EICC Success Stories

Inspiring stories from our community.

Student in a lab coat and blue gloves examines a petri dish while an instructor in a white lab coat looks on in a science laboratory.

The Study That Refused to Stay Small

May 22, 2026

The slime mold didn’t care that it was being watched. In the soft glow of the microbiology lab at EICC’s Scott campus, students in white coats leaned over a row of Petri dishes, whispering predictions the way fans might around a racetrack.

Portrait of Jonathan Huddleston smiling in front of a background filled with chemistry formulas, scientific diagrams, and oil pump illustrations.

From the Oil Field to the Classroom

May 22, 2026

Jonathan Huddleston did not come to EICC looking for a fresh start. He came with experience, direction, and a clear reason for being here.

Chris Bolin smiles while wearing a blue graduation cap and gown decorated with medals, honor cords, and stoles, holding a diploma at commencement. Text overlay reads, “Chris Bolin — Where He Is Now, and Why.”

Chris Bolin: Where He Is Now, and Why

May 22, 2026

“Most of my days revolve around class,” he said. “I’m taking 17 credit hours, five classes. I work three part-time jobs, and I’m also on the Formula SAE race team.”

Emersyn Keefer, wearing a white chef coat and black chef hat, smiles in a commercial kitchen with industrial ovens in the background. Text overlay reads, “Built Here, Teaching Here.”

Built Here, Teaching Here

May 22, 2026

Emersyn Keefer knows where everything is in the kitchen. The knives. The ovens. The rhythm of a class settling in. She should — she learned it here.

Harli Herrington, EICC alumna, stands indoors with arms crossed, smiling slightly. She wears glasses and a black top, with a softly lit campus lobby and EICC signage in the background.

Starting Early, Thinking Bigger

April 17, 2026

EICC alumna, Harli Herrington, is working toward a career in medicine

Emma Riessen smiling standing at the front of a classroom with a whiteboard behind her.

Building a Future in Education | Emma Riessen

March 27, 2026

Emma Riessen did not need years to figure out what she wanted to do. She just needed the right classroom.

Hannah and Chris Fields standing confidently in front of a white semi-truck on a driving course, posing with the truck behind them under a clear blue sky.

Built for the Road — Together

March 4, 2026

For 13 years, Chris Fields worked construction. For the last decade, his wife, Hannah Fields, has been on the road producing national brand experiences.

Front exterior of the Clinton Community College building on a sunny day with an American flag on a pole and a sign reading ‘Clinton Community College Eastern Iowa Community Colleges’ in the foreground.

EICC celebrates second consecutive year of success in Know Your Constitution Program

January 9, 2026

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) is celebrating a second consecutive year of student success in the Know Your Constitution Program, with two students selected as finalists in the statewide competition sponsored by the Iowa State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.

From Helmet to Classroom: Real-World Innovation at EICC

August 18, 2025

Jim Lyon had a problem. His motorcycle helmet’s microphone mount had snapped off, and he couldn’t find a replacement. Off-the-shelf parts didn’t fit.

Christopher Bolin, 2025 Scott Community College graduate, smiles as he receives his diploma on stage at commencement. Dressed in his cap and gown, he wears multiple honor cords and medals while shaking hands with EICC Chancellor Dr. Liang Chee Wee.

Blueprint for a Comeback

July 16, 2025

Christopher Bolin overcame addiction, rediscovered his purpose, and found a path forward at Scott Community College. From earning his physics transfer degree to leading campus initiatives like SMART Recovery, Chris transformed his life with the support of EICC. Now, he’s headed to Milwaukee School of Engineering—proof that with grit, growth, and guidance, your next is now.