ONE OF YOUR PEOPLE PROJECT | ILLINOIS CENTRAL COLLEGE
Illinois Central College (East Peoria, Illinois)
Undergraduate Population: 7,227
Official Website: https://icc.edu/
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | | LinkedIn
ICC News: https://icc.edu/news/
The following ICC students volunteered to participate in a panel discussion to share their tips, stories, and advice to help you find your people and places at ICC and go after your dreams.
QUICK CLIPS
How Kari discovered her passion at ICC
Why Jonathan appreciates his job as a Supplemental Instruction Leader
How Devyn found his motivation and how ICC offered him a fresh start.
How Denarra discovered her passion
for nursing
How Sophia's time at ICC inspired her to choose her career path
How Kiara overcame being a perfectionist and got comfortable with the uncomfortable
How Henry discovered his love for working on heavy machinery
Why Abbey put off her dreams when she graduated from high school
How Jared found his calling and decided to pursue nursing
Kiara Hackett
Hometown: Metamora, IL
High School: Metamora Township High School
College: ICC
Year in College: Graduated 2021 Studying for boards / accepted into a residency program at Methodist / Bachelor masters / Doctorate / Women Health Practitioner
Major: Nursing
Kiara’s Places: I spent lots of time in the library because I always had my nose in the books. I made most of my friends at clinicals and in Health Skills Labs through the nursing program. I utilized the study spaces (there are tons around campus), and that's where I made connections because the rest of my classmates all had to study as much as I did. We did study groups!
High School Places: Volleyball, Track & Field, Key Club, Student Council, Madrigals, Musicals, Spanish Club, Medical Careers Club
Best social media contact: Instagram is kiara.hackett
Watch Full College Conversation: Click Here
Jonathan Rixstine
Hometown: Washington, Illinois
Highschool: Homeschooled
College: ICC and transferring to Michigan Tech
Year in College: Sophomore
Major: Materials Science and Engineering
My Places at ICC: ASC as a SIL leader, ICC Honors Program. The Honors program hosted game nights and other virtual events in which I met some new people and made a few new friends. The Cafeteria.
High School Places: Boy Scouts, Tae Kwon Do.
Best Social Media Contact: My Discord tag is Jofaltra#9150
Watch Full College Conversation: Click Here
Devyn Young
Hometown: Peoria, Il
High School: Peoria High
Year in College: ICC and ISU Graduate
Major: Graphic Design
Job: Merchandising for Pepsi
Devyn’s Places: The cafeteria is the best place, in my opinion, to meet up with friends or to meet new ones. I wouldn’t stay in there too long though if you’re trying to get school work done unless you are able to block out all the other people talking. The Library and Lab Rooms were the two best spots that I could find to do my work while also being able to get some assistance if I was struggling on an assignment.
High School Places: Baseball Team
First-gen student?: Yes
Reach out to Devyn on Facebook: Devyn J. Young
Watch Full College Conversation: Click Here
Denarra Womack
Hometown: Peoria, IL
High School: Quest Charter Academy
Year in College: Second Year
Major: Nursing
Denarra’s Places: The library and in class. Also, during tutoring hours you become close with tutors or even classmates who understand what you don’t understand.
High school places: Job Shadowed in Dentist office
Reach out to Denarra: Facebook: Denarra Womack, Snapchat: Poohdie06
Sophia Newton
Hometown: Peoria, IL
High School: I was homeschooled
College: ICC, Bradley University, Northern Illinois University
Year in College: First-year graduate student
Major: English
Sophia’s Places: I made the most connections and friends while working as a student employee at the Academic Support Center. At the ASC, I worked as a supplemental instruction leader, which meant I planned, scheduled, and held study sessions three times a week for my peers. I also assisted a professor and audited classes. I made wonderful friends among my fellow student employees and even my peers who attended my sessions. I also made great and lasting connections with several professors.
High School Places: I trained as a pre-professional ballet student
Best social media contact: email: sophiajnewton@gmail.com
Watch Full College Conversation: Click Here
Kari McGinnis
Your Hometown: Rochester Hills, MI
Your High School: Rochester Adams High School
Year in College: Junior
College: ICC and Eureka College
Major: Sociology/Psychology with a Minor in Leadership
Kari’s Places: Phi Theta Kappa, Sigma Kappa Delta, Sociology Club, Supplemental instruction, Academic Support Center
High School Places: I was President of Phi Theta Kappa, a Member of the LMS Task force, and SI Leadership for Sociology. As well as a professional tutor for ICC’s writing Lab, Sociology, and Psychology.
