Jennifer Corbiere of Bay Mills Community College

Jennifer Corbiere is a proud member of the Bay Mills Indian Community. Attending Bay Mills Community College (BMCC) has given her the chance to continue her education, build new skills, and find ways to give back to her community.

Jennifer first began her college journey at Lake Superior State University in 2005, right after high school. At that time, she struggled to find her direction and eventually stepped away from school. Over the next decade, she worked as a host, bartender, and food server at Bay Mills Resort and Casino. In 2016, she made the decision to return to school and enrolled at BMCC while continuing to work and raise her two daughters. She earned her associate’s degree and, when the Bachelor of Science in business administration degree became available, she continued to achieve it.

Returning to college as a full-time working mother has been both challenging and rewarding for Jennifer. Education has become an incredibly meaningful part of her life because it allows her to grow personally and professionally while setting an example for her daughters. She’s now in her final semester at BMCC and will be graduating in the spring.

Through the generous support of the American Indian College Fund, Jennifer has been able to take part in two professional development trips; one to Arizona in February of 2025 and another to New Mexico. She visited several tribal casinos and learned firsthand about leadership, management, and community impact. These experiences have expanded her understanding of tribal business, especially as it deals with the enterprise and gaming industry. She’s received multiple other scholarships throughout her time at BMCC based on academic achievement and dedication to her goals. All of this support has made a tremendous difference in helping her balance work, school, and family while continuing to move forward in her education.

“Looking back, I’m proud of how far I’ve come and grateful for every challenge that pushed me to keep going. Returning to school, balancing work, and raising my daughters has been far from easy, but it’s been worth every late night and long day thus far,” says Jennifer, adding, “My education has opened doors I never thought possible and most importantly reminded me that growth never stops. As I graduate, I hope to keep using what I’ve learned to give back to my community and hopefully inspire others to pursue their education as well and reach for opportunities that uplift us all.”