With 130+ academic programs, small classes sizes, and affordable tuition, there’s nowhere better than Parkland College to begin your great future. Still unsure about your next steps? Hear from alumni about how Parkland College set them on the course to a great future.
Brittany, Civil Engineer
At a young age, Brittany Scott admits she was dreadfully shy. This soon changed when her great future began at Parkland College.
“Parkland is where I really started to spread my wings,” says Scott. “While attending Parkland I was able to make friends, get involved and have the smaller class sizes that were most comfortable to me.”
Scott graduated from Parkland with an A.S. in General Science in 2016 and then transferred to Southern Illinois University Carbondale, earning a degree in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Environmental Engineering.
“I grew up in Champaign-Urbana, and knew my best option was to go to community college to earn my general education credits done before transferring to a four-year university,” Scott says. “The education and skills I learned at Parkland have aided me throughout my career. Not only did I gain formal education, but also interpersonal skills I use in my everyday life!”
Some of Scott’s fond memories at Parkland were spent in student involvement. She was a founding member of Parkland Science Club, an officer in Alpha Phi Omega, involved in Phi Theta Kappa, and wrote for The Prospectus.
“There was a club for everyone, and they were all so welcoming!” Scott says. “Professors were very easy to communicate with and really got to know you on a personal level as well as professional. I loved the library at Parkland. I spent a lot of time there studying, checking out books and hanging out.”
Scott now works in the St. Louis office for Springfield, Illinois-based Hanson Professional Services as a civil engineer. Previously, she was a civil engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“Parkland College truly has something for everyone,” Scott says. “I believe anyone that attends can do great things as long as they put their mind to it!”
Zach, Markets Consultant
Zach Stefan believes everyone has their own unique educational journey. His great future began at Parkland College.
“As a Champaign native I knew Parkland was a great school,” Stefan says. “After high school, I was looking for an affordable option that would give me the opportunity to transfer to a four-year school. Parkland was the obvious choice.”
Stefan graduated from Parkland in 2010 with an associate degree in agriculture before transferring to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He now works as an Advanced Markets Consultant at Country Financial in Bloomington.
“Going to Parkland allowed me to have a solid educational foundation,” Stefan says. “I really enjoyed the small class sizes at Parkland and access I had to my professors. When I transferred to UIUC, I was well prepared for the coursework.”
Stefan expresses his gratitude toward his Parkland education.
“I was able to earn a high-quality education, transfer to the four-year program that I wanted to, and save a lot of money along the way,” Stefan says. “I want others to know that Parkland is a great school and should seriously be considered by anyone looking to start or continue their education journey.”