ECC to hold two ceremonies for fall 2015 commencement
For the first time in the history of the institution, Elgin Community College will hold two commencement ceremonies for the fall 2015 semester.
The ceremonies will take place Saturday, Dec. 12 in the Building J Events Center at the college's Spartan Drive campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.
A ceremony for university transfer degrees (associate in arts, associate in science, associate in fine arts-visual art emphasis, associate in fine arts-music performance emphasis, associate in engineering science, and associate in liberal studies) will start at 10 a.m.
Catalina Restrepo, of Hanover Park, will be the student commencement speaker for the university transfer degrees ceremony.
A ceremony for career and technical programs (associate of applied science degrees, vocational specialist certificates, and basic vocational specialist certificates) will begin at 2 p.m.
Richard Ceh, of Huntley, was selected as the student commencement speaker for this ceremony.
Students will be assigned to the graduation ceremony depending on which credential is being earned.
Guests will not need tickets for admission to the commencement ceremonies. There will be open seating. The doors will open one hour prior to each ceremony. The use of noise makers is prohibited.
Catalina Restrepo turns personal tragedies into academic success
Initially, Elgin Community College was not my first option. I had plans to attend a four-year institution, until I had to be realistic about what my family could really afford. At first, I was skeptical about attending ECC, primarily because I did not know enough about the school. Actually, the very first time I stepped into ECC was when I had my orientation. My experience in my orientation definitely made me view ECC in a more positive perspective because the Spartan orientation leaders always had great comments and gave us a tour of the school. From that moment on, I felt reassured about making ECC the first step in my educational journey.
In the last two and a half years at ECC I grew so much in diligence, perseverance, and confidence. There is so much I have to thank ECC for. Specifically, the support I received from faculty and staff when I encountered a variety of unfortunate situations. My first semester my dad was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor, and then the following semester my grandma - who lives with us - fell and broke her hip. Both my dad and grandma went through surgery and an extended period of recovery. In addition, I underwent a lot of stress trying to figure out how I will continue with my education after graduating from ECC. Due to my citizenship status, I am unable to apply for financial aid; therefore, I always questioned if I would be able to accomplish my bachelor's degree. However, I had constant support from numerous faculty and staff, who believed in me and showed me ways I could continue which gave me hope.
For those incoming students and current ECC students, do not give up. Elgin Community College is an amazing institution with countless opportunities to help you excel in your academics and career. Take advantage of everything that is offered such as TRiO, clubs in Student Life, and the Tutoring Center. This may mean you may have to get outside of your comfort zone, and that is OK because that is where you will grow the most.
Elgin Community College allowed me the opportunity of countless experiences in these last two and a half years. Those experiences started the moment I became involved in a student led organization called ASPIRE, a club that is dedicated for First Generation College Students. I held the secretary position of this organization for three semesters, and became president for my last semester at ECC. Being involved in this student led organization opened the doors to networking with faculty and staff, learning many new skill sets, and creating lifelong friendships. In addition to my extracurricular experiences, I also had great experiences academically. I can honestly say that I liked each one of my courses and professors. They were always helpful, explained the material well, and believed in their students. Their support is one of the reasons why I did so well in my academics, and I am very thankful for them.
Catalina Restrepo
Hanover Park
Spartan's soccer coach Rick Ceh overcomes obstacles, tackles goals as ECC student
My experience at ECC has been awesome. My journey started with the dream of achieving an Associate of Applied Science degree in Entrepreneurship. I've achieved this dream, as well as several others along the way. The professors at ECC taught my classes with passion, they got me out of my comfort zone, and they encouraged me to reach for the stars. My classes were geared toward enhancing the basic skills I started with and opening my mind to new or different ways of doing things. The experiential learning I gained at ECC is priceless.
Through the love, support, faith and encouragement of my family, friends and everyone at ECC, I was able to overcome many obstacles. Over the past 30 months I've juggled; being a full-time student, working full-time, being a husband and father, training for marathons and being involved with the ECC men's and women's soccer teams. As busy as it's been, and it's been extremely busy, I loved every day, every moment and every opportunity. With each challenge, I gained valuable insight. Through the help of many, I've been able to maintain a 4.0 GPA and became a member of the International Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa. Through the generosity of the ECC foundation, I was also able to overcome some financial obstacles. A huge thank you to all of you who helped, encouraged, supported and challenged me along the way.
