Recently, the State of Michigan passed the 2025 budget for our state and among the variety of actions that this budget funded was support for a dream. That dream makes possible FREE community college education.

As an educator that started his college experience in a community college and for 40-plus years had the privilege of serving these unique institutions as a staff member, this truly represents a dream realized, since, for most potential enrollees, financial barriers are now being reduced or in many cases eliminated and the fear of insurmountable debt … gone.

This new opportunity called the Michigan Guarantee implements a commitment made by the governor to make community college free. Imagine, right here locally in Northeast Michigan, what this means to prospective students at one of the very best community colleges in the state (yes, I am prejudiced)! The open door is truly open to you. Opportunities … that you might have thought were financially impossible now are within reach for virtually anyone.

So, as a new college year is about to begin, I would like to encourage anyone with a desire to learn, with a desire to grow, with the hope to better their life to explore the myriad of opportunities at Alpena Community College. The price has never been better.

DR. DONALD L. NEWPORT,

President emeritus,

Alpena Community College