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Coming Together in this moment LCCC’s Response to COVID-19

James Wells Jr. returns to college after 20 years to earn degree in cyber security Simone Yalanty turns a COVID-19 layoff into a career change

About the Cover In early April, an idea emerged to honor the graduating class of 2020. The goal was to find a way to celebrate these graduates, along with the 47,000 graduates who came before them, in a visible and public way. The final design was a symbolic creation of the 2020 graduates and all grads since 1964, LCCC’s first graduating class. The 47,000 marking flags each represented an LCCC graduate. One square, identified by yellow flags, represented the end of the tassel and the class of 2020. Approximately the size of a football field, the grand display allowed graduates and their families to celebrate graduation safely. This photo was taken at dawn, capturing the beauty and hope of a new day as we come together and continue to find innovative ways to meet the challenges ahead. Photo Credit – Ron Jantz LO R A I N

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Coming Together in this moment LCCC’s Response to COVID-19

James Wells Jr. returns to college after 20 years to earn degree in cyber security Simone Yalanty turns a COVID-19 layoff into a career change

In this Issue:

Jenna Bailey foregoes four-year university plans and enrolls in LCCC’s University Partnership

6 GM employee Erick Belmer comes to LCCC to learn welding, leaves with a connection for life

8 10

LCCC honors the 2020 graduates with a virtual ceremony

James Wells Jr. returns to college after 20 years to earn his degree in cyber security

A timeline of LCCC’s response to COVID-19

Simone Yalanty turns a COVID-19 layoff into a career change

Army veteran Anika Coleman completes her degree to be a positive role model for her son

Michael Gonet stays on track amid the pandemic and earns a bachelor’s degree

LCCC’s paramedic to RN program gave Rebecca Sullivan the flexibility to work part time and raise a family

The greatest opportunities ahead Our world has changed forever. The coronavirus pandemic triggered

drastic transformations throughout our lives, including higher education. In just days Lorain County Community College (LCCC) moved all of our courses and services online, met challenges our students faced in this virtual environment, and aided our community in the most innovative ways. Together, we are persevering during a time when every day seems to bring new changes, challenges and uncertainties. I am proud of LCCC’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I am proud of our planned pathway to move forward in a world that’s been forever altered. I know we will use changes this pandemic hastened as a catalyst for positive, permanent change. There are aspects of this new world that will continue to be fluid, but LCCC’s Three Guiding Principles will lead us as we seize upon the greatest opportunities that lie ahead: Safety, Stability, and Student Success.

Safety

Health and safety are the cornerstones of each decision we make. Our varied course delivery methods are one of the ways we’ve adapted to meet the needs of our community. We know the pandemic has brought many hardships for our students, including food insecurity and financial struggles, and we stand true to our values by supporting our students in every facet of their lives. To ensure every student has what they need to succeed, we’ve adopted what I call the LCCC Promise: a pledge that no student will go hungry or without the technology needed for their classes. These services and much more are available through LCCC’s Advocacy and Resource Center, our one-stop connection point for student resources.

Stability

Delivering top-notch academic programs and student services while being good stewards of our resources is a cornerstone for LCCC. Even among financial uncertainty due to the economic downturn, we are committed to maintaining both fiscal and operational stability. By adopting new delivery models, technology enhancements and operational efficiency, we will weather this period of uncertainty so our students and community can continue to count on Lorain County Community College when we are needed the most.

Marcia J. Ballinger, Ph.D. President, LCCC

Student Success Share these and other stories online by visiting: lorainccc.edu/stories 1005 North Abbe Road Elyria, Ohio 44035 Phone: 800-995-5222 lorainccc.edu

By applying resources with a focus on equity, we are prepared to meet students where they are and ensure they have every opportunity to achieve their goals. Our commitment to student success resulted in the largest graduating class in LCCC history in May 2020, even amid a pandemic. The 1,918 graduates who earned 2,510 degrees brought our Vision 2025 goal of awarding 10,000 degrees and certificates by 2025 to 34% completion. Our students’ enduring success resulted in LCCC receiving the Leah Meyer Austin Award – Achieving the Dream’s national prize for significant and sustained improvements in student outcomes. While we recognize the accomplishment of receiving this award, we are not finished. With an eye toward innovation and positive change, we will continue to work toward a brighter future for our students and the greater Lorain County community.

