Advice for students: There is a way.

You can come back to school as an adult to change careers. Plenty of people are doing it. You won’t stick out like a sore thumb. There is a way. Decide you are going to make a change; you can. I wish I had done it sooner. I wish someone had told me what a great experience it can be. — Karen Duff-Jacobsen, Hospitality and Tourism/ Entrepreneurship and Management alumna

After working as the general manager of a salon and spa for 17 years, Karen Duff-Jacobsen decided it was time for a gutsy move. She quit her job and enrolled in hospitality and tourism classes as a full-time student at Edmonds Community College.

"I’ve always been interested in travel. I love to travel and I love to meet new people. I decided it was time to pursue a career in the travel industry," Karen said.

The move paid off. Two weeks before graduating with her degree, Karen was offered a position as a reservation agent for Europe Express (a job she applied for while taking the Hospitality Employment Preparation class, Hospitality and Tourism 284).

Now an alumna of the college, Karen said she loves her job, loves the travel industry, and definitely uses what she learned in her hospitality and tourism classes on a daily basis.

"It’s a little bit scary going back to school, but you just have to get through that first part. After that, I thought, “Wow, this is great.” I learned a lot and I never felt out of place," she said. "I will probably come back and take some more classes."

Quotable at Commencement 2010

“Graduates, whatever it took for you to get here today — whether it was taking online or evening classes, balancing college with work or family obligations, or seeking financial aid, scholarships, or grants to make it happen — you did it! You’ve gained the tools and the know-how to make things happen. You’ve shown the resolve to achieve. There is no limit to what you can accomplish — you did the hard work and now you have the credentials to prove it.” — Edmonds Community College President Jack Oharah

“I want my accomplishments here to be an inspiration and a lesson to my children and my grandchildren that you are never too old to learn. I want them to know that the only obstacles any of us face are the ones we create. Knowledge gives you power and sets you free to accomplish anything you are willing to try.” — student speaker Cheryl Hunt

“As we move on to different chapters of our lives, we carry with us the gift to inspire and motivate others. As we leave this campus, and journey off into worlds unknown with our unlimited potential, we must realize that now is the time to tap in to the parts of our souls where all we feel is the passion to pursue what we love, confident in the fact that Edmonds has given us the tools and resources we need to succeed and go forward.” — student speaker Valerie Topacio



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From Boots to Books: veterans monument unveiled

Edmonds Community College's student veterans club unveils a bronze monument, "From Boots to Books" to honor "All veterans past, present, and future." Club Vet President Troy Montgomery speaks.



KPLU covered the unveiling as part of its story "Veterans Struggle To Find Their Place On Campus." The story includes interviews with Edmonds Community College students including Troy, who did two tours in Iraq as a Marine, and Navy Veteran Patricia McCrory as well as Peter Schmidt, a dean at Edmonds and Veterans Administration consultant. 300 veterans now attend Edmonds Community College.

Edmonds CC student among 75 at NASA program

Nichole Porter, the electrical engineering student, who was selected to participate in NASA's National Community College Aerospace Scholars program was interviewed by Q13Fox for the story "Seattle Women Among 75 Students at NASA Program in Houston."

 

Nichole plans to earn a bachelor's degree in engineering after Edmonds Community College. Her dream job is to work at NASA in sustainable energy. She returned to school after working as a a waitress and a stay at home mom to provide an example to her children ages 4 and 6 and is the first in her family to go to college. Her advice for students: "Stay focused and work hard! Also, take some of those hard math and science classes early, space them out — I took a solid year of calculus, physics and Java. Tough!"

Culinary Arts alum in the news: Chef B-Rad headed to the White House

There's something important to know when you watch this clip, "Sorority Chef Headed To White House To Change The Way Kids Eat," on Q13TV about Chef B-Rad who is working with first lady Michelle Obama to launch her Chefs Move to Schools Program on June 4 — Brad Everett is an Edmonds Community College alum. While earning his Associate of Technical Arts Degree in Culinary Arts at Edmonds CC, he joined the Washington State Chefs Association and became interested in the Chef & Child program. He has been volunteering as a chef instructor at Bailey Gatzert Elementary School since 1994 using a curriculum, That’s Fresh, Kids Cooking!, that he co-authored with Chef David Wassen. Because of this work, the American Culinary Federation asked Brad to represent the association in Washington D.C. for the launch of the national program. So, when you see Brad talking with the first lady, just remember that's another outstanding Edmonds Community College Culinary Arts alumnus. Congratulations, Brad on taking your passion for healthy cooking for kids all the way to the White House!

Culinary Arts alum in the news: Jesse Dean, line cook at Taste

Edmonds Community College Culinary Arts alumnus Jesse Dean is the subject of a three part interview running in The Seattle Weekly, that starts with "Line Cook At Taste Hits All The Right Notes". Jesse works as a line cook at Taste and also plays in a punk rock band, Down We Go, and a bluegrass band, West. He mentions Edmonds CC in "Taste's Line Cook A Little Punk, A Little Bit Bluegrass," the second part of the interview (thanks, Jesse!). The Weekly says to check back for the third installment of the Q&A with Jesse.