EICC Success Stories
Inspiring stories from our community.
Triple-Enrolled Student Graduates from CCC Before High School
Elena Brisch’s time at EICC wasn’t just about earning a degree early—it was about building the tools she needed for what comes next. Now, at just 18-years-old, she graduated with an associate in arts degree before officially receiving her high school diploma and was featured as one of the May 2025 Commencement speakers. She reminded her peers of their strength and encouraged them to always keep moving forward.
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From Long-Term Care to Long-Term Goals
Cassie Littrell didn’t take the traditional route to graduation day. In fact, she took a detour, a job, and about a decade. Ten years after finishing high school, Littrell walked the stage at Muscatine Community College as a nursing graduate—and a student speaker for her class.
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Game Designer. XR Developer. Navy Innovator. And It All Started at EICC
By the time most people figure out what they want to do with their lives, Chad Behal had already built a frog dissection lab in augmented reality.
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Rooted at Home, Rising With Purpose
For Rosamarie Gomez, the path to building her future at EICC started in the same place it always had: home.
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Student Ambassador Elexiana Oliva Shares MCC’s Impact—Locally and Globally
When Elexiana Oliva walks through the halls of Muscatine Community College (MCC), she’s not just another student—she’s an ambassador and an advocate for the opportunities education offers.
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Living, Learning, Leading, and Living: Allen Beard’s MCC Campus Life
For one Muscatine Community College (MCC) student, higher education wasn’t always part of the plan. But now, just two semesters in, Allen Beard is deeply woven into campus life — starting clubs, giving tours, and helping peers find their place.
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Carter Stevenson: Writing His Future, One Story at a Time
With the encouragement of his instructors and the resources available through Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC), Carter Stevenson is turning his passion into something real—one carefully planned-out page at a time.
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Gideon Cable Hall: Small Space, Big Feelings
A bed. A blanket. Half-tucked, half-forgotten. A pile of clothes in the corner, a pizza box shoved just out of sight.
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Sonja Tarallo: Father Time and Mother Nature Playing Chess
The cursor blinked on her screen. A blank canvas, waiting. And yet, this time, something felt different.
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Spencer Paxton: Self Portrait, 2024
Spencer Paxton never liked self-portraits. At least not in the traditional sense.
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