Alumni Highlights

You may have seen her artwork on boxes and wrappers in ALDI or other stores. Her designs are on towels, blankets, stationery and other apparel. The artwork of Kishwaukee College alumna Cecilia Jane is all over, and she credits her time at Kish for helping her develop as an artist.

“I really enjoyed all of my classes at Kish. I lived in the art room. The community was so warm and inviting. Because of that strong community, Kish gaveme the space and time to grow as a person and a professional,” Cecilia said.

Starting at Kish in Fall 2018, Cecilia Schmitt — who goes professionally by Cecilia Jane — was looking for a fresh start from her high school experience, which she described as a bit chaotic and overwhelming with many Advanced Placement courses. She had done freelance artwork in high school and knew she wanted an education in art and design. Wanting to meet new people, Cecilia’s initial goal was to go to college in Los Angeles.

“Being 18 years old, I did not really understand how college or loans worked. I ended up pivoting to Kish, which was such a blessing in disguise,” Cecilia said. “Not only did I save money, but I got money from the state to develop as an artist. There was a lot of flexibility. It was really what I needed at the time."

At Kish, Cecilia embraced an opportunity to try new things while developing her art skills. She credits Miles Halpern, Associate Professor of Art & Design, for passing along skills and theory she still uses in her professional work today. She participated in art shows and extracurriculars like the Table Tennis Club, making connections with peers from various backgrounds.

“I just really appreciated the diversity of people having different experiences than me. Finding that community and being active all helped contribute to being a better future Cecilia,” she said. 
In 2020, Cecilia transferred to Columbia College Chicago, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in illustration. While not officially completing a degree or certificate at Kish, Cecilia said she had a seamless transfer to Columbia thanks to Kish.

“I think Kish really sets you up to move on to your next step. I am grateful that the College does what is necessary to make sure everything is transferable,” she said.

Following her time at Columbia College, Cecilia continued with freelance artwork but wanted to work in a space with other artists. In February 2023, ALDI hired her as a surface designer and in-house illustrator.

“I really enjoy my job because I like creating artwork that is accessible to people. People can afford it and have it in their home. It feels special to create art that people can own and cherish,” Cecilia said.

Additionally, Cecilia co-founded Her Artist Collective with her coworker Karla Santana. Based out of Chicago, the collective aims to amplify new artists, especially female-identifying artists, by helping sell work, create prints, and offer workshops and events to build a community. Cecilia said gallery preparation skills she learned helping with the Kishwaukee College Art Gallery have been instrumental in helping run the collective.

For aspiring art students, Cecilia recommended being open to trying new things, not waiting around for the perfect time to start your work, learning how to handle rejection, and having fun living life.  

See more Kish alumni highlights at kish.edu/alumni. Learn more about Kish’s Art program at kish.edu/art.

For 29 years, Andy Sullivan has served the community through his work at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. Sullivan’s tenure with DeKalb County started from an opportunity he discovered through Kishwaukee College’s Criminal Justice program.

“I got into law enforcement through Kish. One of my Criminal Justice program courses was an internship. When I completed my internship, I was Andy Sullivanoffered a role at the Sheriff’s Office due to the contacts I made,” Sullivan said.

Now serving as the DeKalb County Sheriff, Sullivan has worked his entire career with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, starting in the corrections department in 1996. By 1998, he transferred to the patrol division and began working as a K-9 handler in 2001. Sullivan was promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 2008, Patrol Lieutenant in 2012 and Chief Deputy in 2015. In 2021, he was appointed Sheriff following the retirement of longtime DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott. Sullivan was elected to a four-year term as Sheriff in 2022. While having opportunities to work elsewhere, he realized early on that he wanted to serve in his hometown area.

“This has been my one and only police job. I realized this is where I want to be. This is the community I grew up in, and it is the community I want to serve,” Sullivan said.

A 1993 graduate of DeKalb High School, Sullivan entered Kish’s Criminal Justice program in the mid-1990s and credits the hands-on training opportunities for helping guide his career.

“The instructors I had, and the instructors to this day, are phenomenal. They give you real-world experiences, and it is crucial to inspiring students on their career path,” Sullivan said. “The small, close-knit atmosphere was really great.”

Sullivan said his instructor, who worked for the Illinois State Police (ISP), would regularly allow students to do ride-alongs. Additionally, Sullivan recalls riding in airplanes with ISP when they were conducting traffic details.

Initially, Sullivan did not complete a degree or certificate from Kishwaukee College. However, the drive to advance his education and career brought Sullivan back to Kish, where he completed an Associate in Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice in 2011.

“As an adult learner, it’s always a positive that you can go back and finish your degree. I realized that’s what I needed to do. I wanted my kids to see me finish my degree and complete my aspirations in my career field. I was able to work around my schedule and take classes here and there to make it work,” Sullivan said.

