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<p><br />
MARK T. PAYTON</p>

<p><em>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll keep my friendships with professors long after I leave. There are always going to be people who don&rsquo;t support you. If you want to succeed, look for those who do.&rdquo;</em></p>

<p>An accomplished artist whose clients include the Landmark Society of Western New York, 59<strong>-</strong>year<strong>-</strong>old Army veteran Mark T. Payton has gained local and national recognition for his drawings. His commissioned drawing of a Navy armored cruiser, the USS Rochester, is part of a permanent exhibit currently on display at the Military History Society of Rochester.</p>

<p>Mark has been drawing all his life, his earliest art reflecting a childhood spent in Argentina, Puerto Rico and Mexico where his missionary parents were assigned. In 1985, he enlisted in the Army after studying fine arts at Kentucky&rsquo;s Asbury University. Upon completing several years of military service, Mark held sales and tech jobs.</p>

<p>When he was laid off in 2019, he became eligible for assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor&rsquo;s Trade Readjustment Allowances, a national job retraining program that provides job retraining funds. The following year, he began at MCC.</p>

<p>Since then, members of the MCC community, including Visual and Performing Arts faculty Marj Crum and Hilary Toothe, have become his posse of encouragement.</p>

<p>In his final semester toward completing his MCC degree in <a href="https://www.monroecc.edu/academics/majors-programs/arts-humanities/graphic-design-associate-degree/">graphic design</a>, Mark took one in<strong>-</strong>person and two online MCC classes. He also attended biweekly chemotherapy sessions. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m sleeping 10 to 12 hours most days, but quitting is not an option,&rdquo; he said in fall 2021.</p>

<p>When chemo treatments made public transportation from home to campus unwise, Mark said, MCC&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.monroecc.edu/depts/veterans/veterans-club/">Veterans Club</a> and local Vets Driving Vets program stepped in. &ldquo;All of my professors have bent over backwards to help me deal with the cancer,&rdquo; he said.</p>

<p>After working with Urban Sketchers, a nonprofit global community of artists who draw on location, Mark now aspires to become an urban sketcher and illustrator at Disney World.&nbsp; &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been sharing my ideas about Disney with Marj Crum, and Hilary Toothe is helping me develop a portfolio and resume,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll keep my friendships with professors long after I leave.&rdquo;</p>

<p><br />
JIMMIE SALONE</p>

<p><em>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve always loved science and I&rsquo;ve always loved working with my hands. MCC&rsquo;s optics program has allowed me to earn a degree that involves both. I&rsquo;ve found my future here.&rdquo;</em></p>

<p>Jimmie Salone began at MCC fresh out of high school. As a communication/media studies major, he did reasonably well. But despite his best efforts, Jimmie knew his heart simply wasn&rsquo;t in it. He dropped out at the end of his third semester, determined to find his true calling. There were other jobs. However, nothing really clicked until he began his career at JML Optical Industries, Inc.</p>

<p>As he began talking with Steve Burton, JML&rsquo;s operations vice president and other colleagues, Jimmie became increasingly fascinated in the optics field. For the past three years, he&rsquo;s been working as an apprentice, training in all areas of the company to gain knowledge and experience in every aspect of the industry. This month, just weeks before he earns his MCC degree in <a href="https://www.monroecc.edu/depts/eomctech/programs/optical-systems-technology/">optical systems technology</a>, 30<strong>-</strong>year<strong>-</strong>old Jimmie will also earn his journeyman status. Of his accomplishments, he said, &ldquo;A lot of people think they couldn&rsquo;t possible do it. I&rsquo;m here to tell you, you can. I started with one course that first semester. After taking Intro to Optics, I knew I&rsquo;d found a new direction.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Jimmie said he&rsquo;s also gained a network of valuable regional contacts in the optics field. &ldquo;The faculty at MCC did a wonderful job <strong>─</strong> not only in teaching us but allowing students to become acquainted to get to know each other&rsquo;s specializations. Now, we each have this deep well of resources going forward.&rdquo; While earning this degree is the culmination of a dream for Jimmie, it&rsquo;s also a proud new beginning. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve recently realized that I really enjoy training. So, with that in mind, I want to keep moving up <strong>─</strong> keep encouraging others and contributing my best efforts to JML.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Last October, he bought his first home in Greece. It&rsquo;s located near his aunt and uncle and close enough for his godchild to visit often. &ldquo;I owe it all to optics,&rdquo; Jimmie said.</p>