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LCCC UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP STUDENT

High school graduate Jenna Bailey foregoes four-year university plans and enrolls in LCCC’s University Partnership Jenna Bailey had a choice to make. It was mid-June and the four-year university she was set to attend in the fall still hadn’t released a final decision about how it would approach classes amid the coronavirus pandemic. Bailey had paid a couple deposits, told all her family she was attending, chosen a dorm, and been assigned a roommate. But she wasn’t comfortable with the university’s ambiguity and began considering Lorain County Community College. Her grandmother offered the insight that helped make the decision easier.

“She said, ‘Sometimes the experience isn’t worth the outcome,’” Bailey says. And with that, Bailey’s choice was made. She withdrew from the four-year school, where she planned to study nursing, and instead enrolled in LCCC’s University Partnership with Ohio University to earn her bachelor of science in nursing degree. “For me, the University Partnership was the most logical decision,” Bailey says. “I am paying for college myself, and I felt the Partnership was more bang for my buck.” As for the deposits she paid to the four-year university, Bailey says, “I lost my money, but I wouldn’t change my choice.”

Making that choice has lightened Bailey’s mind. The University Partnership offers four-year degree programs from 14 Ohio colleges and universities at a fraction of the cost.

“The professors were great, and really understood their students. LCCC also has smaller class sizes with more one– on–one time with your professor,” Bailey says.

“I feel 100 percent better about my situation and decision,” she says. “I know that I will be getting a great degree with a great, affordable price.”

And with growing concerns about dorm life while the coronavirus still spreads, staying at home will be a relief to both Bailey and her parents.

She also received LCCC’s Trustee Scholarship due to her above average high school GPA, which will cover about half of the cost toward her bachelor’s degree through the University Partnership. The Trustee Scholarship covers tuition for two years of LCCC classes and is available to high school students who earn a 3.7 GPA or higher.

“My parents are ecstatic and elated about my decision,” she says. “I am closer to home where they know I’m safe, and in a smaller school where COVID is more easily tackled.”

Bailey was also already familiar with LCCC. During her senior year at North Ridgeville High School, Bailey enrolled in College Credit Plus courses at the college, earning 24 college credits and introducing her to LCCC professors and the campus.

I feel 100 percent better about my situation and decision. I know that I will be getting a great degree with a great, affordable price.”

Changing Course but Staying on Track

More and more university-bound students are changing course and heading to Lorain County Community College where they’ll stay safe at home while keeping their academic progress on track.

• Complete core courses • Credits guaranteed to transfer • Save money • Stay safe at home

JENNA BAILEY

lorainccc.edu/transient

Lo rai n Co u n t y Co m m u n i t y Colleg e

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LCCC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM GRADUATE

BONDING MORE THAN METAL Being a welding instructor means more to him than just a job; he actually wants to make a difference, and he has in me.” Erick Belmer on LCCC instructor Larry Waller

GM employee Erick Belmer comes to LCCC to learn welding, leaves with a connection for life Erick Belmer has been an industrial mechanic at the General Motors Parma Plant for three years, keeping production equipment and building structures functioning as they should. At 50, and with a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering from North Central State College, Belmer never considered going back to school. But GM, which requires continuous learning of its employees, was sending Belmer to Lorain County Community College to learn how to weld. Lou Chapman, UAW Apprentice Co-Chair at General Motors, had worked with LCCC’s welding instructor, Larry Waller, to build a GM tool steel repair program that combined welding overview courses with a focus on tool steel.

