Behind every statistic is a student with a story. Click the photo of the student for their full story. Click on the statistic for its source and a fuller explanation. Have a student story to submit? Share your college’s student stories today.
“I’ve learned so much through doing public outreach and social media for the fire company, through my work with the New Media Lab, from my classes here, and from professors who have advised me. … I know what I want to do and who I want to be.”
— Sarah Lieberman
Delaware County Community College, PA
“By demonstrating that students from Cecil College can compete – and succeed – on a national stage, I aim to establish a lasting presence for Cecil College in elite engineering competitions.”
— Addison Groce
Cecil College, MD
“I am excited to pursue a career in technology where creativity, design, and problem solving intersect, all while exploring how emerging technologies can be responsibly developed while improving the human experience.”
— Jake Chrissinger
Arapahoe Community College, CO
For Juan, community college is the crucial bridge between dreaming of working with robotics and actually building new innovations.
— Juan Salazar
Saddleback College, CA
“Working alongside my colleagues on the outage was my favorite part of the internship. It was a fast-paced situation that was very rewarding to me.”
— Tommy McCarthy
Delaware County Community College, PA
“There’s just no way I could afford to attend a university without taking on a lot of debt. Attending GateWay allows me to take classes and pay for them without taking on that huge burden.”
— Austin Higbee
GateWay Community College, AZ
“A lot of my personal beliefs align with what nurses do every day — empathy, compassion and service. Those are the three pillars that really led me toward nursing.”
— Annaleis Sloan
Miles Community College, MT
“I’ve grown a lot – in knowledge, in experience and in meeting so many people. I’m still experimenting with my abilities and discovering new ones.”
— Caleb Sierra
Springfield Technical Community College, MA
“I never felt out of place because it’s so diverse — different ages, different backgrounds. And honestly, the resources and access to flexible class schedules and online courses helped me stay in school.”
— Angelique Wallace
Salt Lake Community College, UT
“My instructors and the support staff have always been helpful, understanding, and willing to help whenever I had questions or needed guidance.”
— Sanjay White
Barton Community College, KS
“I have not been nearly as stressed from a mental stand point… as well as a financial standpoint. It has been a big weight off.”
— Kaleigh Poff
Northeast State Community College, TN
“Curiosity is the driving force behind human initiative and innovation. We are the future, and I’m excited for the future our curiosity will build.”
— Josh Bowe
Chippewa Valley Technical College, WI
“I thought, ‘I’m almost 50. What am I doing?’ I realized that this is the do-over time of my life. … I just want my kids to see me happy.”
— Rebekah Gonzalez
San Jacinto College, TX
“I wanted to become the person who could stand between cyber criminals and the people who don’t know how to defend against them. That’s still what drives me.”
— Scott Cochran
Washtenaw Community College, MI
“I always knew I wanted to be a doctor, but watching nurses care for patients up close made me think differently. They’re the heart of healthcare.”
— Komi Gagnon “Elvis” Kassa
Florence-Darlington Technical College, SC
