my instructors in dental assisting and dental hygiene have helped me succeed.

What are your plans after HACC?

My plans for when I graduate are as follows: I plan to get a full-time job in a dental office within the area. I am not sure if I want to do private practice or a community health center. Then, I plan to pursue my bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene and work part time as a clinic instructor at HACC.

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Myles MacKenzie. I am a sophomore studying computer networking. I have plans to graduate this spring. When I am not in Zoom meetings or classes, you can catch me listening to music, reading, or hiking any chance I get! I work for HACC’s Student Government Association (SGA) as the VP of Student Involvement & Advocacy at the Harrisburg campus. I also help run the LGBTQ+ Student Union (LSU) and volunteer with the LGBTQ+ Center of Central PA.

What did you expect when you came to HACC?

I took a gap year after graduating from high school and was excited to get to be on a college campus and interact with classmates and other students. Staring during the pandemic was definitely challenging, as I was entering into a hands-on major fully online. I was able to make some meaningful connections in Zoom classes, but when my program returned to in-person classes last semester, I was thrilled. I quickly found that HACC provides many events for students, including one that I partake in frequently – our monthly book club!

Have you had any particular positive experiences you can share?

Every time I am on Harrisburg’s campus, I stop by the Chef’s Apprentice to grab breakfast food. I am always greeted with the warmth and kindness of the staff, and I always look forward to going back. Not to mention, they make amazing omelets and hash browns!

Are there any specific individuals at HACC who have helped you succeed?

There are three specific individuals I want to highlight that have helped me succeed. The first is Doug Brown, my Computer Networking Technology professor who taught multiple of my first year classes. Professor Brown went above and beyond to provide additional resources, make classes enjoyable with fun Zoom backgrounds, and give me a jump into the computer networking and IT field. With his guidance, I was able to land an important internship this summer. The other individuals I want to mention are Professor Sarah Lupinacci and Dr. Sarah Jacobson. I will constantly hold the life lessons that I took from both instructors and the welcoming and empathetic environments they constantly provided.

What are your plans after HACC?

After HACC, I plan to seek out an internship working for a human-rights-based nonprofit organization. I want to combine my computer networking and IT technical knowledge and skills with my passion for advocacy. I would love to eventually work for an organization such as the Trevor Project, the Southern Poverty Law Center, or the National Center for Transgender Equality.