For one Muscatine Community College (MCC) student, higher education wasn’t always part of the plan. But now, just two semesters in, Allen Beard is deeply woven into campus life — starting clubs, giving tours, and helping peers find their place.
A 2024 graduate of City High School in Iowa City, Beard started like many others: uncertain about his future. “Senior year kind of hits you,” he said. “You're like, ‘Hey, what am I going to do when I graduate?’ College is kind of like a way for you to still be a kid without being a kid.”
Initially considering Kirkwood or the University of Northern Iowa, a connection with Jeremy Pickard, EICC’s vice chancellor of academic affairs, helped steer him to Muscatine.
“He told me I could get a better deal here for the money, and I was kind of broke,” Beard said with a smile. “So, I took the offer.”
Since then, he’s immersed himself in campus life. Beard is active in Student Senate, plays intramural sports like volleyball and pickleball, and even launched a Dungeons & Dragons club. “I like getting people together and having a good time,” he said.
Beard’s involvement doesn’t stop there. He volunteers with MCC Silver & Blue and leads student tours as a campus ambassador. In fact, he recently helped host international students visiting campus. “They loved the policing simulator,” Beard said. “One kid ducked and jumped when it started — it was hilarious.”
Living in campus housing has also played a key role in his MCC experience. “The housing here is really nice — it’s furnished, and that’s a big help,” he said. Having a comfortable, affordable place to live has made it easier to stay focused on academics and stay involved in campus life. “It’s been a good setup,” he said.
MCC really supports its students, Beard said, citing resources like the tutoring center, study rooms, food fridges, and the campus food pantry. “The pantry helped me save money I could use on other things,” he said. “That kind of support makes a real difference.”
His academic plans have evolved. Originally, Beard wanted to pursue engineering, then shifted to engineering technology, then to technological studies — a program he can cater to his hands-on interests. He can’t imagine having a career that keeps him at a desk all day. “I like doing things,” he said, adding he’s keeping his options open. “I might go straight into the workforce, or I might transfer and get my bachelor’s.”
Beard’s advice to prospective students? “At bigger colleges, you can get lost. Here, you can walk up to your professor and ask a question. That makes a big difference,” he said.