Belmer walked into LCCC’s welding lab knowing nothing about welding and with a feeling he’d need extra attention from the instructor to master the techniques. He was right. “By the first week in class I was totally lost,” Belmer says. “The other students were better at vocally expressing their concerns, but I was so lost I didn’t know what to ask.” But his instructor, Larry Waller, knew exactly what to ask. Waller has been teaching welding at LCCC for more than 20 years and says people often underestimate its difficulty.

ERICK BELMER

Toward the end of the six weeks, Waller began using Belmer’s welding techniques as an example to the class. “I would call the other students over and tell them, ‘You need to step into Erick’s booth and see what this guy’s doing,’” Waller says.

SEEKING THE SCIENCE

A CONNECTION FOR LIFE

In a six-week program, students need to master the basic techniques in an accelerated timeframe. Waller says while it is difficult, if a student is diligent and ready to learn, he’ll do all he can to help them understand it. Waller saw that Belmer was both. So Waller approached him one day while the class was on a break with a simple question – what do you see when you’re welding? “I could tell he wanted to learn but was really struggling,” Waller says. “And if he’s not seeing it like I do, I have to ask – what are you seeing. And we went from there.”

“Most people just want to be able to make a serviceable weld,” Waller says. “When you start talking to students about heat control, weld pool size, and surface tension holding the weld in place until it can solidify, most students go blank and say, ‘Wow, I just want mine to look like yours.’”

Lo rai n Co u n t y Co m m u n i t y Colleg e

“Erick took hold of that information and started to see what I was trying to show him,” Waller says. “And his welds got better and better.”

“We’ve had a lot of groups from GM come in to learn welding and this is a whole new realm for them,” Waller says.

It was during that conversation that Waller realized Belmer could see the science behind welding – a rare occurrence in his classroom.

But Waller says Belmer ‘lit up’ during that conversation. And in simply listening to his questions, it became obvious to Waller that Belmer had a science background and wanted to understand exactly what was happening in the weld pool. So the two continued to talk about what Belmer saw during the process, compared to what Waller saw.

Belmer says he’s never experienced this personal method of teaching from an instructor. Perhaps that’s because Waller has learned, over decades of instruction, that every student learns differently and at various paces. So he, in turn, differentiates his teaching to include them all.

“And Larry has been instrumental in transferring his skillset to our employees who take the content and use it on the floor.” Before Belmer left campus, he stopped by the welding lab to thank Waller for his help. He needed his instructor to know what a positive experience he had in the program. And in Waller, Belmer now has a connection for life. “Kudos to Erick for all his hard work; he’s a new friend. And I give all my students my card and tell them if they have any issues on the job, or are in need of work, to give me a call, shoot me a text,” Waller says. Belmer isn’t sure when he’ll be called to use his newfound skillset at work. But it doesn’t matter to him. The educational experience has changed him for the better. He’s a lifelong learner now. And he knows that there are people, like Waller, who simply want to teach those willing to learn. “Being a welding instructor means more to him than just a job; he actually wants to make a difference, and he has in me,” Belmer says.

“Some students will be days or weeks ahead, others will struggle. You can’t leave either one in the dust – those excelling or those behind. You do what’s right for the student – every student,” Waller says. This inclusive approach helped Belmer master a skillset he found impossible the first week of the program. And in August, Belmer completed his certification. “I was in disbelief when it said I passed,” Belmer recalls. Belmer might have not expected to pass, but Chapman never had doubts, knowing how successful the program has been. “The customized welding program has been a homerun,” Chapman says.

Learn more about LCCC’s welding and other manufacturing programs at lorainccc.edu/engineering

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Celebrating the Class of 2020

To honor LCCC’s 2020 graduates who persevered through perhaps the most challenging academic semester of their lives, LCCC created a virtual ceremony and an innovative flag display. The goal was to celebrate, honor and reflect upon the class of 2020’s unwavering dedication to reaching their goals during a time when an in-person ceremony was not possible.

