College is about making connections, and Lilly Clark did – with faculty, staff, classmates, and most of all, with her future.
Clark graduated from Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) on May 11 with an Agriculture Education Transfer Major. She plans to transfer to Iowa State in the fall to earn a bachelor’s degree. Her career goal is to work for Iowa State Extension and her life goal: “to succeed.”
She’s well on her way. In high school, Clark knew she was interested in agriculture. A family friend suggested she look into EICC’s agriculture programs, which are housed on the Muscatine Community College (MCC) campus and the Agricultural Learning Center. “I came for a visit and really liked the faculty and staff. They were personable and welcoming,” she said.
That ‘family’ also included her MCC academic advisor, the campus housing manager, and a group of staff she affectionately calls the “office ladies.”
“They were like my other moms,” she said. “They were always there for me if I needed anything.”
Clark was an active student. She joined choir, went on a trip to Texas to learn more about livestock, served as a Resident Assistant for campus housing, and was a board member for MCC’s chapter of The Gray Matters Collective.
Clark is proud of all she accomplished and ready for her next step and next campus. “EICC is a great first steppingstone if you don’t feel comfortable going to a bigger college right out of high school,” she said.
“In my time at MCC, faculty and staff taught me a lot and gave me opportunities to grow, get out there, and meet new people,” Clark said. “I now have a great idea of what I will be doing in the future and other opportunities open to me outside of teaching.”
Want to work in the field of agriculture, food, or natural resources? We’ve got you covered with seven associate degree programs and four transfer majors. Many of our Ag students get paid to learn as they complete 2,000 hours of work experience. They are also eligible forspecial housing and academic scholarships.
