{"id":162089,"date":"2025-04-30T09:15:48","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T13:15:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.nmc.edu\/?p=162089"},"modified":"2025-04-30T15:54:00","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T19:54:00","slug":"success-story-no-time-like-the-present-nmc-reconnect-grad-50-urges-others-to-pursue-a-degree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.nmc.edu\/?p=162089","title":{"rendered":"Success Story: \u2018No time like the present\u2019 NMC Reconnect grad, 50, urges others to pursue a degree"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Michigan<\/strong><\/p>\n

April 30, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

In her day job as registrar at Traverse City Central High School, Kerri-Ann Bonaddio<\/strong> sees dual-enrolled NMC students all the time. Two years ago, she decided she needed to join them.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne day I said. \u2018I\u2019m just going to do it,\u2019 \u201d said Bonaddio, 50, who last sat in a classroom almost 30 years ago at a California community college. \u201cNow that I\u2019m an adult, I realize what it means to have a diploma. To have an associate degree.\u201d<\/p>\n

She\u2019ll receive that degree on Saturday. Besides the personal accomplishment of earning her degree, Bonaddio has the satisfaction of knowing it was paid for through Michigan Reconnect<\/a>. The scholarship program pays for in-district tuition and fees for adults 25 and over who don\u2019t already have a college degree. About 20 percent of NMC\u2019s class of 2025 \u2014 123 out of 565 \u2014 are Reconnect students.<\/p>\n

Bonaddio is not done yet. After taking a little time off, she hopes to pursue her bachelor\u2019s degree. She advises others considering higher education to pursue it, no matter what their age.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor those younger students, do it now. For the older students who are returning to school, do it now. There\u2019s no time like the present,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Younger students have the Community College Guarantee<\/a> to help them finance their education. Both the high school class of 2025 and 2024 are eligible for the scholarship that covers in-district tuition and fees.<\/p>\n

Commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2025 will be held Saturday, May 3 in Milliken Auditorium on main campus. Three ceremonies will be held, with graduates grouped by degree or credential earned.<\/p>\n