Hey, hey, hey. This is Lisa A. And you're listening to Who's That Star? On LCC Connect at Lansing Community College. Who's that Star is a behind the scenes show where I sit down and talk with the employees at the college. This is an inside look at LCC where you will have a chance to learn about their passions, projects, what inspires them both at work and in their personal lives. I'm your host, Lisa Alexander. I'm so excited to get a chance to talk to all the people who make LCC great. This show is for you to get to know the people that work at Lansing Community College a little bit more and see what makes them tick. Are you ready? Okay, let's go see who's today's star. Today's guest on who's at Star is someone that I like a lot. She has helped me on my journey here at LCC. She has went above and beyond as a co worker and friend. This star began her career as a student employee. In 2007, she graduated from LCC and transferred over to our university center and earned a bachelor's degree in business management. She's worked in many areas at LCC and now is a coordinator in the student service area. She grew up in the Lansing area and is a graduate of Holt High School. Are you ready to meet today's star? Today's star is Ashley Stokes. Welcome, Ashley. I'm so glad you could come on Who's That Star today.

I'm glad too. Thank you for inviting me.

Okay, let's get started. Ashley, I know you started here at LCC as a student employee. I just did a show with some student employees a couple of weeks ago and they make a big impact on our campus. What was your role when you were a student employee?

I worked for the Business and Community institute and I registered students or employees in non credit classes that we put on from the Business and Community institute.

And how long did you stay in that role? Were you there your whole student life here?

Yes, I was and I moved to part time. They made a part time position for me right about the time that I moved over to the University center and started to attend classes at Northwood. They made a part time position for me and I pretty much almost did the same thing that I was doing as a student. Just a little bit more responsibility.

Oh, okay. Did you leave LCC and come back after you graduated or did you like after you graduated from Northwood or did you just.

Nope, I stayed right here at LCC. I stayed at the Business Inc. They Also, I got a position as a. In a grant processing paperwork. And then when the grant was about three years. So about two years into the grant, I came over to Student affairs and worked for Career and Employment Services.

But I know, right? You did. You had one of those jobs where you were in Career and Employment Services, but you also worked heavily with academic advising.

Yeah, pretty much almost immediately after I moved over to Career and Employment Services, that's when we did that reorg and I. My role completely changed, and I did more like supportive for the Associate Dean and helped organize the department.

Yes, you did. You really. You kept us on our toes, but you also did a really good job, you know, of keeping stuff on point, and you helped me. You know, I talk about it in the beginning, you know, what a good coworker and friend you are, but I know during the pandemic, you and Becca got me technology ready. Right. I didn't know what I was doing.

Right. Yep. We wanted to make sure you were ready to go, so if they told us it was time to leave, you were ready and we didn't have to wait on you.

Right? Yes. And I knew that you said, if you can get Lisa up to par and ready to go, we can do this. And that's something that you guys both did, and I always appreciated that and I thank you.

So you're welcome.

Now, what do you do here at the college?

So right now I am the coordinator of the Adult Resource center, and the Adult Resource center is just me and one other person. And in that center, we help court or we help award students grants. We have a special Populations grant, which students who are in occupational programs. And occupational programs can be anything from like, nursing all the way to accounting. So there's a big variety of different occupational programs. And what we can help do is as long as they fit into one of our eight categories, then we can help them pay for any remaining tuition that they might have, like an extra or like a balance. If they have financial aid and it doesn't cover everything, then that's when we can step in. Or if they don't have financial aid, then we can help pay for their tuition. Sometimes we pay for all of the tuition, sometimes we can only pay for part of it. Just kind of all depends. And then we also have a child care grant, and that's open to all students who have children, who are their children, go to a licensed child care provider. And basically what we do is we help pay for childcare while the student is in class. And then we also try to Add in a little buffer time for studying. So if the student has, like, a couple hours that they need to study, we try to accommodate that as well.

Oh, wow. So you're giving away money.

We are giving away money.

Oh, okay. Well, I gotta give an applause for that. Well, I love for somebody to give some money away. We had Jim in here, and now you're giving money away for childcare, grants and special populations.

Yep.

And so people can find out more information about going on the website.

Yes. And the two applications are on our website. We have them for each semester. So right now we're taking fall applications, and then right about the time that spring registration opens, we'll open up the registration or the application for spring. Students only do have to apply once. As long as they turn in all of their paperwork and check their student email to make sure they've turned in all of their paperwork. And then once they get to the point where they've met with me, then they do not have to apply again for the remaining semesters. Their application's good for the academic calendar year.

Oh, so they can continue to get these grants, like, as long as they meet the requirement, and then they can just continue to go and not the hassle of having to reapply. Oh, wow, that's wonderful.

Yes.

I think that's a great thing that we do. And so is the majority of your job is in. Is to manage these grants.

Correct.

Make sure that you give out the monies for these grants and then paperwork and all of that.

Yes. And then we also do have a adult resource center, student life area, that is located in the back of the Star Zone on the second floor of the Gannon Building. And this fall, we're looking at starting to do some programming, partnering with different areas around LCC and trying to bring students into that center to be able to enjoy it and. And hopefully get some help. We are going to do study hours for students. Any students welcome. Whether or not they are a part of the program or not. It's just another quiet place that they can come and study, work in a small group if they want. Whenever that's open, students are more than welcome to come there and study.

Yeah. Cause I know, like, I think in the past, the success coaches used to utilize that space a lot. And I really think it's a nice space. You know, it's quiet, but you could still, you know, do some activities in there. Like if you were an instructor, you want to pair up with academic advising or different things like that. We could utilize that room. I have Been definitely thinking about different ways to host guests in there, you know, our students or different stuff like that. But it is. It's really a great space. So you've been here a lot of your adult life?

Pretty much my whole adult life, actually.

Yeah. Right. Yeah.

Graduated in 2005 from Holt and did some odd jobs for about two years and then started as a student employee and have never left.

Well, tell me, tell me about why you like, work here, like why you never left, left. What keeps you here at LCC, you know, because I. I find it's funny that a lot of people that I've already interviewed, like, they have started as student staff or if they haven't been student staff, they've been here like 20, 25 years. So there's a draw here. What's it for you?

I would say I will be honest and didn't think that I was going to stay here at LCC for a career, but definitely after I moved over to Student affairs and got to work closely with students, I really enjoyed being able to see. And even if it was just one student that I could help, like on a drop in Wednesday, register for classes or help them connect with a success coach or somebody, something like that, just to help that one student, like, brought joy to my life, which is not something that I was expecting. I thought I would go into like a business role at a private or private business. But so I would say that I probably just kind of stumbled upon this wonderful work, LCC work that I've had the opportunity to be able to do and now I get to work even on a closer one, on one basis with students and actually see their growth and help them and know like, when I have conversations with them and have conversations about how they need help with like, childcare and they just are so close to graduating and they just need a little bit of extra assistance to become that nurse or become that, I don't know, accountant.

Yeah.

Then we. And if I have that opportunity to be able to help them, then that's what help or that's what makes me happy. And people along my way at LCC helped me become the person I am today. So if I can help even a couple of students become whoever they want to be, that's what makes me happy.

Yeah. And I think that's a lot of what most of the people here, I find that it's a joy of working with students and seeing that growth and then just it's fulfilling and it's something that will catch you, you know, you think you're going to leave, but you start getting of a feeling of like, purpose. And so I think that that's wonderful. I'm glad to hear that and I'm glad you're here because you've helped me and changed my life. So tell me about one thing that like one work related thing you want to accomplish in the next year.

So going back to that programming that we would, that we really are trying to start in the fall, I think it would be really nice to be able to have students in the center, whether it is study hours or it is meet with an academic advisor and learn about transferring to different program or different universities or something like that is to really. Because the Adult Resource center used to be the Women Resource Center.

Okay.

And it changed, the name changed a few years ago. And so now this is the prime opportunity because we have our own space to be able to be build that into something that it hasn't been before, where it's more like a one on one basis or a cohort or different opportunities that our returning adult students might not be able to have had in the past. Giving them that opportunity to have those resources available and feel comfortable where they know that they're not the only returning adult coming back to school and there's other people just like, like them to be able to relate to and like even build relationships with. So I think if I could do one thing in the near future, it would be to start something that students that are my students who are receiving the grant, and even maybe students that don't receive their grant but are returning adults so they're in the same boat, can have a place where they feel like they are welcomed and they're just like every other student that they're sitting next to.

A good place for them to fellowship together. I can see where that space could be utilized for a lot of different things and you could bring in, you know, different people from the community that's targeted towards those specific groups and stuff like that. I do, I think that's a great idea. And I think that as students are starting to come back to campus, they're gonna start looking for those spaces and really, you know, be glad that they have it. And it's nicely done as well. Okay. Ashley, We've talked about work, Ashley. And so now I just want to ask you some, you know, more questions about who you are as a person. And one of my first questions is who do you admire most in the world?

So I would say that my mom's the person that I admire most in the world. And that's because she always pushed me to reach the goals that I wanted to reach. Whatever that goal was. She was standing right there beside me. And sometimes she might have had to push me a little bit more because I wasn't trying to do it. And she always celebrated any accomplishment. I have two other sisters who are younger than me, and she was right there celebrating every accomplishment that all of us have had, whether it was graduating from high school. I have a sister that is finishing her master's program at Grand Valley. And my mom is there all the time. Just whatever it is, she's there to support us. And we know that no matter what, she'll be there for us. And now she was like a strict mom for a minute. But she did get better or our relationship grew into more of a friendship now. And I would say she's probably one of my best friends.

Yeah, I definitely know your mom supports you 125%.

Absolutely.

You know, she's there for. I've just seen her and met her and know that, you know, she thinks the world of her children and she will do whatever she gotta do for her kids. Absolutely. You know, that's a good thing. And I admire that. To, you know, to be a fierce mom. Right. You gonna make sure that you take and look out for your children. And I definitely see that in her. So I think that's a great thing. What are some of your hobbies?

So I would say right now probably my biggest hobby is golf. That's how I met my fiance, on the golf course. And we just love to golf together. It's a relaxing, sometimes frustrating, but most of the time a relaxing sport to just to get out and be in the nice weather and hit the ball around and I drive the cart because I'm not walking. I'm not that type of a golfer, but I definitely enjoy golfing. And then we just this past summer bought a Jet Ski. Oh, and I've always had a Jet Ski. Growing up, my grandparents bought one for me. Actually, it was a little trick that I did on my grandpa. I asked him if I took my boater safety license and would he buy a Jet Ski. And little did he know that I had already signed up for boater safety. So I was gonna make sure that I something to ride when the summer came for me to be able to use my boater safety license. So he said, yep. And so he bought a Jet Ski. And that was probably about 20 years ago. And now I just had the opportunity to buy my own Jet Ski. So Dylan And I take it out to his parents house. We go. They have a little lake that they live on. And then we go up north a lot and drive it on our lake, my family cabin. Okay. So I like to be outside in the. When it's nice weather.

So I probably already know the answer to this based off of what you just said. But what's your favorite way to spend a day off?

So I would definitely say, well, sometimes I like to take a little nap, you know, like it's nice to take some naps every now and then. But definitely with my family, I think. And also on the water or on the golf course. We like to travel too. I spend a lot of time in Florida. My grandparents winter down there. So I try to get down there as much as I can to see them. Because they're 81 years old.

Yeah.

So I like to see them and in Florida. It's a nice place, especially in the winter.

Heck yeah.

For the first time this past spring I went to Arizona. So that was nice to go visit my future in laws. And we went to Arizona, California, Las Vegas. And those are places that I have never been before. So that was a different type of vacation because I'm used to going down to Florida where it's a little more tropical. And Arizona was definitely dry and hot. But it was fun.

Yeah, I liked Arizona. When I went there I thought, oh, I'm gonna move. But I went in February and it was 80 something degrees. But if you think about June in Arizona, probably hunting up. Yeah, I don't think.

I don't think I can do that.

Yeah. So okay, go green or go blue?

Oh, I'm 100% a Spartan. My fiance though is a Wolverine fan. So so far the Spartans, since we've been together, have came out ahead on all of this game. Most of the games I think definitely football and most of the basketball games. But we're pretty cool about respecting each other. Right. And. But definitely I bleed green all the way. That's where my grandparents met, was at Michigan State. And my grandpa graduated from there, my uncle graduated from there. So definitely go green.

I shouldn't even had to ask the question. Cause you got on green now, so I know we are Spartans. I agree with that one. Well, I have one more question I wanna ask you. What are you most proud of that you've done in the last year?

I would say that planning this wedding that will happen almost exactly a year ago from when we got engaged and planning it most of the time stress free.

So you're not A bridezilla.

I'm not a bridezilla. I wanted to make sure that I had a wedding and everybody said, oh, I think you should elope. I was like, nope, I'm not waiting until. I haven't waited this long not to have a wedding. So I want people to celebrate me. And this past summer, this past Saturday, I had my bridal shower and it was just so amazing. My family came together and everybody helped, everybody celebrated me. I felt so loved and it was amazing. And then so we're pretty counting down the days. We got around 60 days left to until we are married. And that for me is a little crazy to think that I'm going to be a married woman. I know, but that's probably one of the biggest things that I'm proud of this year.

Yeah, I know you, you have been a happy brow bride. I wasn't. I was playing when I said Brizeilla, cuz you really been real chilled out about this and it's so. It's an exciting time and you get a chance to, you know, spend the rest of your life with someone that you love and that's a friend and as a protector, a nice guy. You know, I like Dylan. I met him, I thought he was a great guy and not that you need protect and I don't want nobody coming after me about that. Okay. But I'm just saying that I feel like you guys are a good match and I'm so happy for you and I wish you all the best.

Well, thank you.

Do you have any closing words for our people, Ashley?

I guess I would say that if you are in need of any funding for tuition or child care grant, look us up at the adult Resource center website. And thanks for having me on the show, Lisa.

Well, thank you Ashley for coming on who's at Star. Today we learned about you and your role on campus. We found out great information about the adult resource center and grants students can access. And everybody, I want to tell you guys to take care. I'll talk to you soon. You've been listening to Who's That Star? I'm Lisa A. And you can listen to this episode of Who's That Star and other shows from LCC Connect anytime online at LCCconnect.org thank you for listening. Catch me next time to find out Who's That Star.