My advice for current ECC students is to take advantage of all that ECC has to offer and to get to know your fellow classmates, your professors and the other staff members of ECC. The ECC networking events have helped me grow as a person and helped me meet a lot of amazing people. Take advantage of your professors' office hours, ask questions in class and sit in the front row. I've experienced firsthand the effort that ECC puts into helping us achieve success. The tutoring center and all the resources available through our library have also really helped.
I look forward to applying what I've learned at ECC in my future endeavors, as well as continuing to educate myself at ECC and other local institutions. ECC truly follows its mission statement "To improve people's lives through learning." Thank you ECC for providing a fantastic place to learn, grow and achieve dreams. God bless!
Rick Ceh
Huntley
Kenia Najera ready for next chapter after conquering challenges at ECC
When I began looking at colleges, it was obvious that financially, the smart choice would be to attend Elgin Community College. I was not prepared to go off to a big university and I knew attending ECC would bring me closer to achieving my dream.
They say the best years of your life are in high school; however, the best years of my life have been at ECC. The experiences I've had shaped me into a better individual in all aspects of my life. The dedicated professors have prepared me for any academic challenges in the future. I've developed a positive attitude toward my studies and have discovered more about myself by being part of clubs and organizations on campus. The support and advice from my club advisers has helped me grow and conquer many obstacles in my life. Now, I feel beyond prepared to attend a four-year university. I look back at how much I have improved as a student, leader and as a person and I could not be more thankful. However, it wasn't an easy path. As a first generation college student, there were many times where I felt alone and did not know where to go for help. My biggest challenge was during my first semester when I had to do everything by myself because my parents were new to this too. However, I kept a positive mindset. I tried not to look at how far I was from reaching my goal but rather how much closer I was getting to it by getting an education. Being the first in my family to go to college was a mix of emotions, but it became my single most important motivator to earning my degree.
My advice to current ECC students would be to make your college proud to have you and become involved in your community. College is a great opportunity to become the most amazing version of yourself. Make an impact in someone's life.
Looking back, I can see Elgin Community College was an important steppingstone in my career. Reaching this point in my life was due to the amazing help of many faculty and staff members who welcomed me with open arms and I could not be any more thankful for all their support.
Kenia Najera
Streamwood
Melliza Malabanan offers advice to current and future ECC students
I lived in Chicago up until I was 17 years old and in my junior year of high school, I moved out to the suburbs with my family. It was a big but necessary change for us. During my senior year of high school, I was given the opportunity to take part in the Tech Prep Program at ECC. The program allowed me to take college classes at ECC while I was still taking classes in high school. The program was truly a great experience that supported my decision to stay and continue at ECC. Affordability was a big factor in why I chose to attend ECC. Although the classes are more affordable than university classes, the quality of schooling we have here is comparative if not better (in my opinion) than much of the schooling students receive at bigger universities. I've had really great experiences and have developed great relationships with many of my professors. It's a blessing to be able to connect with your professors and to know that they actually want you to learn and succeed. In the last couple years there have been a lot of health and financial hardships that had made it difficult to balance school and work. My family and friends have been my anchor through it all; their support for me has helped me strive through the hardships and I am thankful every day for the wonderful people in my life. Despite the hardships and downfalls, the whole experience has made me realize my true calling and I am, once again, motivated and driven to create a bright future for myself.
To current and future students, I implore you to get involved on campus! Visit Student Life and find out how to get involved and find your passion! In my time here at ECC, I've seen, worked with, and helped develop amazing students and leaders. In the best and worst of times, Student Life staff and my close friends have been there for me and consistently supporting me and my dreams. Without them, I would not be where I am today. I credit my involvement in Phi Theta Kappa, ASPIRE, and Student Government, among the many wonderful clubs and organizations, to my development as a student leader, a mentor, and an individual. The person I was when I first came to ECC is vastly different from the person I am today. Coming to ECC was the best decision I made. I'm really excited to move forward, but I will always look back fondly at my time here at ECC.
Melliza Malabanan
Carpentersville