Back for more: AnnMarie Dill will add an HFC education degree to her HFC business degree

A picture of AnnMarie Dill smiling in her cap and gown, holding two bouquets of flowers and her diploma.

AnnMarie Dill earned her associate degree in business from HFC on May 6. She will return to HFC this fall and begin work on a second associate degree in education. Her goal is to become a special education teacher and serve the Downriver community.

AnnMarie Dill enjoyed earning her business degree from HFC so much that she's re-enrolling -- this time in pre-education.

“Everyone at HFC treats everyone else like family. It’s not just a school you go to so you can take classes and leave. I like the feeling I get being here and reading the success stories of others like Kelsie Hudie, who got her diploma before anyone else at Commencement because she was about to give birth. They really put the student first here. That’s what I love about the College; it’s such a family-oriented place. I would definitely recommend HFC to anyone who asks me where to attend a good college,” said Dill.

Supportive husband encourages her to pursue higher ed

A Dearborn native, Dill is the second of four and the eldest daughter. An alumna of what is now Taylor High School, she is married to Cody. They and their 5-year-old son make their home in Gibraltar. Dill has been a manager at Burger King for nearly a decade.

“When I met my husband, he made me realize I wanted to go back to school and get a degree, so I chose business,” she recalled. “I knew that going into business was a good career choice. I enjoyed every class I took, which taught me much more about business.”

Dill explained why she waited six years after graduating from high school to pursue her college education.

“It just took me a while to actually want to go back to school,” she said. “I enrolled at HFC in August 2020, smack dab in the middle of the pandemic. It was definitely a struggle to succeed in online courses, which I had never taken before. The College helped with a pretty smooth transition from in-person to online.”

A passion for working with special needs children

Dill sees her calling as teaching.

“Ever since I was in fifth grade, I have loved teaching. During the summer months, I would work with my younger sisters and teach them. They loved it and so did I,” she said. “I have a passion for wanting to work with children, especially those with special needs. I struggled myself in school when I was younger; things were harder for me to read and understand.”

Her career goal is to become a special education teacher.

“I enjoy working with children and being around them. I want to help children learn and understand things in a different way,” said Dill. “Downriver needs a special education teacher who has that kind of passion for helping kids.”

Two people who never gave up on her

Dill wanted to give a shout-out to two people. The first is HFC English instructor Angela King. She took King’s College Writing and Research class.

“I had failed the class once before, so I had to take it again. I’m glad that she was my professor. I was not doing well in her class, but she was willing to work with me. She made exceptions for me, but she still held me accountable for making up the coursework. When I took her final exam, I had passed the class with a ‘B,’ all thanks to her. She had a positive impact on my education, and I really appreciate that,” said Dill.

The second person she wanted to acknowledge is her husband.

“I want to thank my husband for always believing in me and knowing I can achieve my goals if I put my mind to it,” said Dill. “Cody has pushed me and encouraged me to return to school. He’s always been in my corner.”

If you or someone you know has earned multiple degrees from HFC that have helped you achieve your goals, reach out to us. We'd love to share your story: communications@hfcc.edu.