Following his time at Kish, Sullivan later earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Leadership Management and a Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Management. As an adult learner, Sullivan’s recommendation to current students was to focus on their education early, but know they always have the opportunity to return.

“It is good for younger people to start their college education and try to finish before they are tied down in a career. Life happens, and things can get in the way. But if you focus on your studies and your educational path, you don’t have to slow down,” Sullivan said.

Learn more about Kish’s Criminal Justice program at kish.edu/criminaljustice.

Two paramedics for the DeKalb Fire Department are using their training and education to make an impact at the local level. Jackson Marbutt and Sarah Faivre, both 2019 graduates of Kishwaukee College’s Emergency Medical Services program, were recently hired to work at DeKalb Fire Station 1.

At Kish, Marbutt and Faivre said they learned the critical skills needed for their job through a program that provides hands-on, real-world training.

“You can’t teach experience out of a book,” Faivre said.

Kish students practice critical skills through clinical rotations at various local stations within the Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital EMS system. During the clinicals, students learn life-saving practices like CPR, administering oxygen, glucose or medication, patient resuscitation, and advanced airway management. Both Faivre and Marbutt said learning these skills through local professionals helped guide their post-graduation career choice.

“Kish’s EMS program allowed me to develop, network and build friendships within the community,” Marbutt said.

“The program made me want to stay in the community,” Faivre added.

The new paramedics will join a department that dates back to 1869. DeKalb Fire Department provides service to the community from three fire stations, and employees are highly skilled professionals who practice teamwork and communication during critical situations.

“The Emergency Medical Services program at Kishwaukee College gives its students a high-level and real-world education and provides the workforce with an individual who is ready to engage,” said Jeff McMaster, DeKalb Fire Chief. “The DeKalb Fire Department has grown to appreciate people, like Jackson and Sarah, who come into our organization prepared to contribute and serve the community.”

Paramedics receive licensing on the state and federal level, and Kish’s EMS program prepares students to pass the certification examinations. As licensed paramedics, Faivre and Marbutt are recognized providers of life saving skills, such as advanced cardiac life support, pediatric advanced life support and pre-hospital trauma life support.

“I felt confident to take the national exam. Instructor Sue Lencioni prepared us for the written and hands-on part of the exam,” Marbutt said.

Kishwaukee College offers multiple degree or certificate opportunities in the EMS program. Students can earn an EMT certificate in one semester. The more advanced paramedic certificate is a one-year program. Students also have the option of obtaining a Paramedic Associate in Applied Science degree over two years.

For more information on Kish’s EMS program, visit www.kish.edu/ems.

For more stories of Kish alumni, visit www.kish.edu/alumni.

With skilled welders in high demand, Kishwaukee College is helping meet the needs of the local workforce. Cresswood Shredding Machinery of Cortland is one local company benefitting from building a relationship with the College.

"In today's super-competitive labor environment where finding qualified skilled welders is such a struggle, I simply don't know what I would do without our relationship with instructor Zachery Caccia at Kishwaukee College,” said Ryan Butzman, President of Cresswood.

Cresswood currently employs four Kish graduates from the Welding Technology program. The family-owned company designs, builds and installs industrial shredders for paper, plastic, pallets and wood nationwide. Butzman said the welding students from Kish have the right skillset and attitude from the day they are hired.

“We've been very blessed with finding our next generation of manufacturing talent from the pool of students who have passed through the Welding Technology Program. These young workers are securing Cresswood Shredding Machinery's future, and I feel like it's in very good hands," he said.

At Kish, students study relevant disciplines through hands-on training. Oxy-fuel cutting, brazing, welding and various forms of arc welding are part of the curriculum. Students work with mild steel, stainless steel and aluminum to prepare for what they might experience in their careers.

“The welding program at Kish not only teaches you the fundamentals of welding but sets you up for success in the field,” said Moises Pizano, a Kish welding student. “With efforts from the instructors, it creates so many career opportunities.”

Kishwaukee College offers small class sizes and a fully-equipped lab for its students. Instructors and industry professionals tailor the curriculum to current workforce standards and help provide employment services to students. Kish students can earn a Basic Welding Certificate in one year or an Advanced Welding Certificate in two. Both certificates are also a path to earning an Associate in Applied Science degree in Technology and Manufacturing.

Welding is an essential skill in most manufacturing fields, with the demand for qualified welders growing at a steady pace, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

To learn more about Kishwaukee College’s welding program, visit www.kish.edu/welding. For more stories of Kish alumni, visit www.kish.edu/alumni. 

Keep calm and transfer on. Kishwaukee College graduate and former Student Trustee Dakota Montavon is now a Northern Illinois University student who established and runs a journaling website. He graduated from Kish in 2020 with an Associate in Science degree and transferred to NIU to study Business Management.

