De’Quan Powell: Business Major Excels Since Transferring
ALMA — De’Quan Powell transferred to Alma College in order to play on the Scots’ men’s basketball team. Since coming to Alma, however, he has found many greater opportunities beyond the hardwood.
Powell, originally from Detroit, came to Alma after earning an associate’s degree from Macomb Community College (MCC), in Michigan, and additional credits at Lambton College in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. He was pleased with the transfer process at Alma, which went smoothly.
“I’m going to be able to graduate after only two years at Alma because I didn’t waste any credits from my previous institutions,” Powell said. “It saved a lot of money for me to go to community college before I came here and it prepared me well academically. I’m really happy that I transferred to Alma.”
A stellar guard during his time at MCC and at Detroit Loyola High School, Powell said he has found a home at Art Smith Arena, where men’s basketball Head Coach Mike Fitzpatrick utilizes an up-tempo playing style that is fun to be part of and keeps opponents on their toes.
Powell is enjoying his time in the classroom as much as at the gym. He’s a business major with a focus on sports management who dreams of someday becoming a college athletic director or working in the front office of a basketball team. He appreciates Alma’s recently revamped business curriculum, particularly its emphasis on learning Microsoft Excel.
While it’s been challenging, Powell said, he’s not one for backing down from a challenge.
“While I was in high school and early college, I used Excel, but this is taking it to another level — deep-diving into it and learning how it works from the bottom up,” Powell said. “It hasn’t been easy, but it’s fun, and I can see how this is going to benefit my future career, because it’s something that almost every company uses.”
Powell has gotten to know campus quickly thanks to his involvement in the Julius Chatman Living Learning Community (JCLLC), a group designed for the college’s first-year Campbell Scholars Program participants to foster leadership development and a sense of belonging, as well as provide various supports.
Through the JCLLC, Powell said he has made friends, found mentors and stayed busy with fun activities during quiet periods on campus.
“Everybody here wants you to be your best and help you tap into your potential. I’m from a big city, but I’ve come to love the close-knit community here in Alma,” Powell said. “It feels like the right place for me.”