• 47,000 FLAGS

to symbolize LCCC grads since 1964

• 267 STUDENTS earned bachelor’s or

master’s degrees through University Partnership

• 1,918 GRADUATES in the Class of 2020

• 2,510 DEGREES or certificates earned

• 49 PERCENT are first-generation college students • 125 STUDENTS earned high school diplomas

and associate degrees through dual enrollment

for virtual ceremony stream

• 40,000 AUDIENCE MEMBERS

Lo rai n Co u n t y Co m m u n i t y Colleg e

OHIO’S BEST VALUE IN HIGHER EDUCATION

LCCC’s University Partnership Whether you are just starting college or would like to begin a new career, Lorain County Community College and its University Partnership are the best value in higher education.

Lorain County Community College partners with 14 colleges and universities delivering more than 100 bachelor’s and master’s degrees right on campus – saving you an average of $74,000. Need more info? Visit:

lorainccc.edu/up or call 440-366-4949

SAVE AN

AVERAGE OF $74,000

A Degree Earned

LCCC GRADUATE JAMES WELLS JR.

and a Weight Lifted

Lo rai n Co u n t y Co m m u n i t y Colleg e

James Wells Jr. returns to college after 20 years to earn his degree and advance his career in information technology

But then, in 2018 Wells read about LCCC’s cyber security program offered primarily online. It was the degree he wanted in a format that might suit his life. And even though fitting in the time still didn’t seem feasible, he decided to meet with someone to talk about it anyway.

In May 2020 James Wells Jr. released a burden he’s carried for more than 20 years. He dropped out of college in 1999 – an opportunity he says he wasted as a youth – and that decision followed him everywhere. “Not having a degree was like a weight that I dragged around for most of my adult life,” Wells says. “Whenever applying for a job or considering a new position, lacking a degree on my resume was a limiting factor.” Wells, who lives in Elyria, has been working in the information technology support field for 14 years and spent the last eight at MCPc, a data solutions provider headquartered in Cleveland. He had hopes to move into a cyber security position within the company, but without a degree he was never qualified for the open positions.

I never dreamed I would

be able to graduate from college given the opportunities I wasted as a youth.”

Going back to school had floated in and out of Wells’ mind for years. But time and money seemed like impossible barriers to overcome. And the life he had built with his wife and their six children, four of whom still live at home, kept him very busy. Beyond working full time Wells and his son James Wells III are actively involved at their church. Wells Jr. is a minister, plays piano and keyboards in the choir, and contributes to the church’s online radio and television stations.

Wells says. “He earned an associate of art degree along with his high school diploma – all at the age of 17.” And Wells earned his associate of applied science degree in cyber and information security – more than 20 years after dropping out of college. “I never dreamed I would be able to graduate from college given the opportunities I wasted as a youth,” Wells says. “But I am overjoyed to have the privilege of graduating alongside my own son.” With his degree in hand, Wells plans to pursue those cyber security roles at MCPc that once seemed out of reach. He also hopes to earn a Certified Ethical Hacker certification and CISSP certification. As for his son, Wells III is still deciding his next steps, but is considering a career in the United States Military.

Wells spoke with Larry Atkinson, associate professor at LCCC, who answered every question Wells had about the program. Atkinson was direct but optimistic. He told Wells that completing this degree program would be challenging but assured him that he could do it. “Larry encouraged me to make an appointment to determine what schedule would work for me. Without that brief but effective interaction, I may not have taken the steps needed to get here today,” Wells says. The road to earning his degree was trying but with his supportive wife, a nearby campus, and a flexible class schedule, Wells made it work. It also helped that he had a college study buddy in the home. His son James had enrolled in LCCC’s Early College program in 2016 through Elyria City Schools, which meant he spent his entire high school career on the LCCC campus taking college-level courses.

Whatever lies ahead, Wells knows he and his son are walking toward bright futures. And these days, Wells is travelling a little lighter.

A CERTAIN FUTURE IN CYBER SECURITY Graduates of LCCC’s cyber security program can enter the job market as information security analysts, security analysts, security engineers, security administrators, security architects, security specialists, and cloud security specialist.

The median annual salary is $61,734 *according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Learn more at lorainccc.edu/cyber

“The fact that my son was selected to participate in the Early College High School program was a blessing and a privilege,”

opportuni ty I A D e gre e Ea rne d a nd a We ight L i fted

March 16 Announcement all courses remain in remote/online format through the remainder of spring semester

“In the words of Helen Keller, ‘optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.’ Our work, throughout this pandemic, has been focused on the future with the intent that we not only stay safe, but we keep moving forward despite the challenges before us.” – Marcia Ballinger, Ph.D., President, Lorain County Community College

February 3

March

April 15 25 volunteers begin to sew fabric masks for the community

March 12 LCCC faculty begin to transform 1,000+ courses to online delivery

March 26

22,000 items of PPE donated to four Lorain County hospitals

1,400 MASKS SEWN 30

April

March 11 February 3 Dr. Ballinger convenes leadership task force to prepare for possible pandemic scenarios

Dr. Harry Kestler premieres first “COVIDeo” with 115,000 views

March 9 First confirmed cases in Cuyahoga County and Governor DeWine declares state of emergency in Ohio. Dr. Ballinger begins daily updates to campus community

LCCC converts in-person classes to all virtual delivery

March 15 LCCC’s food pantry, Commodore Cupboard begins curbside pickup for students and community members

NEARLY 40% INCREASE IN THOSE SERVED DURING PANDEMIC

64 VIDEOS CREATED

March 20 Campus operations move to online delivery

March 30 First round of 125 3D printed visor kits donated to the Office of Lorain County Emergency Management

7,700 SHIELDS DONATED 12

Lo rai n Co u n t y Co m m u n i t y Colleg e

opportuni ty I LCCC Res p o n d s

June 12 Four-course options announced for fall semester

April 23 AJ Gray, LCCC EMT instructor, heads to New York City to volunteer at COVID field hospital for 14 days

LCCC unveils the Responsbile Restart plan with campus re-opening safely and slowly W

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June

August

May 26

July 15

August 3

15-month accelerated associate degree programs announced

Student HUB opens for on-campus (physically distanced) assistance regarding fall registration

August 24 Fall semester begins with 80% of classes online

OUR HA HY ND

AFE DIST AS AN P

Lo rai n Co u n t y Co m m u n i t y Colleg e

July

Summer semester begins with the majority of courses delivered online. Lab-based courses resume with physical distancing protocols in place

May 11 Installation of 47,000 marking flags on campus as tribute to class of 2020 and all previous LCCC graduates

LCCC welcomes students from four-year schools deciding to stay home and stay safe

May

August 10

Virtual commencement celebrates 2,178 graduates through Facebook live event with more than 40,000 views

Fast-track 16-week certificate programs announced

May 18

May 16

April

July 13

July 3 Dr. Ballinger’s op-ed published in Plain Dealer

opportuni ty I LCCC Res p o n d s

LCCC STUDENT

A Brighter Future LCCC’s Fast-Track certification program helps Simone Yalanty of Lorain turn a COVID-19 layoff into a career change When Simone Yalanty was laid off from a job as a machine operator due to COVID-19, it seemed to come from out of nowhere. “It was pretty surprising,” Yalanty says. “We hadn’t been told anything until the day of the meeting when we were told we were being laid off for two weeks.”

Yalanty is earning a short-term certificate in computer information systems software development. Having all the classes online has made it easier to continue working when Yalanty was rehired by her employer and complete the coursework at a manageable pace. “For other busy people, especially adults like myself who work and have other obligations, this is the best opportunity I could have ever asked for,” Yalanty says. Yalanty will graduate in December and hopes to not only begin working in the software development industry but continue learning.

“I’d like to find a job doing entry-level software development to save up and then go back for my associate degree,” Yalanty says. Yalanty might not have seen the layoff coming but does see positive outcomes from it.

I’m on my way to a brighter future than I thought I’d get and it gives me motivation to keep going.”

FREE Fast-Track

to Employment Certificates Looking to train for a new industry? LCCC can help you reach your goals quickly and affordably

Two weeks turned into 13. But Yalanty, 26, had decided early on to use the unexpected layoff to change careers. “I didn’t know when I’d be going back so I got in touch with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, which directed me to LCCC,” Yalanty says.

SIMONE YALANTY

Yalanty spoke with Michelle Pawlak, program advisor for the college’s FastTrack to Employment Certificates. The program is designed for anyone looking to train for a new industry quickly and affordably. Students can earn their certificates in as little as 16 weeks. “So many workers in our community have been displaced due to coronavirus,” Pawlak says. “The Fast-Track program lets them use their layoff to retrain for an in-demand field and quickly enter the workforce with experience and certification.”

Lo rai n Co u n t y Co m m u n i t y Colleg e

Fast-Track Programs Business Accounting Clerk

Guest Service in Hospitality Real Estate

Project Management*

Health Care Emergency Medical Technician Medical Coding

State Tested Nursing Assistant

Information Technology Computer Diagnostics and CompTia A+ Certification Prep

Computer Networking and CompTia Computer Information Systems – Software Development Computer Information Systems – Web Design Fundamentals

Manufacturing

Change your future in weeks – not years • Earn in 16 weeks or less

• Certificates include industry recognized credentials

• Work with a dedicated academic and career coach • Gain hands-on experience

• Career and interview coaching and job and employer connections

Ready to Learn More? Workforce Hotline 440-366-4856 workforce@lorainccc.edu

Electronics Fabrication

Environmental and Safety Technician

Industrial Safety Technology/Technician Machining Technician

Welding Technician and AWS-3F Certification

Additive Manufacturing* Assembly*

Engineering* Machining*

Maintenance* Quality*

*Non-credit programs

ANIKA COLEMAN

“It was all craziness, but we’ve been together since,” she says. Coleman wasn’t deployed again during the rest of her enlistment, which ended in April 2020. She began working at Coca-Cola as a checker, verifying inventory. She said it was a good job, but it wasn’t enough. The Army was so much a part of Coleman’s life that she wanted to put everything she had in the next phase of her career too.

CO M M U N

ITY

Coleman even met her husband, Brendan, during a two-week Army training session in 2014. When it ended, Coleman went back to her hometown in Texas and Brendan went back to Ohio. Two months after returning home, Coleman moved to Lorain and the couple married in 2016.

NTY

LLEG

“The Army has been a big part of my life,” she says.

I wanted Liam to see me as a woman who served 13 years in the Army, got deployed, graduated college, and has a career.”

Anika Coleman spent nearly half her life serving in the United States Army. She enlisted when she was a junior in high school, graduated in 2008 and was deployed to Iraq in 2009.

It wasn’t until her son Liam was born that Coleman understood what was missing – a college education and a career she loves. Liam’s entrance into the world in 2016 changed everything. He was just weeks old when she returned to her job at CocaCola. But Coleman could already see Liam as a high school senior, questioning the need for a college education. And using her as his reason not to attend. “I didn’t want him to one day say, ‘Why should I attend college? You never did,’” she says. “I wanted to be a role model for my son. I wanted Liam to see me as a woman who served 13 years in the Army, got deployed, graduated college, and has a career, not just a job.” Coleman had taken a few courses here and there at community colleges in North Carolina and Texas when she was in the Army. But it never amounted to more than a few credits earned. Liam had given her the drive she needed to go back and finish her degree. Coleman left her job in 2018 and enrolled full time at Lorain County Community College to earn her associate of applied business degree.

The will to persist Coleman gave her all as a full-time student and mother. She used the early mornings, before Liam woke up, and late nights once he was in bed, for schoolwork and studying.

Lo rai n Co u n t y Co m m u n i t y Colleg e

A reason to attend VE

Army veteran Anika Coleman completes her degree to be a positive role model for her son

LORAI

LCCC GRADUATE

The COURAGE to finally finish NS SERV

It also helped that LCCC offers many online classes, which gave her the freedom to complete her work when her schedule allowed. Coleman earned her associate in applied business in May and is now part of the University Partnership program with Cleveland State University, pursuing her bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership management. She’s on track to graduate next spring and would like to work in a Veterans Affairs office once she does. “I have PTSD so I know how hard it can be without a strong support system,” Coleman says. “And many of the VA employees are also veterans who struggle with their own problems. I want to help them by working in the human resources department.” In everything she does, Coleman has Liam in mind. It’s not just all for him; it was all inspired by him too. “I want Liam to see how hard it was to go to college after life has happened,” she says. “But that I did this to give him a good life. And I want him to know that it was because of him that I had the courage to finally finish college.”

Learn more about LCCC’s Veterans Services at lorainccc.edu/veterans opportuni ty I The Coura ge to Fina lly Fi n i s h

University Partnership Graduate Michael Gonet stays on track amid the pandemic and earns a bachelor’s degree The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many changes in daily life. What it hasn’t done is deter Michael Gonet from achieving his dream of earning a bachelor’s degree. “Though we face COVID-19 together it has not stopped me. I thank God for my good health and the strength to power through when this journey seemed too tough,” Gonet says.

MICHAEL GONET

LCCC E A R LY CO L L E G E H I G H S C H O O L & U N I V E R S I T Y PA R T N E R S H I P G R A D UAT E

COVID-19 DOESN’T DETER

Lo rai n Co u n t y Co m m u n i t y Colleg e

Gonet, 23, of Sheffield Township, says he appreciates the opportunity through LCCC’s University Partnership to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering (CSE) from The University of Toledo.

READY FOR THE RIGOR

Gonet’s time in the CSE program was filled with late nights and weekends of work. But he was used to working hard. Gonet graduated in 2015 from the Lorain County Early College High School, earning both his high school diploma and associate degree at the same time. For him, going right into a bachelor’s degree was challenging, but not overwhelming. “This rigorous program prepared me for positions in both the computer science and electrical engineering fields,” Gonet says. “I am now capable of solving problems ranging from my hobbyist tinkering projects all the way to those found in the technology industry’s leading-edge products.” One problem he didn’t have to solve was getting to know the LCCC campus. He decided to stick close to home and earn his bachelor’s degree through the University Partnership.

I was able to take about half of my classes through LCCC at its tuition rate saving a lot of money.”

“When I finished at the Early College High School, I was not entirely sure what I wanted to do afterward. The University Partnership gave me the opportunity to pursue my interests in an environment that I was already comfortable with and felt like home,” Gonet says.

TOP-NOTCH SUPPORT AND LIFE-CHANGING SAVINGS

“The people along the way have made the experience better than I ever thought it would be,” he says. “I want to thank my LCCC instructors and the University of Toledo instructors stationed at the University Partnership Ridge Campus for preparing me, pushing me, and testing me.” Gonet also acknowledges the University Partnership’s financial benefit. “I was able to take about half of my classes through LCCC at its tuition rate saving a lot of money,” Gonet says. And because of his grades Gonet was eligible for the LCCC Trustee Scholarship and a partial Computer Science Engineering Scholarship through the LCCC Foundation. “I will graduate without student loans following me as I move into my career,” he says.

SOLVING PANDEMIC PROBLEMS

Michael Gonet has done more than study during the pandemic – he’s helped solve problems created by it. Gonet and his brother Christopher have been 3D printing “ear savers” that protect mask wearers from the daily irritation of the mask straps. “We printed a few dozen to send to our aunt, who works in the offices at the Cleveland Clinic so she could distribute them there. It seemed like most supplies were routed to the nurses and doctors – as they should have been – but we wanted to make sure those workers were not forgotten.”

Gonet says the support he received from both LCCC and Toledo staff and faculty was top-notch and important to his success.

COVID -19 D oe sn ’ t D eter

LCCC GRADUATE

Pathways to Becoming a Registered Nurse

On the Frontline

LCCC offers three options to earning the associate degree in nursing based on your educational background.

LCCC’s paramedic to RN program gave Rebecca Sullivan theflexibility to work part time and raise a family For Rebecca Sullivan’s family, emergency medicine is a way of life. It’s where it all started, literally.

“I felt like emergency medicine was my thing,” she says. “I’ve always taken pride in helping people in urgent need.”

Sullivan, a registered nurse in the emergency room at Mercy Health Lorain Hospital, met her husband Matt, a North Ridgeville firefighter and paramedic, in Lorain County Community College’s paramedic program.

After Sullivan graduated from Elyria High School, she enrolled in LCCC’s nursing program. She earned her State Tested Nursing Assistant license two years later but set aside nursing to earn a certificate as an Emergency Medical Technician, and then as a paramedic.

“We met in 2009, got married in 2012, and had these crazy kids in 2015,” Sullivan says. Those crazy kids are twins, Aidan and Harper. And to them, their frontline COVID-19 fighting parents are just doing their jobs.

REBECCA SULLIVAN

“They know daddy works on a fire truck and in an ambulance, and mommy works in an emergency room,” Sullivan says. Emergency medicine has always been Rebecca’s calling. She had just gotten her driver’s license when a serious accident happened in front of her car. Sullivan pulled over to help, keeping pressure on the motorist’s head wound until paramedics arrived. “One of the paramedics said to me, ‘Wow. You did a really great job. You should think about doing this,’” Sullivan says. That’s when it clicked.

Sullivan spent nearly a decade working as a paramedic for LifeCare Ambulance in Lorain. “I liked being out in the community,” she says. “Everything about one patient is different from the last. I liked the challenge of having to think things through quickly and being there for someone when they’re truly in their time of need.” Sullivan enjoyed the challenge and constant change of being a paramedic, but when their children came along, her and her husband’s schedules no longer fit their lives. “Both of us were working 24-hour shifts, and after we had the twins, our schedules weren’t working for us,” she says. “I had always wanted to go back to nursing school, and I knew it was time.”

Lo rai n Co u n t y Co m m u n i t y Colleg e

I had always wanted to go back to nursing school and I knew it was time.” Sullivan joined LCCC’s paramedic to RN program, knowing it would give her the flexibility she needed to work part time and raise her children. She also earned credit for prior coursework, saving her time and money. In May 2017 Sullivan graduated from LCCC’s RN program and began working in the emergency room at Mercy. She was ready for the challenge but didn’t expect to be on the frontlines of a global pandemic within a few years. “Am I anxious? Yes. But can I handle it? Yeah,” she says. “I’ve been in stressful situations in my job; it’s just something I deal with in my profession.” And there are sure to be fellow LCCC graduates standing on the frontlines with her. In December 2020 nearly 90 students graduated from the nursing program, heading out into our community to help those who need it most, just like Sullivan.

Traditional Nursing Program

Licensed Practical Nurse to Registered Nurse

Paramedic to Registered Nurse

Bachelor of Science in Nursing – Online through the University Partnership Ready to take your education to the next level? You can earn your bachelor’s degree completely online with the support of LCCC’s University Partnership located at the Elyria campus. Learn more at lorainccc.edu/nursing

Ohio University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)

Western Governor’s University

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)

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