Following his high school graduation, Alikhan Fidai had his education and career all planned out. In 2014, the Midwest native enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a top-tier public research university, to study chemical engineering. It was the fulfillment of a long-held dream, both for Fidai and for his parents. “After immigrating from […]
Completion Articles
Opening the door to more degree options
Students in the East Central College, Jefferson College and Mineral Area College districts now have access to more degree options without additional costs. That’s thanks to a new “Beyond Boundaries” partnership which allows for students in those neighboring districts to work toward a degree in select programs at in-district tuition costs. The agreement — signed […]
Nursing escape room helps students hone skills
When Mesa Community College (Arizona) nursing students go into the simulation lab, it can be quite nerve-racking. During the past year, Interim Nursing Department Chair and Nursing Simulation Coordinator Diana Breed, who’s been teaching for the past 20 years, noticed students’ anxiety level climbing more than usual. “They go there to apply the knowledge they […]
Igniting a path to higher education
A transformative donation to Harper College is now transforming lives. In 2021, the Illinois college received an $18 million gift from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott. A month after that donation, Harper College launched the Igniting Paths to Success Scholarship with the goal of helping 1,000 students from the community access and prioritize higher education. The scholarship […]
Program expands access to college for high school students
In Oklahoma, location is no longer a problem for high school students wanting to take college courses. Tulsa Community College (TCC) is launching High School Plus One across Oklahoma providing virtual college courses for eligible high school juniors and seniors beginning Fall 2022. This means high school students can complete an entire year of college, […]
Building a solid foundation
When Sauk Valley Community College was founded in 1965, the Sauk Valley College Foundation was simultaneously established alongside it as an independent 501(c)(3). The college’s founders had the foresight to know that philanthropy would be critical to building a college-going culture in the rural northwestern Illinois community it served. By the time David Hellmich became […]
Out of the shadows
On the first day of spring classes, Joan Barrett was walking around the Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) campus as usual, greeting students and making sure they knew where to go. It’s what Barrett, the vice chancellor for student affairs, does at the beginning of every academic term. But this wasn’t an ordinary start to […]
Student story: A passion for helping others
“I love taking care of other people. I always have.” Analyn McCoy, a nursing student at Umpqua Community College (UCC), was born and raised in the Philippines. She grew up with very limited resources, not even having access to basic commodities such as water, electricity and medical care. In 2005, McCoy came to the United […]
Moving forward on OER
Accustomed to budgeting hundreds of dollars for textbooks each semester, Ana Andrade found a nice surprise in her inbox after registering for fall 2020 classes. The simple message from her instructor: No need to purchase the official textbook because a free online resource is offered. Since fall 2017 when the zero-cost textbook program known as […]
Connecting to a learning community
At age 17, Tyler White wondered if she’d ever find success in college. The Laurel, Md., resident struggled with her grades throughout high school and often kept to herself, despite having a genuine interest in helping others. Then one day, during her senior year, she attended a presentation about Howard Community College’s (HCC’s) Silas Craft Collegians […]