Kirkwood Benton County

Evelin Hernandez is a Senior at Benton Community High School. Read on to find out more about her experiences taking college credit courses and how they have benefitted her...

When did you start taking college credit classes?

I started taking college credit classes my Junior year.

Which courses and/or academies have you enjoyed the most and why?

The academy I've enjoyed the most was PCA (Patient Care Academy). I have a passion for the medical field and it was very informative as a whole.

What has been the most surprising thing you have learned (about a specific subject, topic, or even yourself) after taking college credit coursework?

The most surprising thing that I learned after taking PCA was learning about the human body and all the parts to it.

Who (Kirkwood instructor, staff, etc.) has made a lasting impact on you? Why?

Heidi Richards was my instructor through PCA and she had the most impact on me. She pushed all of her students to make time and practice things over and over to make sure we knew what we were doing. She was also understanding of students when things came up or we had problems.

How do you feel taking college credit classes better prepares students for their futures?

I believe that taking college credit classes helps prepare students when they decide to go to college. College classes are free which helps save money. It also gives insight to what teachers and classes are like. It's a great opportunity that unfortunately not all school’s offer. Taking advantage of opportunities like this can help students succeed in the future.

We congratulate Evelin Hernandez for her hard work and dedication and wish her continued success in the years to come!

Know someone we should feature for our next Student Spotlight? Email Mike at michael.jacobsen@kirkwood.edu to nominate our next great student!

Which courses do you currently teach?

Computer Science, Intro to Business, Accounting I & II, Marketing, Business Law, 7th & 8th Grade Exploratory Tech

How long have you taught?

This is my 16th year at Benton and my 18th year overall

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

I enjoy getting to know the students. I pride myself on creating positive relationships with each student to make sure they feel valued in our building. I also enjoy seeing students make growth throughout a course.

Who has made the most lasting impact on you in your own experience? (Teacher, counselor, coach, etc.)

The biggest impact on me has been my Mom. My Mom taught at Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School for 15 years and I learned a lot from her. She is one of the hardest workers I know and always brings a positive attitude to anything she does.

How do you feel taking college credit courses while in high school better prepares students for their futures?

I believe being able to take college credit courses in high school is a great way to jump start high schoolers college experience. Being able to get college credit early helps with the graduation process. I believe the biggest benefit is you get to take the college level classes with instructors and an environment that you are comfortable with before having to step on a college campus with instructors you have not met yet.

Anything else you would like people to know about you?

I have been married for 17 years to my wife Jamie, we have 3 children, Brayden (16), Hailey (15), and Taylor (11). I enjoy coaching, golfing and hanging out with my family.

We thank Mr. Suiter for all the great work he does inspiring students and helping them towards their post-secondary college and career goals!

Know someone we should feature for our next Instructor Spotlight? Email Mike at michael.jacobsen@kirkwood.edu to nominate our next great instructor!

Upcoming important dates:

• April 7 - Summer session registration deadline
• August 8 - Fall on-time/16 week session registration deadline

New students go to www.kirkwood.edu/cchs for more information on how to get started.

Returning students register at www.kirkwood.dualenroll.com.

Reach out to your high school counselor or contact Mike Jacobsen at michael.jacobsen@kirkwood.edu or Abby Saucedo at abigail.saucedo@kirkwood.edu with questions!

In January, Lexie Pippert a junior at Benton Community High School, completed a veterinarian job shadow placement at Keystone Veterinary Clinic through Workplace Learning Connection. She had such a wonderful experience and made such a great connection with the host that they hired her on a few days a week in the clinic!

“The job shadow experience was amazing! It really helped me in my future. I feel more comfortable going into this career because at the site we saw all different sorts of things happening. I learned more about neuters in cats and dogs. The vets showed us some x-rays as well. I learned more about the different options after high school and the process of becoming a vet. I liked how hands-on the job shadow was. The veterinarians and vet techs were very good at explaining what was happening when they were doing certain things to animals. I appreciate the connection I made through Workplace Learning Connection!"

- Lexie Pippert

Learn more at https://www.kirkwood.edu/workplace-learning-connection/news/december-2022-newsletter-stories.html#article3

Located just off Highway 150 in downtown Vinton, Kirkwood's Benton County Center offers a full range of services for students, closer to home than you might expect! Whether you're looking to start your education, take some classes to recertify, or just need help locating a job, our Benton County Center in Vinton can be a great resource.

Email: Benton.County@kirkwood.edu
Website: https://www.kirkwood.edu/explore/locations/benton-county
Location: 111 West 3rd Street, Vinton, IA 52349, USA
Phone: 319-472-2318
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kirkwoodbentoncounty/