Blazer Stories

Featured Story:

Photo captions:  L: Dr. Samuel Dyer and his wife.  Above: The first JWCC soccer team, including Dr. Dyer as the goalie on the left.  Right: Dr. Dyer’s wall of degrees in his home office with his JWCC diploma on the bottom left as the first degree that started the path to his MD, which he received this year from Washington University.

In 1991, Dr. Samuel Dyer began his academic journey at John Wood Community College (JWCC), not realizing it would...


  • Christy and Seren Davenport Pursue Nursing Together

    In a unique and inspiring journey, Christy, the Social Service Director at Liberty Village in...

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  • Nick Knuffman-Brewer

    Nick Knuffman-Brewer '10: The Path to Serving People Started at JWCC

    Nick Knuffman-Brewer’s journey began at John Wood Community College (JWCC), where he experienced a beautiful...

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  • New Age Farming with photo of Mike Tenhouse

    How Agricultural Education is Keeping Up With New Age Farming

    In this episode of the JWCC podcast, Agriculture Director Mike Tenhouse and President Dr. Bryan...

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  • Catharine Miller Speaking at Graduation

    Catharine Miller: Finding Opportunities For a Better Future

    Catharine came to John Wood Community College unsure about her next steps. During her time...

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  • Preparing Students For A Changing World

    Check out this insightful conversation about public relations, communication, and the importance of emotional intelligence...

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  • Photo of Eric Foster and Lauren Archer Laughing

    Lauren Archer Talks Expressing Herself, How She Became Student Trustee and More!

    Outgoing student trustee Lauren Archer sits down with Student Life Coordinator Eric Foster to discuss...

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  • Photo of Mike Terry Speaking

    Mike Terry - Teaching Students Based on What's Relevant

    JWCC President Dr. Bryan Renfro and Professor Mike Terry discuss education and share their views...

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  • Eric Foster and President Renfro Smiling at Each other

    JWCC Campus Conversations: President Renfro and Eric Foster

    On our first episode of Campus Conversations President Dr. Bryan Renfro hosts Student Life Coordinator...

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  • Photo of Jeremiah Talton and Brad Hoyt

    Coach Hoyt and Jeremiah Talton Speak On Lindenwood Commitment

    In this podcast, John Wood Community College Athletic Director & Head Men’s Basketball Coach Brad...

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  • Photo of Kory Hollensteiner Preaching at the Crossing Church

    Kory Hollensteiner: Finding Confidence at John Wood Community College

    Kory Hollensteiner is the Campus Pastor at The Crossing Church in Quincy, IL. He shares...

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  • Andrew Rudd Sitting In John Wood Recording Booth

    A Commitment To Quincy Through Soccer

    “Quincy is in my blood.” Andrew Rudd shows his commitment to Quincy Illinois through John...

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  • Tyler Bickers portrait in studio

    Tyler Bickers Talks Baseball, College, and Attitude

    Tyler Bickers discusses his decision to pursue baseball, his college choice, and the importance of...

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  • Portrait of Jose Almazan

    Jose Almazan - Getting Support In A New Culture

    Jose Almazan is a stand-out pitcher at John Wood Community College. Jose came to America...

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  • Portrait of Michael DeLaRosa

    Michael DeLaRosa - Making a Change

    Michael DeLaRosa shares his journey and passion for radio. Growing up in Chicago, WLS was...

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  • Artist Nevin McNally Stands next to his painting

    Nevin McNally - Art is A Different World

    Nevin McNally, is a Quincy native who has been an artist his entire life. He...

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  • Maranda Mize - Living For Your Family

    Maranda is a Surg Tech student at John Wood Community College who started attending late...

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  • Sam Hilbing Mark Higley Memorial Scholarship

    Sam Hilbing: Beating Adversity and Finding Success

    Sam was awarded the Mark Higley Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship has helped him financially and...

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  • Alaina Plyican

    Alaina Plyican Awarded ICCS Foundation Health Care Scholarship

    “I’ve never won anything, so winning this scholarship means everything.” Alaina has fought through many...

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  • Jeremiah Talton Taking and Interview

    Jeremiah Talton On Becoming a Blazer

    Former Quincy high school standout Jeremiah Talton gives insight into his decision and speaks about...

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  • Coach Hoyt & Blazers Prepped for Another Year

    “As we prepare for another year, I know there’s some excitement in the area.” Coach...

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  • Stephanie Fleer

    Taking Determination to A Whole New Level

    When Stephanie Fleer made the decision to enroll at John Wood Community College, she was...

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  • Arturo Melendez

    Discovering His Abilities

    Arturo Melendez went from a somewhat uncommitted high school student to being asked to be...

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  • Olivia Hanson

    Gaining Momentum

    When Olivia Hanson started at JWCC, she was nervous about the college experience and unsure...

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  • Mark Schneider

    Growing Into His Potential

    When Mark Schneider first enrolled in college at age 18, he wasn’t in a place...

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  • The Will Family on JWCC's Quincy campus

    Family Matters

    Becky and Mike Will and their daughter Jennifer Grindstaff are a close, colorful family who...

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  • Adding Fuel to the Fire

    How alumnus Ryan Neisen used his time at JWCC to kick off a path that...

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  • Liz Bentley

    A Mind on Music

    When Liz Bentley enrolled at John Wood Community College, she knew she was taking a...

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  • Devron Sternke with a student in the graphic design lab on the Quincy campus.

    Designing the Future

    Devron Sternke became involved with John Wood Community College in 2009, when he was hired...

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  • Q & A with Teresa Bertelli

    Teresa Bertelli is the Coordinator of Counseling Services at JWCC.   What made you choose...

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  • Moving to the Future

    Most of us can only imagine what it would be like to work in a...

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  • John Wood Community College Student Grace Meyer

    Focused on Success

    Grace Meyer is a woman who is used to defying expectations. Born with spina bifida...

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  • Evan Conover sitting on the stage

    For the Love of Music

    Evan Conover is a sophomore at John Wood Community College who is still deciding exactly...

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  • Bruce Oglat at John Wood Community College

    In his own words: A message from Alumnus Bruce Oglat

    The game of basketball led me to John wood Community College. As a teenager, I...

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  • The Smith triplets at their JWCC graduation

    Triple the Value

    Triplets Jacob, Rachel, and Sadie Smith all have different interests and life goals, but they...

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  • TDT Alumnus Luke Lish in his truck.

    Driven to Success

    Before earning his CDL through John Wood Community College’s Truck Driver Training (TDT) program, Luke...

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I graduated from JWCC with no student debt and transferred to U of I to finish my bachelor's degree.

—Brent Mansfield, Crop Production Researcher

I would recommend starting with one or two years of community college to anyone.

—Katie Richárd, FBI

I took classes in different subjects to find what I wanted to do for a living & learned what I was truly passionate about.

—Breckon Bice, Project Engineer- Nenan Co.

Greg Havermale, physician and JWCC alumnus

When I was accepted to medical school, my credits transferred easily like they were from Mizzou.

—Greg Havermale, Physician

Sebastian Francis, NASA employee and JWCC Alumnus

My professors were tough, but I knew they were doing their jobs when Purdue made an exception for me to join the program in the middle of the third year.

—Sebastian Francis, NASA