<p><br />
JACKSON SIMEONE</p>

<p><em>&ldquo;Once you figure out what you want, you&rsquo;ve got to dig in and go after it yourself. There are no shortcuts. You&rsquo;ve just got to do the work.&rdquo;</em></p>

<p>Come June 2, Rochester resident Jackson Simeone will achieve his fourth college credential.</p>

<p>Jackson earned his first MCC degree in <a href="https://www.monroecc.edu/academics/majors-programs/health-sciences/physical-education-and-exercise-science-associate-degree/">physical education and exercise science</a> with distinction in 2014. Two years later, he earned a bachelor&rsquo;s degree in kinesiology from SUNY Brockport. But Jackson couldn&rsquo;t find a job in his chosen field. The full<strong>-</strong>time EMT earned an <a href="https://www.monroecc.edu/etsdbs/MCCatPub.nsf/Programs+of+Study/Emergency+Medical+Services?OpenDocument">emergency medical services</a> (EMS) certificate three years ago and in fall 2021 returned to MCC once again to pursue a second associate degree <strong>─ </strong>this time, an A.A.S. in MCC&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.monroecc.edu/academics/majors-programs/community-engagement/paramedic-associate-degree/">paramedic</a> program offered at the Public Safety Training Facility.</p>

<p>Jackson is no stranger to a full and abundant life. An avid reader and hiker, he is the stepparent of two daughters, ages 8 and 10 <strong>─</strong> an individual whose chosen career demands high energy as well as complex knowledge and skill. Despite the inherent challenges of juggling work, family and college, Jackson opted to tackle the rigors of earning a degree during COVID<strong>-</strong>19. But he balks at the notion that a pandemic would get in his way. &ldquo;I just did what I had to do,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;COVID? I just kept on <strong>─</strong> just got through it.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Now, armed with a degree, he intends to keep on helping people when they need it the most. &ldquo;A good shift could mean an unusual call <strong>─</strong> something different, something you don&rsquo;t see every day,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It could mean enjoying a good rapport with your partner, an appreciative patient, knowing you&rsquo;ve done your best <strong>─ </strong>you&rsquo;ve made a difference. Sometimes, it&rsquo;s the crazy experiences. Other times, it&rsquo;s the little things. Every day, I just want to try and be the best in what I do.&rdquo;</p>

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MCC Daily Tribune

Meet Members of the Class of 2022!

MCC's newest graduates are poised to make an impact. Learn how some of these graduates will be applying their MCC education to the local workforce and to advanced studies at area colleges. During the week leading up to Commencement day (June 2), several Class of 2022 members will be featured in the Daily Tribune / Student Tribune, on MCC's website and on social media channels. The success of our graduates keeps MCC inspiring every day. #MCC2022


MARK T. PAYTON

“I’ll keep my friendships with professors long after I leave. There are always going to be people who don’t support you. If you want to succeed, look for those who do.”

An accomplished artist whose clients include the Landmark Society of Western New York, 59-year-old Army veteran Mark T. Payton has gained local and national recognition for his drawings. His commissioned drawing of a Navy armored cruiser, the USS Rochester, is part of a permanent exhibit currently on display at the Military History Society of Rochester.

Mark has been drawing all his life, his earliest art reflecting a childhood spent in Argentina, Puerto Rico and Mexico where his missionary parents were assigned. In 1985, he enlisted in the Army after studying fine arts at Kentucky’s Asbury University. Upon completing several years of military service, Mark held sales and tech jobs.

When he was laid off in 2019, he became eligible for assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Trade Readjustment Allowances, a national job retraining program that provides job retraining funds. The following year, he began at MCC.

Since then, members of the MCC community, including Visual and Performing Arts faculty Marj Crum and Hilary Toothe, have become his posse of encouragement.

