Fall 2021 Community Connection

Celebrating the Unconventional

Welcome

Cheri Beda, CCC Alumni Director

This issue of the Community Connection is all about the unconventional. Education at Central Community College is anything but conventional. Our students come from many different backgrounds with various goals in mind for their education. Attending college is a personal journey with no time frame or age limit to complete your goals. Did you know that I did not take a college class until I was 30 years old? I was a single parent, and I knew I wanted to get an education to increase my working opportunities. I decided that I would take one math class at my local community college as a test to see if I was smart enough to attend college. I passed that one math class and the rest is history. Education has taught me how to be a learner and ignite my curiosity. I have found that book smarts have little to do with the educational process. However, asking for help, meeting expectations, and just being open to the learning experience are what creates success. Here at Central Community College, each staff and faculty member contributes to our students’ success and ignites their curiosity through a variety of ways – some conventional and some unconventional. CCC has strong ties to the communities we serve, partnering with high schools and industry to best serve students and create a strong workforce. Giving can also be unconventional and done through many avenues, but the outcome is always the same: students benefit and opportunity is created. We welcome you to share your story too. Let us know about your experience at CCC. Do you know someone who graduated from CCC and is doing amazing things with their lives and impacting their community? Please nominate them for the outstanding alumni award. I hope you enjoy this issue of the Community Connection and maybe we will see you in class!