“Schoolcraft was a great intermediate step for me,” said Ben Billett, 21, of Dearborn Heights. “A lot of kids who go straight from high school to a four-year university don’t do that well if they aren’t ready for it. Schoolcraft geared me up. I would recommend it over a four-year university any day.”

A 2005 graduate with an associate degree in art, Ben looked back on his days at Schoolcraft as a period that helped him find his area of concentration. “Originally, I thought I wanted to go into broadcast communications,” he said. “But after taking classes, I found that what I really wanted was a career in architecture. It’s really opened up a lot of options for me.”

Today, Ben is working toward a bachelor’s degree in architecture at Lawrence Technological University. With plans to earn a master’s degree in the years ahead, Ben eventually would like to get a job with a local architectural firm. “I enjoy the problem solving involved with architecture — that there are an infinite number of solutions that are adequate,” says Ben. “I’m thinking about specializing in urban design or sustainable design one day.”