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The two winners of a
FREE
year of college at NIACC!
The five finalists and their entries:
Dori A. Ashburn, Mason City, Iowa
Why I Deserve A College Makeover:
I chose NIACC first and graduated in the early 80's. One of my instructors at
that time referred me to a local company for a job interview. I received that
job and enjoyed being employed there for nearly a decade.
Fast forward twenty-five years to 2008. Our area, including my home, was
devastated by the worst flooding on record. Like most people, we had no flood
insurance and were not included in any buyouts. We went into debt to restore our
home to it's original condition.
At that same time our country was enduring the worst economic times since the
Depression. I didn't think this would affect me much but I was wrong, twice. One
business I worked at for many years closed and I was recently laid-off from
another.
When I learned that NIACC is now offering a Pharmacy Technician Program, I was
thrilled. This program had previously only been available out of this area. The
only thing holding me back from registering immediately is the financial aspect.
I do not qualify for any grants and at 49 years old, I really don't want to take
on a student loan.
I would like to choose NIACC first...again! It was pivotal in enriching my life
when I was twenty. Times have changed since then but I truly believe NIACC can
help change my life a second time.
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 Mindy M. Baker, Algona, IA
Why I Deserve A College Makeover:
Public service has always been an important part of my family. My father was one
of the first respiratory therapists licensed in the state of Iowa, my
step-mother, a registered nurse. Both were very active members of our rural
town’s emergency medical squad. For years I believed I didn’t have the courage
to be an emergency medical technician, but continued the thread of volunteer
work while I built a career in journalism.
Last year, at the age of 43, I was talked into taking a basic EMT course, and I
fell in love with emergency medicine and patient care. I love my volunteer work
with the Algona Ambulance Service as a nationally certified EMT-Basic.
The need for advanced emergency care is great in northern Iowa. There are towns
in my county more than 30 minutes away from advanced hospital care. A car crash,
a farm accident, a stroke, a heart attack — these all demand immediate response
and care, yet precious minutes are lost as a patient is transferred to a
hospital and the care available there. A paramedic on the ambulance increases
the chance of survival.
North Iowa Area Community College is the closest college to me that offers a
paramedic level course. Winning Extreme Makeover: College Edition would not only
allow me to switch from a struggling career field to a thriving, needed position
in my community, but it would give the residents of northern Iowa one more
paramedic available for rapid, on-scene advanced life support and medical care.
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Cari A Barry,
Charles City, IA
Why I Deserve A College Makeover:
My dream has come true! I’m married to my high school sweetheart, we bought a
house in our hometown and we recently welcomed a beautiful baby girl into our
family. The only thing missing is a college degree.
In high school, I was excited for the college experience. I had dreams of being
a teacher, a dietician and even a detective. When I got to college, the
emotional aspect of being away from home consumed me and I was unable to focus
on studies. I gave college several tries, but I was never able to get over the
social and emotional characteristics of just growing up.
The birth of my daughter changed my life. I was so lucky to have the support of
numerous nurses. Not only were they knowledgeable, but they coached me
throughout the entire process. Those nurses inspired me and convinced me that I
could do anything. I look at my daughter everyday and want to be a better
person. My goal is to pursue a nursing degree and pass my experience on to
others.
My husband and I often talk about how we wish we would have chosen NIACC first.
Extreme Makeover: College Edition would give me a second chance to do so. I feel
so lucky to be where I’m at in life, but I want to show my daughter, my family
and myself that I can do more. With the support of my family close by, I know I
can be successful!
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Wendi Coen-Ward,
Charles City, IA
Why I Deserve A College Makeover:
I believe that I would benefit a great deal by winning the “NIACC Extreme
Makeover”. I attended NIACC right out of high school twenty-some years ago and
at that time in my life, I didn’t realize or appreciate how much a college
education meant. I did not graduate because I was three credits short of a
degree, due to my failing a class that I stopped attending because of
immaturity. Now, working a part-time dead end job, receiving minimum wage for a
company that I work very hard for, I know that I have to go back to better my
life. Not only for myself, but to demonstrate to my three children how important
an education past high school is, and to show them that their mother is smarter
than my job reflects.
I want to go into a field where I can help others. I have survived domestic
abuse in my past marriage and I am interested in social work, human relations,
pyschology and/or nursing. Something that I can do day to day to give back my
experiences and be able to help others.
My entire family has always wanted me to return to college because they know
that financially I am struggling and they want something better for me. They
also believe that I am capable of working hard and making a new change in my
life. I believe in myself too. I kept thining that I was too old to go back, but
seeing other friends my same age graduate recently, I know I want this!
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 Angela K Walker, Mason City, IA
Why I Deserve A College Makeover:
Well, where do I begin? I am a mother of 3,
need I say more? I am a stay at home mom, recently my husband lost his job at
the Railroad, and we have been suffering since. I quit my job as a cosmetologist
when he got the job about 5 years ago, and have found it very hard to get back
into the workforce after being out for so long. To go back to doing hair, I
would need to take over several classes of Continuing Education, which is not
cheap, not to mention it is mostly nights and weekends, which leaves not much
for daycare or extra activities for the kids this summer.
I would love for my kids to be proud of their mom for going to college, I push
them even at this young age that college is very important. Now that they are
bigger, I think it's my time. We are currently loosing our house due to
foreclosure, we were affected by the flood of '09, and unfortunately, just
couldn't afford to fix the foundation, and they didn't want one house out of the
block for flood buy out. I need to go back to school to get a good job, and be
able to provide for my family. I have never taken a class at NIACC, I guess I
just always put it off, no money, no time, the usual excuses, but it's my time.
This would be a huge jump-start to a new future for me and my children, Thank
you for the opportunity to share my story. Maybe I can be an example that things
can change for the better, after all there is only one way to go when you are
down, UP.
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