“I felt heard, seen and encouraged at Kish. I was able to understand myself better with the close connectivity to the community atmosphere. The TRIO program supported my educational journey, and all the faculty were eager to help,” Montavon said.

More than half of Kish students complete their program or transfer to a four-year institution within three years, according to data from the Kishwaukee College Annual Data Book. With a student-to-faculty ratio of about 13:1, students can expect more personal attention and one-on-one time with instructors. Additionally, Kish’s TRIO Student Support Services (SSS), a federally funded program, offers a variety of resources and services to help participants overcome barriers and have a successful college experience.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Kish. The Student Trustee experience at Kish gave me a humbling and eye-opening understanding of business management,” Montavon said.

The Student Trustee represents students on the College’s Board of Trustees, where they attend meetings each month and offer an advisory vote on all action items. Montavon’s familiarity with College leadership helped lead his education in a new direction.

"I can exactly remember this moment — I was leaving Kish and Dr. (Michelle) Rothmeyer said, ‘Have you ever thought about business management?’ That phrase made me consider another path. I think of that second being the turning point of my educational track. I would not be in the business field if it wasn't for Dr. Rothmeyer challenging me to think about the possibilities of business management,” Montavon said.  

After graduation, Montavon took time and expanded on the ideas of how to help others. He found his solution in February 2021 when he started developing his own business — Sprout — a journaling community. Following months of building a business plan, purchasing a domain, establishing branding, and setting up a website and social media accounts, Sprout was launched on Sept. 1, 2021.

“I was not surprised when Dakota reached out to tell me he started his own blog called Sprout and decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business management. He is very organized in his thinking and an individual that really wants to make an impact on the daily lives of others. I believe that with his degree in business management and the life skills that Dakota has gained, his future will be whatever he wants it to be,” said Dr. Rothmeyer, Vice President of Student Services at Kish.

Sprout has expanded with weekly podcasts on Mondays, challenging the audience to ask self-questions such as, “How can I lead a fulfilling life?” There is also a YouTube channel asking those same questions. Montavon explained he wants the viewers to feel invited and welcomed as soon as they get to the webpage — like a sense of community and connection.

For more stories of Kish alumni, visit kish.edu/alumni. For more information on Sprout, visit https://linktr.ee/humanpondering | https://sprouts.blog/ 

 

Two Kishwaukee College alumnae are putting their horticulture skills to use as team members of the Sycamore Hy-Vee floral department. Diane Gittleson, a 1979 graduate, and Melissa Findlay, a 2016 graduate, both completed the horticulture program at Kish and now design arrangements at Hy-Vee.

“As a community college, Kish offers a great steppingstone and an easy process to the workforce, especially within the community,” Findlay said.

Both Findlay and Gittleson highlighted the hands-on training they received at Kish as integral to their careers. Gittleson said many of the landscaping efforts her class made on campus — like trees and flower beds — are still visible today. Between Kish’s sprawling 120-acre campus, greenhouse, and athletic facilities, the College offers many real-world learning experiences for its horticulture students.

“I loved my experience at Kish,” Gittleson said. “They have such a strong, developed horticulture program. The small class size allowed me to have great friendships that still thrive today.”

As a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers, Kish’s program allowed Findlay and Gittleson to travel on field trips to states like Missouri, Michigan, Colorado, and California. Gittleson said she competed in student competitions for floral design, which helped give her confidence in her future career.

Findlay and Gittleson both believe these experiences at Kish have benefited and challenged their skills as floral designers. At Hy-Vee, they provide floral arrangements for any occasion and share their expertise and recommendations if customers aren’t sure of what to get. As florists, they design and create arrangements of flowers in wreaths, bouquets, vases and centerpiece elements.

In addition to arranging flowers, Findlay and Gittleson are also responsible for their care. They must be proficient in all aspects of plant care and maintain a variety of species in the flower, foliage, herb and ornamental grass families.

Kish offers many opportunities for students looking for careers related to plants and landscaping. With certificates available in floral horticulture, greenhouse/garden center, landscape design and sustainable horticulture, students can build many skills needed for a career. They can also stack all these certificates to earn an Associate in Applied Science degree. Kish’s new Cannabis and Hemp Cultivation certificate also offers students an opportunity to train for Illinois’ booming recreational cannabis industry.

Overall, the outlook for “green jobs” has a strong future, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting strong growth for careers associated with plants and landscaping over the next decade. Horticulture specialists can work as landscape contractors, park naturalists, nurserymen, city foresters, groundskeepers, retail or wholesale florists, landscape designers, turf specialists, golf course superintendents, greenhouse managers, horticultural journalists, garden center managers and more.

For more stories of Kish alumni, visit kish.edu/alumni. For more information on Kish’s Horticulture program, visit kish.edu/horticulture.