HFC alumnus Jason Babbage is proud to serve Allen Park

HFC alumnus Jason Babbage and his family have been active in the Allen Park community for decades.

For four years, Jason has been a member of the Allen Park Public Schools Board of Education, following in the footsteps of his mother, Frances Babbage, who was a member of the school board and the president. She was also a teacher in the district. His father, David, Jr., another HFC alumnus, was a member of the Allen Park City Council for 32 years.

“My family and I have always been a part of Allen Park,” said Jason. “It’s a matter of giving back to the community that’s given so much to me.”

HFC showed him to put in the effort needed to be successful

Born in Dearborn, Jason is the youngest of two sons; his brother, David, Jr., is 16 months older than him. He lives in Allen Park with Shanon, an HFC alumna to whom he’s been married since 2010. They have two children, ages 15 and 12.

Jason graduated from Allen Park High School, and also completed coursework at the Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills. He graduated cum laude, with honors, from HFC (then Henry Ford Community College), earning his associate degree in general education and arts. He later earned a second associate degree in general science.

“I was working full-time at a building supply company while taking classes at HFC at night. The manager gave me a generous severance package and sent me on my way,” recalled Jason. “When I achieved junior status, my parents paid for my education. I was proud to attend HFC. It taught me to put in the effort needed into what I had to do in order to be successful.”

Jason transferred to the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where he is a two-time alumnus. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and his master’s degree in automotive systems engineering. At UM-Dearborn, he was the president of Pi Tau Sigma, the International Honor Society for Mechanical Engineers and Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society. He also completed coursework at Western Michigan University.

Wanted to do the opposite of his brother

“I always had an aptitude for math,” said Jason. “My brother was an electrical engineer. I couldn’t do the same thing as him, given the competitive nature of brothers so close in age, so I became a mechanical engineer. I was told that mechanical engineers would always have a job in Michigan because of the automotive industry.”

Jason has been an engineer since 2000. For 16 years, he worked at Ford Motor Co.: three years as a contractor, 13 years as a full-time employee. In 2026, Jason began a new position as a mechanical design engineer at RLE International in Romulus.

“This is something different than what I was doing in the past. I was a lighting systems engineer for 10 years and people were always asking me the same questions because they didn’t have an understanding of what lighting systems were. What I’m doing now is fresh and exciting. I’m working on things that I can't provide details about, but I’m really enjoying my new job.”

A voice of advocacy on the Allen Park School Board

Since 2011, Jason has been involved in the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 409 in Allen Park as a historian. He has also been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Allen Park since 2024.

“We help people in need. We’ve given $100 checks to people every year. They depend on us for essentials such as food and toiletries or being able to buy their children Christmas gifts,” he said.

Jason was elected to the school board in 2022. His fellow board member, Dr. Jennifer Warren, teaches anatomy and physiology at HFC. This fall, Jason is running for another 4-year term on the school board. His motivation to serve came from a commitment to support students, teachers, and the broader Allen Park community. Among his primary objectives are fostering an environment free from bullying, and ensuring fair and equitable discipline for all students.

“My daughter was facing some issues in the school system,” he explained. “Instead of complaining about it, I wanted to be part of the solution. So I ran for the school board to make a difference and to let my voice be heard.”

HFC does not endorse candidates or political parties.