Detroit Mercy, GM partner to build tomorrow's leaders

University of Detroit Mercy and General Motors joined forces to host the GM Student Corps/UDM College Experience event on July 11 at the McNichols Campus.

Nearly 100 students from 14 high schools in southeast Michigan participated in the GM Student Corps/UDM College Experience that provided a walkthrough of a typical day in the life of a college student. Students learned about the significance of navigating the higher education journey through topics like financial aid, class schedules and more. They also participated in hands-on learning experiences with UDM faculty from the College of Liberal Arts & Education.

By collaborating with Detroit Mercy, GM aims to inspire and empower these students by highlighting the transformative power of education and equipping them with the knowledge and tools necessary to pursue higher education.

“Engaging in a real college classroom where students solve a cybercrime, create an electronic puppet, and learn their leadership style gives them the chance to experience the exciting and transformative opportunities available at universities such as Detroit Mercy, where we can help make their hopes become realities,” said Jocelyn M. Boryczka, dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Education at UDM.

The GM Student Corps was founded in 2013 by GM President Mark Reuss and a group of GM employees and retirees, including UDM alumnus Mike DiGiovanni ’70, ’72, as part of a commitment to advance education, jumpstart student careers and support the community.

The goal of the GM Student Corps is to develop professional skills in the students, engage them in their communities and provide mentors and guidance as they progress.

GM hires approximately eight students from 14 different high schools across Metro Detroit, Flint and Pontiac to participate in the Corps. These high school interns are paired with a college intern and two GM retirees who serve as mentors during the summer program and beyond. High school interns attend trainings to develop important skills such as business etiquette, networking and financial literacy. Each team works together to select and manage their own community service projects that benefit their schools, neighbors and community.

“For many of the students, the GM Student Corps experience is their first real job, with a real paycheck,” said DiGiovanni. “It may also be their first exposure to certain life skills, finance, college, leadership opportunities, public speaking and many more elements of the program. The program provides an opportunity for students to see beyond their circle of friends and experience the feeling of giving back to their community and school.”