Cherie is a student in Northwest Iowa Community College’s nursing program, but she’s pursuing more than a degree. She will be the first in her family to graduate from college, and she wants to use her education to provide compassionate, quality care. As a mother of three, she’s showing her kids that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. 

As a published author, with four books already completed, her degree in liberal arts with an emphasis in creative writing is her way of adding credentials to her life’s work. Now that she’s started the coursework, new ideas will likely lead her to re-vamp and re-release her previous work. We’ve all heard a writer’s job is never done, and she takes that to heart.  

It’s been a lifetime of telling stories as a parent of seven children and grandparent to two. Returning to school is Christi’s way of showing her family that it’s never too late to reach for their goals. And she does all of this while being an avid volunteer, in the community and in her church.  

Helping others is the foundation of Jenna’s career path—she is passionate about advocating for social issues and believes that the first step to any solution is awareness. As vice president of the Phi Theta Kappa chapter and a highly-involved member of the Dance and Cheer team at Iowa Valley, she is used to working with others to accomplish shared goals. She plans to learn more about social work and mental healthcare through internships and job shadowing after she graduates from Iowa Valley during a gap year, after which she plans to pursue further education in the Pacific Northwest. 

A student at South Tama County High School, Bryce is already setting the bar high—he is the first trades student at Marshalltown Community College to be recognized in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. His community already knows him as a talented metalworking artist through projects displayed at the county and state fairs. His goal is to graduate from Iowa Valley Community College with a degree in Advanced Manufacturing so he can open his own welding, fabrication, and diesel repair business in his hometown. 

Abshiro recently graduated from Iowa Central with her Associate Degree in nursing after two years of exemplary work. She’s already looking ahead to start her career as a nurse in Iowa City later this year. From there, she plans to earn her BA from the University of Iowa, strengthening our state’s healthcare workforce. 

Julia’s study of environmental science comes from a commitment to the stewardship of our planet. As a mother and a nontraditional student, earning her Associate’s degree from Hawkeye Community College just made sense. She plans on attending University of Northern Iowa to continue her education in Fall of 2026.