Three Montcalm Community College students passed their Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) Gold Certification for Electrical Systems on the college’s Greenville campus. 

Justin Bailey, of Alma, Dale Scarberry, of Pierson, and Adam Yuhas, of Lowell, successfully passed their written knowledge exam and the hands-on performance assessments on approved equipment. They are the first MCC students to complete this certification. 

MCC Automation and Advanced Industrial Technology Instructor Debbie Dawson-Gunther said students are required to take the Silver certification to pass their classes at MCC. Last December, SACA offered its first gold teacher certification class in Michigan. Dawson-Gunther and Advanced Industrial Technology Instructor Jeff Pedelty attended and earned many of the gold credentials.  

“As part of the credentialing process, the college equipment must also be certified,” Dawson-Gunther said. “We have received certification for two of the exams. We are working on additional college certifications.” 

Scarberry said the certification is a large accomplishment that will be beneficial to his future. 

“With this certificate it shows my employer that I am putting in the hard work to advance my career further in the company, which is always beneficial to anyone,” he said. “With me getting this certification, it is just a stepping-stone to keep moving forward.” 

Dawson-Gunther said MCC developed its Automation curriculum with funding from the National Science Foundation and aligned it with industry standards. 

“Students passing not only the Silver SACA Certification, but also the Gold validates our process, our curriculum and our teaching methods,” she said. “For traditional students, these credentials on a resume immediately tell the potential employer they are qualified and have proven their knowledge and skill level based on an industry standard.” 

Yuhas said he never would have received his Gold Certification if it wasn’t for the instructors and all the extra time they spent helping him understand the different concepts. 

“It means a lot to me to receive the Gold Certification,” Yuhas said. “It is a reminder that all the time, energy, and work I have put into my studies is really paying off. I feel that having this certification will show my future employer that I am someone who is willing to learn, take on new challenges, and adapt to unique situations.” 

Bailey talked about how after taking 15 years off of school, he found success through the SACA program. 

“With every certification and class passed, my job prospects grow,” Bailey said. “Whether it be a career with a single company or job-hopping, the opportunities that come with the knowledge combined with experience increase exponentially. Without jumping into a longer than necessary story, I will say that it has been a long and difficult road to make it to this point. If I can do it, anybody can, too.” 

Media contact:
Shelly Springborn
Director of Communications and Public Relations
shellys@montcalm.edu
989-560-0833