unique Shabbat experience. 
The Spartan Stadium Shabbat 
dinner came during a challenging 
time for the community, as it had 
been previously planned to be held 
less than two weeks following the 
tragic on-campus shooting. MSU 
Hillel quickly pivoted, focusing 
on providing a safe space for the 
community to come together, 
honor those we lost, pray for those 
still healing and uplift one another. 
With students, administrators, 
faculty and community supporters 
in attendance, it was truly a special 
time to show that together we are 
#SpartanStrong. @

Robyn Hughey is associate director 
of MSU Hillel and the Hillel Campus 
Alliance of Michigan (HCAM).

 

Students enjoy the 
Spartan Shabbat 
Series

2020 
 
 

was a year 
fraught 
with stress 
and change. It was also the year 
that Maya Siegmann graduated 
from Bloomfield Hills High 
School. 

Everyone, including Maya, was 
asking themselves, What’s next?

Many of her classmates decided 
to jump into higher education 
that year, taking off to places 
like Central Michigan University 
(CMU) and Michigan State 
University (MSU). Maya knew 
that wouldn’t work for her, 
given that in 2020 practically all 
education was done virtually.

“I definitely need the in-person 
experience,” says Maya. “Or at 
least the in-person option.” 

So, she decided to take a gap 
year. She learned about herself, 
gained work experience at 
a local business, and even 
acquired new hobbies like 
crochet. That year gave Maya 
the valuable opportunity to take 
her time to decide where she 
would go next. She had seen her 
brother use OCC as a stepping 
stone in his own education and 

realized that she could do the 
same. 

“I chose to go to OCC because 
I wasn’t completely sure about 
what I wanted to do with my 
life,” says Maya. “And I wanted 
to be able to explore my general 
education requirements.” 
“When I got in touch with my 
counselor, she showed me the 
Michigan Transfer Agreement.”
The Michigan Transfer 
Agreement (MTA) facilitates 
the transfer of credits from 
OCC to schools like MSU, 
Oakland University, University 
of Michigan or, in Maya’s case, 
Wayne State University. 
“The MTA is perfect for 
students who want to save 
money, appreciate the support 
of our many resources, and 
have great flexibility in the 
types of courses they take,” 
said OCC counselor Vicki 
McNifff. Maya was able to 
take advantage of OCC’s small 
classes, enjoying one-on-one 
check-ins with professors. Plus, 
she was able to create a class 
schedule that worked perfectly 
for her own needs. She opted to 
take some hybrid classes, which 
allowed her to blend in-person 
instruction with learning online 

from the comfort of her home.
“I wasn’t wasting my time 
or money by taking random 
classes,” says Maya. “I was able 
to customize my schedule with 
OCC while taking classes I knew 
I would have to take no matter 
where I was.” From science and 
math courses to English and 
psychology, Maya was earning 
credits that were propelling her 
toward her graduation. Even 
her credits from a yoga class 
would transfer. 
Maya is currently in her 
sophomore year at OCC, and 
she is planning to transfer to 
Wayne State’s School of Social 
Work. 
Her goal? Become a middle 
school counselor. 
“I’ve always liked helping 
people,” she says, continuing, 
“and that, in my opinion, is the 

most crucial time for emotional 
support…helping kids in the 
most confusing part of their life. 
When puberty is starting, and 
things are changing, and you 
have no idea what’s going on…
that’s when you need the most 
support.” 

Thanks to OCC, she’s on track to 
providing the support that she 
knows to be so important. 

“I’m very grateful to OCC for 
the way I was able to start my 
education and my college life,” 
says Maya. “I am definitely 
very happy with the path that I 
chose.”

Learn why OCC is a great place to start your 
someday. Join a campus tour or virtual admission 
event. Visit oaklandcc.edu/getstarted

Start Your 
College Journey 
at OCC

Discover how OCC empowered 
Maya Siegmann to pursue her 
dream of helping teens.

OAKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE

OAKLAND COMMUNITY 
COLLEGE
oaklandcc.edu/admissions

SPONSORED BY OAKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE

