Calvin News

On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, Calvin University hosted a special celebration recognizing the achievements of the inaugural cohort of its innovative Wayfinder program—a program adapted from a national model—the Clemente Course in the Humanities—but offered for the first time in the state of Michigan and for the first time through a place with a vital Christian mission. 
 
This tuition-free, eight-credit college experience is designed for adult learners who are facing social or economic barriers to higher education who want to enter or re-enter higher education in a supportive environment with barriers removed. The program, which is offered off-campus in a neighboring zip code to the university in direct partnership with several community organizations, serves as a crucial bridge, equipping adult learners with academic and confidence-building skills as they transition into further educational or career pathways. 

In the moments prior to receiving their certificates of completion in front of their families and friends, we talked with seven of the 20 women in the inaugural cohort about their experiences over the past 10 months in the program:

Why are you glad you enrolled in the Wayfinder Program?

Monserrat Guerrero: I was very nervous [to apply] because as an adult I didn't know if I was going to be able to do it, but I applied for it because it seemed like it was the first step for me to start school back again. I’m glad I took this step, because one of my biggest fears is talking in front of people, even like doing an interview with you right now, so I do think it made a big impact on my life … I’m glad I took the step [enrolling] because it was just the beginning of a new career for me. 
 
Lexie Zuno: I'm happy I said yes to this program because it was God's way of showing me that I am already capable of a lot. And now the doors have opened everywhere I’ve turned, and my future is just brighter than ever. 
 
Brittany Schachel: I was going through a really hard time in my life and I wanted to make some new changes, go the opposite direction of what I was doing before. I wanted to move forward and say, ‘I completed something.’  
 
Amy Garcia: It's been 30 years since I've been in school, so I’m glad I did [enroll]. I prayed about it and a few weeks went by and I just felt that peace to proceed with the process. 

Carmen Wise: I’m glad because as a non-native English speaker I think that every class is important. I appreciate that the professors got together a good curriculum for us even though a few people were not English speakers. So that opened up a whole different world for us, how to write, how to tell our story in our own words.

What’s your greatest takeaway from being a part of the program? 

Wise: We didn’t have obstacles to come to the class, because Calvin provided everything from books to lectures to computers to daycare that some of my classmates needed, and dinner. So, it was nice.  
 
Brittney Garber: I think just meeting different personalities.  

Schachel: My greatest takeaway I would say is reconnecting with different parts of history … it just helped me reconnect and find my voice. So that was one of the important things is trying to figure out how to be comfortable and know that we all have differences, but it’s our differences that can bring us together if we choose to. 
 
Garcia: Stepping out of my comfort zone ... I just feel like I’m glad I did it and I wish everyone else who would have this opportunity would do the same. I’m proud of myself.

How has completing this program had an impact on your future?

Wise: I would like to give back to my community and I think that's why I really enjoy Calvin University, because their main focus is to give back. And it doesn't matter where you are coming from, you’re able to give a little bit of you. So, I like that.

Garber: As of right now I’m writing a couple of children’s books so dealing with Amy (a professor who taught in the program) really helped me out a lot. I’ve been out of school for so long, so having her there and the writing experience is really great. 

LaToya Nichols: It impacted me a lot. I enjoyed it. Once I graduate, I’m going to try and continue my journey to Calvin. 
 
Guerrero: At the beginning when I first started, I was thinking of wanting to pursue something with business because I work in a bank. But when I was in this [program], I actually explored more of what I’m good at and some things that I’m really passionate about that Calvin showed me with this program, which is more like working for the community, more like psychology and stuff like that. So, I think it’s mostly me understanding this is just the beginning of something special and Calvin has brought me that opportunity.

Zuno: I now will be continuing my education with [the goal] of helping society in general, whether that be starting off as a teacher for secondary education or eventually even going into policy.

Schachel: I would say it just enhanced my ability to see things in a different perspective. It’s helped me to learn how to be comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time if that makes sense, just really learning myself, learning other people, learning boundaries. So this has only enhanced my future to look differently on the choices and decisions I make.

Garcia: There’s so much more I can learn, and I do want to continue my learning. I want to continue to do something more for myself, because I always did for my kids and now this is something for me.

What are you hoping to do next?

Wise: I feel like I would like to continue my studies, number one, and see if I can become an immigration attorney … I have so many opportunities ahead that I’m not sure which one I’m going to take, but at least Calvin opened those doors … Calvin gave me the tools, gave me the skills and we have our coach, our career coach, so she opened up another whole world. 

Guerrero: I am going to look into Calvin and the psychology program that they have, but I did enroll myself in something that is called ambassador for anxiety and depression. I think that’s like the first step for me.

Zuno: I would like to come back to Calvin and finish my bachelor's degree in secondary education with the focus on social studies and multilingual learners. And for like the future future, I would love to work for [an] educational board.  

Schachel: Just keep growing and learning and flowing with life and along the way helping other people. I’ve went through a lot of things in my life, so this is just another step for me to keep moving forward. 
 
Garcia: To go into leadership, do something like that. I was always really shy, and this kind of helped open doors and I had to speak in front of my class, and it made me very nervous. So, I feel like if I continue and learn more and develop myself, I’ll eventually keep going for something bigger or better.