LCCC and UP Great Grads Have Great Stories

More stories will be added, so be sure to visit this page often.

• Jordan Bigler plans to make a career of the arts and his education. Bigler will receive an Associate of Arts degree and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in theatre of arts management from a four-year institution. He first came on LCCC’s campus as a PSEO student from Columbia High School and knew he was in the right place. Besides, attending LCCC is a tradition in his family. Of the four children in his family, three have taken courses at the college. Learn more.
   

• Sometimes all it takes is a little encouragement for someone to excel along life’s journey. Just ask Elizabeth Boardwine of Elyria. The 30-year-old Elyria resident graduated from Marion L. Steele High School in Amherst in 1998. She earned an Associate of Arts degree (with honors) from LCCC in 2008 and is now poised to earn a Bachelor of Social Work (also with honors) from Youngstown State University through LCCC’s University Partnership. Learn more.

• Michael Ellan is a walking example of the old adage to live life to its fullest.  After all he’s slammed the door in death’s face several times since 2007 and is taking one day at a time. The 44-year-old Elyria man suffered a heart attack on December 26, 2007.  Three weeks later however he was able to start classes at LCCC during the spring semester of 2008. Learn more.

• With four children at home, Brigitte Gibson of Avon knew she needed to find a convenient way to further her education. Prior to starting courses at LCCC, she was working a low-wage job at a gas station and her husband, Jason, was working odd jobs when he could. Learn more.

• From Jason Gibson’s first meeting with a Lorain County Community College academic counselor, he knew he was in the right place. Since that initial meeting four years ago, Gibson, now 31, has excelled in his coursework, served as a teaching assistant in College 101 courses, worked in campus computer labs and completed an internship in LCCC’s counseling department. He will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in social work from Youngstown State University through LCCC’s University Partnership with a 4.0 grade point average.  Learn more.

• Lisa Gibson of Lorain has plans to become a radiographer and her education at Lorain County Community College is getting her closer to that goal. Recently divorced, Gibson found herself the sole provider for three children and knew she needed more education to ensure a stable future for her family. Learn more.

• Alexandra Gonzalez’s wall is getting crowded. The Elyria woman will receive her third college degree on May 22, and she has no plans to slow down. Gonzalez, 35, will receive an associate’s degree in Corrections from Lorain County Community College. She has already earned an Associate of Science in Police Science from LCCC and a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice through LCCC’s University Partnership with Youngstown State University. She is considering pursuing a master’s degree through the Partnership with YSU. Learn more.

• Nicole Hardway is a goal-oriented person.  And for her Lorain County Community College was the right place to be at this time in her life. Seeing different perspectives is important for someone who has earned her Associate of Arts degree from LCCC and is now working on her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology through both LCCC and Cleveland State University. Learn more. 

• Denise Hockenberry of Sheffield Village took her first course at Lorain County Community College in 1969. Now, more than four decades later, the Sheffield Village woman will finally receive her associate’s degree. Hockenberry decided that 2010 was the year to complete her degree after she was laid off from her job as program coordinator for Volunteer Services for Diabetics. Learn more.

• When Jordan Ladikos received his GED after completing his homeschooled education, he wasn’t sure what to do next. After hearing positive reviews from his friends, he decided to enroll at Lorain County Community College. Ladikos, 22, will graduate in May with an Associate of Arts degree and a 3.9 grade point average. Learn more.

• Arthur LaPlante, or “Big Al” as he is called by, well just about everybody, had been out of school for 27 years. But an on-the-job injury forced him to look at going back to school to retrain for a new career.  Having been out of school for almost three decades it was a tough adjustment to make to get back to hitting the books. There was a point where he thought he might not stick it out. Learn more.

• Sheryl Mariner, 51, South Amherst resident, wanted so badly to earn her degree.  “I started my employment at LCCC, left to pursue life’s journey and then returned to LCCC.  I could not come back to LCCC and not try to earn an associate’s degree,” she said.  Mariner, mother of four, has worked for Lorain County Community College for eight years in Enrollment Services and Records. Learn more.

• Lydia Lee-Mosely was working a good job in a bank. But after a larger bank bought it, some of the changes that occurred left her unfulfilled and needing more time for her family. The time had come for her to chart a new course for her life. Where to go to help with that decision wasn’t a hard choice. Learn more.

• Education is a family affair for Jennifer Osborn-Mumau and her daughter Christina Osborn. The mother-daughter team from North Ridgeville are both enrolled at Lorain County Community College. While going back to school was an exciting adventure, it also meant that Osborn-Mumau had to tackle a scary subject: algebra. Learn more.

• Uland A. Ralston plans on having a great day on Saturday, May 22. That’s because he’ll celebrate his 18^th birthday on that day, and it’s also the day he will graduate from high school and earn an associate of arts degree. Earning a high school diploma and a college degree at the same time is the result of Ralston taking advantage of an opportunity available at Lorain County Community College through the Early College High School program. Learn more.

• Elizabeth Settle, wife and mother of two girls – Noelle and Madeline – has been working hard for two years to complete the associate of applied business degree in administrative office information systems. Working part time for Lorain County Community College as a student worker in the Information Systems and Services area, she took advantage of working for the college and earned a certificate of completion in the EMT program.  Learn more.

• When the building market took a nosedive, 53-year-old Michael Tillman found himself out of work and unsure what to do next. Although he has 20 years of experience in building maintenance, there weren’t any available positions. After an unsuccessful job search, Tillman started to explore options at Lorain County Community College. Learn more.

• John Wenzel is confident about his future, thanks to the advanced skills and strong work ethic he learned in the digital forensic courses at Lorain County Community College. Wenzel, 23, will graduate in May with an Associate of Applied Science in Computer and Digital Forensics. He is among the first graduates of the program and can look forward to an average starting average of $65,000. Learn more.

• Anthony Whitmore, a self-employed building contractor from Elyria, is passionate about using green energy whenever possible. However, when the bubble burst in the housing market, Whitmore’s 15-year career began to dwindle until there was not much left. After a year of being unemployed, he decided to get serious about his passion and looked into programs at LCCC. Learn more.

• Melinda Yount, 25 of Elyria, chose to work after graduating from high school. “I didn’t want to burden my parents with student loans,” she said. Right out of high school, Yount took a position at a factory.  Over a period of time, working for more than one factory – each closing due to economic instability – Yount decided it was time to pursue higher education.  And, that she did.  Yount found another job and decided to attend LCCC part-time. Learn more.