In his final semester toward completing his MCC degree in graphic design, Mark took one in-person and two online MCC classes. He also attended biweekly chemotherapy sessions. “I’m sleeping 10 to 12 hours most days, but quitting is not an option,” he said in fall 2021.

When chemo treatments made public transportation from home to campus unwise, Mark said, MCC’s Veterans Club and local Vets Driving Vets program stepped in. “All of my professors have bent over backwards to help me deal with the cancer,” he said.

After working with Urban Sketchers, a nonprofit global community of artists who draw on location, Mark now aspires to become an urban sketcher and illustrator at Disney World.  “I’ve been sharing my ideas about Disney with Marj Crum, and Hilary Toothe is helping me develop a portfolio and resume,” he said. “I’ll keep my friendships with professors long after I leave.”


JIMMIE SALONE

“I’ve always loved science and I’ve always loved working with my hands. MCC’s optics program has allowed me to earn a degree that involves both. I’ve found my future here.”

Jimmie Salone began at MCC fresh out of high school. As a communication/media studies major, he did reasonably well. But despite his best efforts, Jimmie knew his heart simply wasn’t in it. He dropped out at the end of his third semester, determined to find his true calling. There were other jobs. However, nothing really clicked until he began his career at JML Optical Industries, Inc.

As he began talking with Steve Burton, JML’s operations vice president and other colleagues, Jimmie became increasingly fascinated in the optics field. For the past three years, he’s been working as an apprentice, training in all areas of the company to gain knowledge and experience in every aspect of the industry. This month, just weeks before he earns his MCC degree in optical systems technology, 30-year-old Jimmie will also earn his journeyman status. Of his accomplishments, he said, “A lot of people think they couldn’t possible do it. I’m here to tell you, you can. I started with one course that first semester. After taking Intro to Optics, I knew I’d found a new direction.”

Jimmie said he’s also gained a network of valuable regional contacts in the optics field. “The faculty at MCC did a wonderful job not only in teaching us but allowing students to become acquainted to get to know each other’s specializations. Now, we each have this deep well of resources going forward.” While earning this degree is the culmination of a dream for Jimmie, it’s also a proud new beginning. “I’ve recently realized that I really enjoy training. So, with that in mind, I want to keep moving up keep encouraging others and contributing my best efforts to JML.”

Last October, he bought his first home in Greece. It’s located near his aunt and uncle and close enough for his godchild to visit often. “I owe it all to optics,” Jimmie said.


JACKSON SIMEONE

“Once you figure out what you want, you’ve got to dig in and go after it yourself. There are no shortcuts. You’ve just got to do the work.”

Come June 2, Rochester resident Jackson Simeone will achieve his fourth college credential.

Jackson earned his first MCC degree in physical education and exercise science with distinction in 2014. Two years later, he earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from SUNY Brockport. But Jackson couldn’t find a job in his chosen field. The full-time EMT earned an emergency medical services (EMS) certificate three years ago and in fall 2021 returned to MCC once again to pursue a second associate degree this time, an A.A.S. in MCC’s paramedic program offered at the Public Safety Training Facility.

Jackson is no stranger to a full and abundant life. An avid reader and hiker, he is the stepparent of two daughters, ages 8 and 10 an individual whose chosen career demands high energy as well as complex knowledge and skill. Despite the inherent challenges of juggling work, family and college, Jackson opted to tackle the rigors of earning a degree during COVID-19. But he balks at the notion that a pandemic would get in his way. “I just did what I had to do,” he said. “COVID? I just kept on just got through it.”

Now, armed with a degree, he intends to keep on helping people when they need it the most. “A good shift could mean an unusual call something different, something you don’t see every day,” he said. “It could mean enjoying a good rapport with your partner, an appreciative patient, knowing you’ve done your best you’ve made a difference. Sometimes, it’s the crazy experiences. Other times, it’s the little things. Every day, I just want to try and be the best in what I do.”

Attached Files:
Mark Payton.jpg
Jimmie Salone.jpg
Jackson Simeone.jpg

Hency Yuen-Eng
Community Relations
06/01/2022