By Kelly Nekvinda, director, Columbia College of Missouri-Lake County

In January, we proudly presented The Lake County Writing Scholarship to three students. All applicants were prompted to write about a challenging course that provided the greatest sense of accomplishment. Each of our winners’ heartfelt messages demonstrated their motivation to continue pursuing their education with hard work and a strong support system. The big check presentation pictures can be viewed on our Facebook page.

Lake County Director Kelly Nekvinda

This Spring, the Great Lakes office at the Naval Station Great Lakes is moving from Room 221 to Rooms 201-202 in Building 617. For many years, we have worked in Room 221’s cozy office with a small desk catered to our military students. We are happy to announce the expansion of the office by moving to two rooms capable of hosting our testing center with an attached classroom. We will provide CLEP, DSST, and proctored exams for all students at Great Lakes. And with Columbia College offering free CLEP and DSST exams for active-duty military students, we plan to attract many students interested in this great opportunity.

The Lake County team also welcomed a new Student Support Assistant, Johnathon Bieszczat! Johnathon will be the first to greet visitors at our Lake County location, on-site and over the phone. He is excited to work with students to aid in their academic progression, all the while learning about and excelling at the nuances of higher education. Johnathon is also eager to work toward a Business Administration degree with Columbia College and plans to begin as soon as possible. Outside of Columbia College, Johnathon enjoys spending time with his pets and family. We are delighted to have Johnathon as a part of our team and know that he will make a positive impact in our CC community.