EICC Success Stories

Inspiring stories from our community.

A Free Class. A CNA License. A Nursing Career.

June 23, 2025

When Mekayla Peters looks at her life today—deep into her third semester of nursing school with just one to go—it feels almost surreal.

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Leading with Heart—and a Badge

May 22, 2025

When Elexiana Oliva took the stage as a graduation speaker at Muscatine Community College (MCC) Commencement ceremony, her voice was steady—but the emotion behind it was unmistakable. She had something to say, and people were listening. Graduating represented more than an academic milestone. Oliva represented a vision for the future of law enforcement

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From Fear to the Front of the Stage

May 21, 2025

Two years ago, Brittany Conduff sat in her car outside Clinton Community College (CCC), nervous and second-guessing her decision to return to school after more than a decade away from the classroom.

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Triple-Enrolled Student Graduates from CCC Before High School

May 21, 2025

Elena Brisch’s time at EICC wasn’t just about earning a degree early—it was about building the tools she needed for what comes next. Now, at just 18-years-old, she graduated with an associate in arts degree before officially receiving her high school diploma and was featured as one of the May 2025 Commencement speakers. She reminded her peers of their strength and encouraged them to always keep moving forward.

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From Long-Term Care to Long-Term Goals

May 21, 2025

Cassie Littrell didn’t take the traditional route to graduation day. In fact, she took a detour, a job, and about a decade. Ten years after finishing high school, Littrell walked the stage at Muscatine Community College as a nursing graduate—and a student speaker for her class.

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Game Designer. XR Developer. Navy Innovator. And It All Started at EICC

May 19, 2025

By the time most people figure out what they want to do with their lives, Chad Behal had already built a frog dissection lab in augmented reality.

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Rooted at Home, Rising With Purpose

May 19, 2025

For Rosamarie Gomez, the path to building her future at EICC started in the same place it always had: home.

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Student Ambassador Elexiana Oliva Shares MCC’s Impact—Locally and Globally

April 15, 2025

When Elexiana Oliva walks through the halls of Muscatine Community College (MCC), she’s not just another student—she’s an ambassador and an advocate for the opportunities education offers.

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Living, Learning, Leading, and Living: Allen Beard’s MCC Campus Life

April 4, 2025

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.

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Carter Stevenson: Writing His Future, One Story at a Time

March 27, 2025

With the encouragement of his instructors and the resources available through Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC), Carter Stevenson is turning his passion into something real—one carefully planned-out page at a time.

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