Donation to Baker College of Flint helps student interpreters assist deaf robotics students

Baker College of Flint has received a $200 donation from the Meemic Foundation through the Mike Mrozinski Meemic Insurance Agency, in Almont. The contribution will support collaboration between the Baker College-sponsored high school robotics team, Baker’s interpreter training program students and Michigan School for the Deaf students.

“We are honored to accept this donation,” said Bonnie M. Massoud, M.A., CI/CT, interpreter training program coordinator at Baker College of Flint. “It will help support a unique hands-on learning experience for our interpreter training students while providing an equally exceptional interactive opportunity for deaf students to participate on the robotics team.”

The robotics team named “Team 468 Aftershock,” built a robot for the FIRST Robotics Competitions held in early March. FIRST is the acronym for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.”

At each work session/practice and competition, two Baker College interpreter training program students, under the supervision of a certified interpreter, alternated 15-minute shifts to interpret the two-way conversation for the deaf people in attendance. The nine student interpreters are learning how to sign new words that are more technical than those in daily conversation, such as programmable robot, simulation and rotation.

As a former educator himself, Mrozinski said what he learned about the program “really hit home.”

“I saw many students grow because of a robotics program at a school where I used to work,” said Mrozinski. “This collaboration allows diverse students to interact and work together on a challenging project. We are happy to support Baker College as they continue to do great things to help their students and those in the deaf community.”

For more information about Baker College interpreter training programs, contact Kevin Pnacek in the admissions office at 810.766.4000 or kevin.pnacek@baker.edu or visit www.baker.edu.

The largest private college in Michigan, Baker College is a not-for-profit higher education institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It serves more than 23,000 students on multiple campuses and online. Baker College grants certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in more than 100 programs across diverse academic fields, including business, health sciences, engineering, information technology, education and human services. An impressive 97 percent of available graduates are employed. Every Baker College graduate receives Lifetime Employment Assistance—free and forever. Baker College is a pioneer in distance education and offers students the option of completing a degree 100 percent online, without ever visiting a campus. For information, visit www.baker.edu or follow Baker College on Twitter, @bakercollege, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/bakercollege.

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Photo caption:

Meemic donation 2016 - Bonnie M. Massoud, M.A., CI/CT, interpreter training program coordinator (center) accepts a $200 donation from Mike Mrozinski (left) and Brad Almonroeder (right) from the Meemic Insurance Company.