Committed to Education

by George Cartsonis

You could say that education is a family mission for Arleene Quigley and her five kids. Maybe it all started when Arleene had to put her own college education on hold to raise Laura, Diane, John, Brian and her youngest, Karen.

But Arleene’s dream burned bright for 30 years, and after her divorce the newly single mom returned to college, graduating (magna cum laude) in 1998 with an applied science degree in accounting from OCC.

Eldest daughter Laura won a university scholarship straight out of high school, earning her bachelor’s degree in music at Eastern Michigan University, but the rest of Arleene’s children came to OCC. One semester, in fact, Karen, Diane and Brian were taking classes at the same time as their mother.

Working full or part time while going to school created a major challenge for all of the Quigleys, and trying to study while living in the same house didn’t make it any easier. It was in their study habits that a generation gap between mother and children showed most clearly. "I needed absolute silence, hidden away in a separate room," Arleene says. Daughter Karen says she preferred a background of "white noise" in the form of classical music while hitting the books.

 In spite of the obstacles, the Quigleys’ record of educational and professional achievement has been impressive.

• Daughter Diane, 34, received her associate degree in science from OCC in 1999, then transferred to Oakland University, where she earned a bachelor’s of science in 2001. She’s now finishing her master’s in physical therapy at OU.
• Son John, 33, attended OCC in 1987- 89, then transferred to the Specs Howard School of Broadcasting, where he graduated in 1989. He is now owner of Chrome Bumper Films, a studio located in Ferndale that produces television commercials, music videos and DVDs, including Eminem’s latest – All Access Europe.
• Son Brian, 31, received his associate degree in liberal arts from OCC in 1995, then transferred to the University of Michigan – Dearborn where he graduated summa cum laude in 1997. Awarded a fellowship to Texas A&M, Brian earned a master of science degree in clinical psychology in 2000. He begins his pre-doctoral internship this fall at New York’s respected Montefiori Hospital, and expects to receive his Ph.D. in 2003.
• Daughter Karen, 29, earned her associate degree, summa cum laude, from OCC in 1997, then transferred with several scholarships to Western Michigan University where she earned her bachelor’s of science in elementary education (also summa cum laude) in 2000. Karen now teaches third grade at Gill Elementary in Farmington Hills, the very school she attended as a child, and is working on her master’s in education at the University of Michigan.

But if the Quigleys faced barriers in getting a college education, they are quick to acknowledge how much they benefited by choosing OCC.

First is the quality of education. "The teachers were outstanding and the learning opportunities phenomenal... they made my transition to WMU easy," Karen says. Arleene enthusiastically agrees. "I’m so glad I went..." she says. "It was a wonderful experience".

Second were the exposures through membership in Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for community college students that has chapters at all OCC campuses  "Phi Theta Kappa focuses on scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship" Karen says. "The leadership roles I held over the years helped build my confidence, and the people I’ve met through my involvement have changed my life."

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