PLYMOUTH, MI--On Saturday, May 5, 2012, Schoolcraft College will celebrate its 47th Commencement Ceremony at Compuware Arena in Plymouth, Michigan. Of the 1,696 students eligible to participate (those earning an associate degree or certificate), 440 graduates will don their caps and gowns and join nearly 3,000 invited friends and family to celebrate their accomplishments.

Paula D. Cunningham, President and CEO of Capitol National Bank (CNB) in Lansing, a subsidiary of Capitol Bancorp Ltd. will be the keynote speaker. In 2006 she was named to serve as only the third president of Capitol National Bank, which has been located in Lansing for more than 27 years. Prior to joining Capitol National Bank Ms. Cunningham had been with Lansing Community College for 25 years, where she held a variety of positions including associate professor in the management and marketing department; director of professional development; executive director of marketing, community and board relations; vice president of planning and college relations; and for six years as president, from 2000-2006. As President of Lansing Community College, she successfully led a community millage campaign to generate an additional $9 million for the institution into perpetuity. Under her leadership, the college implemented a strategic planning process that resulted in five new buildings and that significantly renewed the college. LCC’s main building was officially named the Paula D. Cunningham Administration Building in 2006 and is the only building in Lansing named after a woman. Following her address, Cunningham was presented with the 2012 Honorary Degree, which is presented to persons who have rendered distinguished service to community colleges and to the community. 

Jodi Latuszek, J.D., of Lansing, formerly of Livonia, will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award for 2012. As a young adult and a very practical one at that, Latuszek recognized that her family’s financial situation made pursuing a college education, let alone a law degree, difficult at best. She did not give up and chose to begin her pursuit of higher education at Schoolcraft College. She joined the staff of the Schoolcraft Connection, the college’s student-run newspaper and received a scholarship for tuition. After graduating from Schoolcraft College in 2001, she transferred to Michigan State University, and then Cooley Law School where she earned her law degree. “My experience at Schoolcraft gave me the confidence to think bigger. If it was possible to earn tuition doing what I loved, I knew it was also possible that I could be a lawyer.” She currently works for Child Welfare Services State Court Administrative Office. In her first five years of practice she has briefed cases in both the Michigan and United States Supreme Courts. And she has been named one of the Top 5 lawyers under 35 by the Ingham County Bar Association.

The ceremony begins at 4 p.m. Admission is by ticket only.