Are you a first-generation student?: yes
Reach out to Kari: kari.mcginnis@icc.edu
Watch Full College Conversation: Click Here
Henry Barth
Hometown: Metamora, IL
High School: Homeschooled
College: ICC
Year in College: Sophomore
Major: Diesel Powered Equipment Technology
Henry’s Places: when I took dual credit classes before covid and everything was shut down, I enjoyed meeting new people on the bridge at the ICC East Peoria campus between the cafe and library. Since covid shut the campus down, I have been in an ICC/Bradley Christian young group where I can connect with people, have fun events and grow as a person.
High School Places: I grew up on a farm and was homeschooled so I wasn’t able to be in very many high school activities. Most activities in high school require you to be a full-time high school student and not a homeschooler. I enjoyed things like working on the farm, soccer, swim team, archery, chess club, and robotics.
Reach out to Henry on Snapchat: henrybarth6
Watch Full College Conversation: Click Here
Abigail King
Hometown: Morton, IL
High School: Eureka High School
College: ICC
Year in college: Sophomore
Major: Special Education
Abigail’s Places: I'm in the military and was contacted because there was a need for volunteers for a photoshoot ICC was doing, so of course I had to say YES! They liked me so much they asked me to do an ICC commercial for them where I got to meet a few people. With everything being online, there isn't really a good way to branch out and meet people besides via ZOOM. I recommended going above and beyond and reaching outside your bubble. I'm a pretty shy person before I get to know you. Take a chance, go say hi to the boy or girl in your class. You're only in college for so long.
Work: Caretaker
High School Places: I was an avid cross country and track runner and also played basketball. I played tennis for about two years, and also played a key role in KEYCLUB, choir, FFA, and wrestling stats.
First-gen Student?: No
Reach out to Abigail on Facebook- Abbey King and Snapchat- abbey.king3
Watch Full College Conversation: Click Here
Raena Holloway
Hometown: Chillicothe, IL (adopted from Guatemala)
High School: Illinois Valley Central High School
College: ICC
Year in College: Sophomore
Major: Psychology
Raena’s Places: ICC Honors Program, LMS Review & Selection Task Force - Students are given opportunities within the College-related surveys that are sent to their student/preferred email(s) to potentially be on a task force (team of student representatives/ICC faculty). Task force members work to find solutions that best suit the College and students' needs. Phi Beta Lambda, Phi Theta Kappa, Sigma Kappa Delta, Student Government Association
High School Places: Choir, Dance Team, Helping Others Positively Engage (H.O.P.E.) Club, Junior Optimist International (JOI) Club, L.I.N.K. Crew (helping incoming freshmen adjust to a high school environment), Michigan Grand Traverse Native American Service Trip, National Honor Society, Random Acts of Kindness Club, Save Our Awesome Planet (S.O.A.P.) Club, Senior Retreat, Spanish Honor Society, Student Council
Are you a first-generation student?: No
Best social media contact: Instagram - raenaholloway, Facebook - Raena Holloway, Email - raena.holloway@gmail.com, Snapchat - raena_holloway, LinkedIn - Raena Holloway
Watch Full College Conversation: Click Here
Jared Boles
Hometown: Washington, Illinois
High School: Washington Community High School
College: ICC
Year in College: 1st year
Major: Nursing
Jared’s Places: Online in the classroom
High School Places: Freshman and Sophomore Intramural Bowling
Best social media contact: jb135d@lab.icc.edu or Meritlage@gmail.com
Watch Full College Conversation: Click Here
ABOUT THE ONE OF YOUR PEOPLE PROJECT
New York Times bestselling author Harlan Cohen talks with current and recent students about life in college. For more videos visit BeforeCollegeTV on YouTube. For more information about Harlan Cohen visit him online at: www.HarlanCohen.com or follow him on social media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tik Tok | LinkedIn | Snapchat (helpmeharlan).
DISCLAIMER: All views expressed by panelists and participants are their own and are in no way endorsed, officially affiliated, or representative of the institution, Harlan Cohen, or BeforeCollegeTV. All views expressed on panelists social media are not endorsed or affiliated with Harlan Cohen and BeforeCollegeTV. Students views, opinions, and advice are their own. ALWAYS contact official representatives to verify and validate any information provided