HawkStrong: First-gen student Mily Garcia named MCCAA Second Team All-Eastern Conference

After overcoming a shoulder injury, HFC softball player Mily Garcia was named to the Michigan Community College Athletic Association Second Team All-Eastern Conference at the end of the 2022-23 season.

“That was exciting. I didn’t know this until Coach Jeff Laufenberg told me when the whole team was attending a Detroit Tigers game,” recalled Garcia. “I hit my first college home run at HFC – which was huge for me! The second was a grand slam against Oakland Community College. It was important to win that game because we were tied for third in the MCCAA. We made the playoffs.”

For the 2022-23 season, the Hawks finished third in the MCCAA Eastern Conference with a record of 17-13. The team’s overall record for the season was 21-17. HFC concluded the season with a nail-biter 8-7 loss to Ohio-based Cuyahoga Community College in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XII Division II Great Lakes District B Softball Tournament.

First-generation American, first-generation college student

“Mily is a very kind, responsible young lady. She works hard. She’s very passionate, supportive, and a team player. She is a pleasure to have on the team. She adapted to life at HFC very well and did a tremendous job as a freshman,” said Coach Steve Brown.

Born in Detroit, Garcia is the youngest of five and the only daughter. Not only is she a first-generation American, she is also a first-generation college student. Garcia graduated from Western International High School in 2022, where she played softball all four years. One of her teammates in high school was Jaylynn Reyes, a fellow Hawk.

“I started playing softball when I was young and really liked it. My high school coach, Don Wolan, helped further my passion for it. He got me into travel teams, which really improved my game,” she said. “I came to HFC because I really liked Coach Brown. I met him when he recruited Jaylynn. He cares about you not just as a player but as a person.”

Attending HFC on athletic scholarship and the Detroit Promise

Garcia, who speaks fluent Spanish, is attending HFC on an athletic scholarship and through Detroit Promise. Founded in 2016, Detroit Promise gives any student graduating from any high school in the city of Detroit a tuition-free path to an associate degree or technical certificate. The program is administered by the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce in partnership with HFC. Garcia’s Detroit Promise Campus Success Coach at HFC is Reco Spencer.

“Mily is delightful and an excellent student,” said Spencer. “It’s such a joy working with her.”

HFC improves future social worker’s English and writing skills

Garcia is studying social work and counseling at HFC.

“I really like helping people. I would have gone into medicine, but I can’t stand the sight of blood,” said Garcia. “Counseling is an opportunity to help people out in a different way.”

She credits HFC Spanish instructor Maggie Rutkowski and English instructors Dr. Courtney Matthews and Dr. Ruth Haller as having a made a positive impact on her.

“All of them challenged me and pushed me,” said Garcia. “I always felt behind in my English skills, but they took the time to help me with every assignment. My English and my writing skills have improved so much at HFC, thanks to them.”

“Mily is a thoughtful, conscientious student who puts a lot of effort into her work and is genuinely excited to learn and develop new skills,” said Haller. “It was a pleasure to have her in class.”

Feeling like I fit in

Garcia is looking forward to playing for the Hawks again next year.

“I’m excited about coming back,” she said. “The best part of playing softball at HFC has been the friends I made. They’ve been so welcoming and I had a lot of fun. Lauren Gannon and Caroline O’Donohue were great teammates and mentors. They really went out of their way to make me like I fit in here, which is so important.”