ECC Stories

Amazon Donates More Than $5,000 in Backpacks to ECC's Project Backpack Initiative

Elgin Community College received a special delivery from Amazon on Wednesday, July 16, as the company donated more than $5,000 worth of backpacks in support of Project Backpack, ECC’s annual back-to-school initiative. This marked the first time in the college’s history that Amazon contributed to the program.

Project Backpack Returns to Elgin Community College with Added Health Services

Project Backpack is set for Saturday, August 2 in Building J.

Western Illinois University and ECC Establish Criminal Justice Transfer Pathway

The partnership allows ECC students to transfer directly into WIU's bachelor’s degree program in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration.

Arts Center

ECC Musical Theatre presents Shrek The Musical July 25 - August 3 at ECC Arts Center

Shrek The Musical will take place this summer in ECC's SecondSpace Theatre. ECC students are free!

ECC Honorees Recognized at 2025 ICCTA Awards Banquet

Engineering professor Soma Chattopadhyay, PhD, was named Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member at the 2025 ICCTA Awards. Trustee Clare Ollayos, DC, and several other ECC nominees were also recognized.

Elgin Community College Awarded Nearly $300K RevUp Grant to Expand EV Technician Training

The grant will help ensure students are prepared to meet growing workforce demand in the rapidly evolving EV sector.

Elgin Community College Reports Highest Summer Enrollment in Over a Decade

ECC continues to see strong enrollment growth, with summer 2025 marking the college’s highest summer headcount in over a decade — a total of 5,497 students enrolled by the 10th day of the term.

Accomplishment

Her own boss

Elgin business owner Erin Ramirez wasn’t always her own boss. After years of life experiences and a push from her husband, she found the courage to step into the entrepreneurial space. Ready to take the leap but unsure how to succeed, Ramirez found the Illinois Small Business Development Center (Illinois SBDC) at Elgin Community College, which became the lifeline she needed.